Atlantic 10 Basketball: 3 Takeaways from Davidson’s win over St. Louis

2. Davidson’s Defense Holds Up In Big Games

The Wildcats have had an overtly average defense all season (164th nationally, 8th in A-10 per Kenpom) and the narrative has frequently questioned Davidson’s ability to keep it going all year.  But just as they are on the other end of the floor, the Wildcats play intelligent and disciplined basketball to help offset the lack of an All-Defense level stud.

Davidson kept the Billikens players at their hips throughout the first half, as St. Louis struggled from three (2/10) and couldn’t get their center Francis Okoro going like he had been the last few games. Okoro failed to make a field goal all game and was unable to get quality post touches.  But most impressive was the great off-ball work of Michael Jones, who Coach Bob McKillop credited for holding Gibson Jimerson to just 9 pts.

When being asked about shutting down Jimerson, McKillop said post-game, “I credit Mike’s length as a big reason for that and the help that the big guys gave on a lot of those screens and hand-offs.”

This comes on the heels of another great defensive performance from beyond the arc, holding Fordham to 4/28 from three. Davidson will always be an offensive leaning team but the defense continues to keep a run of solid performances going.