NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 7 finalists for SMU transfer Kendric Davis
4. Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have been the model of consistency in the NCAA Tournament and would be a near-guarantee for Davis to make his own first appearance in March. They’re currently set to lose starters Andrew Nembhard and Rasir Bolton, who combined to start for eight seasons. The projected starters in the backcourt are Nolan Hickman and Hunter Sallis, who only have 32 total games played and zero starts.
Adding Davis would solve just about every issue for Gonzaga; experience, a ball-handler, and a proven high-level scorer that can be a difference-maker in March. The SMU grad transfer would certainly be a starter and lead guard for the Bulldogs but how he would fit with Hickman and Sallis is an open question. Gonzaga is in the mix for other guards and they may be better fits and with four of the seven options, all coming from the state of Texas, going all the way out to Spokane may be too much travel that the prospect is willing to do.
3. Houston Cougars
As a Houston, Texas native, the Cougars making the cut is no surprise. But I have a feeling that even if he wasn’t from the city, Davis was going to strongly consider them anyways. He had a front-row seat to the program’s rise to national power in the AAC and Houston is viewed as an early favorite to win the 2023 NCAA Basketball championship. On paper, it would be a nice match between Davis and the Cougars stylistically but the current roster may prove to be an issue.
The biggest reason why Houston is predicted to be so good next year is the likely return of guards Jamal Shead, Marcus Sasser, and Tramon Mark, as well as potentially Kyler Edwards too. Davis is a better scoring guard than Shead but do you want to demote the sophomore after such an impressive NCAA Tournament run? I worry about the chemistry fit and how Davis would slide into the lineup unless one of those guards were to depart, opening up room. But being able to come home to the preseason No. 1 team may be too much for either side to pass up.