Davidson Preview: Unbeaten and Unstoppable?

Davidson is unbeaten in SoCon play. They are 8-0. However, they are just 5-17 against the Mocs in McKenzie Arena. Can the Mocs possibly do the unthinkable and pull off the stunner against Davidson?

There is nothing in the Mocs recent play to suggest that it is possible. After all, Keegan Bell is really struggling. He looks afraid to shoot, and he also has been struggling with his assists-to-turnover ratio (until Elon at least). Bell needs to snap out of it for the Mocs to have a chance.

They have allowed over 81 points in three straight road defeats to Samford, UNCG, and Elon. Now they take on the best offense in the SoCon in Davidson, who average 80 points per game.

The Mocs have lost three straight, and really did not look good in the process. Sure, they were in all three games until the closing minutes, but they did not perform as well as they are capable of performing in any of them. Sure, the Mocs are unbeaten at home in SoCon play, but there is little reason to think that they are suddenly going to be able to turn it around and beat Davidson.

Is there?

Maybe. Maybe  not.

Jake Cohen has turned into one of the leading candidates for the SoCon Player of the Year. He is the team's second leading scorer, but has won Player of the Week three times, and could have easily won it last week. He is averaging 14.9 points per game, and 6.4 rebounds per game. He is shooting 51.8% from the floor and nearly 88% from the free throw line. He is also making 39.6% from three point range. Cohen is the team's leading rebounder. He also has 1.3 assists per game.

De'Mon Brooks is surprisingly underrated. Most people around the conference do not talk about him nearly enough it seems like. Brooks is averaging 15.5 points per game, the team high. and 6.1 rebounds per game, the second most on the team. He is shooting 52.2% from the field.

Nik Cochran also scores in double figures. He scores 11.8 points per game, and leads the team in assists with 3.0 assists per game. He also averages 2.1 turnovers per game. He shoots a very solid 41.9% from three point range.

Tom Droney is the better ball handler. He averages 2.9 assists per game and 1.4 turnovers per game.  He is not a scorer, but is a starter. In SoCon play, he had 19 assists and six turnovers. That comes to an average of 2.4 assists per game and 0.8 turnovers per game in conference play. He hasn't scored in double digits against a D-1 opponent this year, so he is not a scoring threat. He also had eight rebounds against The Citadel last Saturday.

Davidson and Chattanooga are two of the better rebounding teams in the SoCon. The battle between those two in the paint should be very intense. The Mocs have been great at playing defense, particularly at home. But the Wildcats are one of the top offensive teams in the country. They are very efficient offensively.

KEYS TO THE GAME

--Rebounding. Two great rebounding teams. Which one comes out on top in this situation?
--The Z Men. Z Mason and Drazen Zlovaric need to have massively huge games if the Mocs are going to have a chance. Mason has been developing some consistency. Zlovaric struggled on the road trip, but has been great at home. They will need both to step up in a big way.
--Bell. He has to get going and not be afraid to shoot.
--Cohen. Can the Mocs slow down Cohen, who has been red hot over the last three weeks?
--Staying in the game. Davidson has been dominant against SoCon competition, especially lately. They have won their three road games by an average of 12 points (aided significantly by their 29 point win over UNCG). They have won their five home games by an average of 22.2, with none closer than Charleston, who lost by 18. The Mocs need to keep it close and put a little pressure on the Wildcats. The Wildcats need to capitalize on the current state of mind the Mocs have to be in after three straight losses and leave no doubt early.

LEAD PIPE LOCK PREDICTIONS THAT ARE SURE TO GO WRONG

--Cohen will have a huge game.
--Cochran will make quite a few three pointers that will leave the Mocs in some real trouble.
--Mason will score in double figures again.
--Ricky Taylor and Omar Wattad will make some big threes as well.
--Davidson 87, Mocs 76. The Mocs just aren't good enough right now to be able to win this game. Wattad and Taylor will keep the Mocs in the game, but Bell will continue to struggle. Until Bell gets right, the Mocs won't be right. Cochran will make too many big shots and Cohen and Brooks will do enough to keep the Mocs at bay the whole night.

GO MOCS!