Atlantic 10: Who Are Next Season’s Favorites?
By Rakesh Bi
1. Davidson Wildcats
March 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Davidson Wildcats guard Jack Gibbs (12) controls the ball against Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half of the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
One could say that Davidson’s inaugural season in the A-10 could strongly be compared with the miracle year most of us thought would unravel for George Washington. But in their case, the anticipation was merely about if they would survive in their first couple months out of the SoCon. If it went the way most experts predicted, then they may have finished closer to the bottom of their new league. Jon Rothstein and Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com even had them finishing last place, behind Fordham and George Mason.
Instead, the Wildcats won the conference in the regular season, at 14-4, and were one of only three A-10 schools that made it to the Big Dance. Bob McKillop, 2015 Coach of the Year, devised an offense that ended up scoring the sixth-most points in the country and recording the third-most assists. Davidson lost no home games all year, save a defeat to St. Bonaventure that ended in a stunning buzzer-beater, in which they were missing star Jack Gibbs. If it weren’t for a frustrating finish, it may have been one of McKillop’s greatest seasons.
In the past, Davidson was led by a quartet of guards in senior Tyler Kalinoski, Jack Gibbs, Jordan Barham, and Brian Sullivan. A lot of size, leadership, and talent goes out with Kalinoski, the 2015 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, but Barham is more than capable of making the departure seem like an insignificant matter. His fight for minutes is now officially over and, at 6’4″, his presence will help Davidson’s back court continue to shed the “undersized” label. Meanwhile, Gibbs should go on as an impactful player if he avoids medical concerns. And if Peyton Aldridge, who showed flashes of brilliance throughout his freshman year, can become a more noteworthy big man, there will be even more games to win for the Wildcats in 2015-16.
McKillop knows how to win leagues, having won the regular season of either the SoCon or A-10 on four straight occasions. Now that his team comes in with more confidence and nearly all of their players, it would only be a surprise if they descend from first or second place.