It's here. Two teams coming from opposite ways to get here.
Western Carolina has taken the tough road, having played three games in three days. In their win over The Citadel, they were less than impressive. Then, the Catamounts were completely dominant against the two-time defending champion, Wofford. That served notice that Western Carolina was really to make a run. Then, the Catamounts beat UNCG to get into the championship game.
Davidson took the easier road. They were able to take Friday off. On Saturday, they beat Furman handily. On Sunday, they put together a solid second half and beat Elon. The Wildcats have dominated throughout the year. They were 16-2 in the SoCon in the regular season. They are the best team in the SoCon and the best chance to advance far in the NCAA Tournament for the conference.
When Davidson and Western Carolina met on January 12 in Belk Arena, the Wildcats dominated from the beginning. They lead by as much as 27, before taking the win, 88-67. Jake Cohen scored 26 points and collected six rebounds. Harouna Mutombo scored 17 points and had eight rebounds. He was the only Catamount to play a really good game. Tawaski King scored nine points and collected eight rebounds. The two teams were basically even in rebounding the last time, which is impressive that Western Carolina was able to play them that close. Davidson turned the ball over just four times, while Western Carolina only turned the ball over nine times. Western Carolina shot 21% from three point range. Davidson shot nearly 48% from long range.
So what happens in this match-up? Mutombo is the heart and soul of the Catamounts and has been playing like he does not want his career to end yet. He has been so impressive that he has made a believer of any doubters. Trey Sumler has also really stepped into his stardom in this tournament. He was struggling at the time that the Catmounts played Davidson the last time. He had four points with two assists and three turnovers against the Wildcats. During the tournament, he has averaged 15.3 points per game, with 7 rebounds per game, and 5.3 assists per game. During the Catamounts seven game winning streak, he has averaged 16.3 points per game, six assists per game, and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Davidson has Jake Cohen and De'Mon Brooks, the Media and the Coaches Player of the Year. Cohen exploded for 24 against Elon, after scoring just six against Furman. Brooks has put up good numbers in both games. But if you go back the Tournament Edition of the Scanning the SoCon, you'll notice that three out of four of the bloggers say that Cris Czerapowicz is the most likely player to do big things in this tournament that is a relative unknown. He scored 17 and 12 in the tournament so far, so people have pretty much been right. They have been doing OK on the boards, and have not been turning the ball over. Davidson has been brilliant so far, other than the first half against Elon.
These two teams will battle intensely for this championship. Davidson knows they have an NIT bid (that they desperately do not want to use) in their back pocket. The Catamounts have no such comfort. The next time this team loses a game, their season will be done....or it will end in a national championship. (That's a crazy thought, isn't it? Also, unbelievably unlikely.) The Catamounts actually have a little bit more in terms of senior leadership. Mutombo is a great leader. The Wildcats are a solid shooting team, but sometimes tend to go away from their strength (Cohen and Brooks inside play). If they are not hitting their outside shots, they are vulnerable. That does not normally happen, but it did happen during a stretch in the regular season. When they lost to Charleston in their most recent SoCon loss, they shot just 28% from three point range.
KEYS TO THE GAME
--Rebounding. The Catamounts are not a great rebounding team, yet Davidson is. That being said, in this tournament, Western Carolina has more than held their own, thanks to King, Mutombo, and even Sumler. If Western can keep the rebounding battle close, that will be a win for the Catamounts.
--Three point shooting. Sumler has been playing so well during the tournament. Can he shoot them all the way to the championship? Will Davidson tighten up on national television in a championship game setting?
--Tired? Neither Davidson or Western Carolina go terribly deep on their bench. The Catamounts have played three games already, and no SoCon team has ever won the championship playing four games in four days. Can they become the first? If they play like they have been, they will be a tough out. If they are tired, then they could be blown out.
LEAD PIPE LOCK PREDICTIONS THAT ARE SURE TO GO WRONG
--Cohen and Brooks will both score over 15 points.
--Mutombo will continue to show the solid leadership that has kept the Catamounts rolling so far in this tournament.
--Sumler won't quite have the legs in this game, and will struggle some from three point range.
--Czerapowicz will make at least one huge three pointer.
--Davidson 81, Western Carolina 73. The Catamounts have been a great story, but there is a reason that no team has ever won four games in four days in the tournament. Elon played them relatively close back the year Davidson went to the Elite Eight in the SoCon Championship Game. This will be a similar game. The Catamounts will keep it close, but in the end will fall.
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