Davidson Sports Blog Episode 2

By Josh Zipin

• Photo Gallery

What’s good Davidson family? I haven’t checked in for about two or three weeks, but they’ve been packed with travelling, some “futbol,” new cultural experiences and of course a little school here and there. The last two weekends have been my first two weekends travelling outside of Barcelona and they have both been fantastic. Last weekend I went to Andorra with four other friends and skied in the Pyrenees, and as I write this, I’m finishing up a trip to Bilbao in Basque Country, the North of Spain.

The weekend in Andorra was definitely the best skiing experience I’ve ever had. Four of my friends from Barcelona and I took a bus from Sants Estacio to Andorra, one of the smallest nations in the world, sandwiched between Spain and France. We rented a small apartment for the weekend and we had an amazing view of the Andorran valley in between some enormous mountains.

Unlike ski resorts I’ve been to previously, skiing in the Pyrenees means skiing multiple mountains and sometimes deviating from the obvious slope. To quote Robert Frost (wutup Mo), “I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference”. The slopes, especially for very advanced skiers and snowboarders, were more of a suggestion or push in the right direction (towards the bottom). We blazed our own path to the bottom a couple of times and those were the most exciting runs - weaving between trees, slow skiers, and a few moguls. The snow was actual powder instead of human-produced, and made for really smooth skiing.

Euskadi, or Basque Country, was a great trip this weekend too. We started in San Sebastian, and learned about the local cuisine there, called Pintxos (pronounced “peent-chose”). They are little one or two bite dishes, usually put on top of a thin slice of bread. We went to a local cooking school and learned how a few were made, and then we actually got to eat some. It reminded me of a special day in Commons where you walk around and get lots of little things on your plate to try.

We also visited the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. The architecture was amazing and some of the exhibits inside were unbelievable with names like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Jackson Pollock popping up more than once. I learned a little bit of Basque, the historically-forbidden language they speak there. It was really interesting to see locals’ reactions when we said something to them in Basque. They were so much more excited than when we used Spanish.

As for what’s going on in Barcelona, I’ve just started doing yoga classes at my local gym—in Spanish. It’s a bit of challenge, both physically and linguistically. I have to sometimes stop and look around to see what pose we’re doing to make sure I’m not the only one looking awkward. I also recently toured Camp Nou (FC Barcelona’s stadium) and the 1992 Olympic museum and stadium. I also went to a flamenco show with one of my host brothers which was pretty different from any dancing I’d seen.

I’ve also started playing futbol with a new group of guys. It’s a very interesting group of players, with some former semi-pro guys, some scrubs, and a host of geographic diversity. Sometimes I’m not sure what language to speak on the field because there are guys from Ireland, Scottland, England, Ivory Coast, Germany, Sweden, and of course Spain. In addition to my Spanish class, I’m learning Catalan, the local language spoken by natives of Barcelona and Catalunya, so sometimes I speak to the Spanish guys using that.

As for the immediate future, I have a midterm on Thursday next week, and then immediately I fly to Paris for the weekend. The weekend after that I’m heading to Costa Brava. Should be a good time. Hasta luego!

-Josh

Senior Day 4.0

By: Lauren Biggers

Davidson vs. UNCG

A couple hours before tipoff of the Wildcats' 60-56 win over UNC Greensboro Wednesday night at Belk Arena, I updated my twitter (which i still think a strange exercise, even stranger when used by media outlets as a source) to reflect senior night for WILL, Steve, Dan and the WL, minus Steven. Within seconds, responses from former men's basketball SID Joey Beeler and the BIG CAT pour in. Seems like just months ago we were doing this for MAX, Civi and Andrew and not at all like years ago when Beeler was 'that guy hugging Stephen Curry on TV' everywhere we went.

But it is senior night for the Four: Will Archambault, Stephen Rossiter, Dan Nelms and Bryant Barr, with the one conspicuously missing and always and forever a part of this class: Stephen Curry. The four of us started this journey together (super senior ROSS-I-TER had a head start), and I know a lot of you do, but I do not know Davidson basketball without them.

As I watched Will, Dan, Steve and Bryant, escorted by their parents and photographed by their loved ones (and fiances!), take center stage to meet their head coach, I found myself reflecting on the last four years. I can't really remember these four as freshmen. What I remember most about that first season is that skinny kid from Charlotte causing a buzz and really annoying Gary Williams in the NCAA tournament. I remember watching that game with colleagues and student-athletes alike in the volleyball team room and how much fun that was.

The year after, I'll always remember. That weekend in Detroit forever occupies a special place in my memory bank. The pictures are truly worth a thousand words.

Last year was different with the pressure to succeed almost tangible at times. Learning to bear it and redefine it. Wanting so badly to repeat the greatness while the decision weighed on everyone.

And this season hasn't played out the way we would have written it if we could.One of the first blogs I wrote this season was that after Stephen things would be OK. We knew we'd miss him, but not this much.

So as I sat and watched the game, I wanted to win so these Four, who have given Davidson so much to be proud of, could take their curtain call and remember the fun times fondly. I hope they all hugged the youngest McKillop afterwards for making that possible.

And years from now, when I think back on this senior class, and when I watch them play in their final SoCon championship in a few weeks and receive their diplomas a few months later (should I get a B.A. or a B.S.?), it won't ultimately be the basketball that I'll remember. It'll be the reasons I am able to say yes, this really is that special of a place, to the so many people that have asked me over the years since the run of 2008. The notes on my desk when I'm "late" for work. The heys from the hallways. The post-game high fives. The pranks. The SID lunches. Dart games and photo shoots. SIDIOTY applications. The graduation announcements. The wedding invitations.

I have watched over the years as these four have transformed from shy freshmen into team captains and homecoming kings and ambassadors for the game and the kind of people that leverage their influence to raise thousands of dollars for malaria in Africa.

In a few weeks, I cannot wait to watch the other, the missing one who has grown exponentially from the skinny kid no one wanted to the All-American prankster to the one just getting started on what I'm sure will be a wondeful rollercoaster of a journey. Even if his diploma doesn't say it (yet!!), he'll always be a part of this team, and I promise you he watched and cheered. March 6, I'll be one of many in a Davidson 30 jersey cheering wildly for him.

Leaving the post-game celebration at our local Brickhouse and popping into the senior celebration to say goodnight, the WL asks, "Have you met my parents?" That's what I'll remember.

Just my way of saying, Thanks guys. Make us proud the rest of the way, in basketball and in life.

96 Degrees in The Shade: Pura Vida en Costa Rica

By Yannick Pilgrim


My name is Yannick Pilgrim. I am a third year English major from Trinidad and Tobago and a member of the Davidson Men’s Soccer team. I am currently spending my spring semester in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. I chose this location because the size of the town seemed ideal for meeting and interacting with locals. The town is about ten miles long and no house is further than a three minute walk from the ocean. Despite being one of the poorest provinces in Costa Rica, the people of Puntarenas are very welcoming, and after only three weeks, I have become well acquainted with many of the locals. Coming from a small island in the Caribbean, their lifestyle was a bit similar to what I was used to back at home in Trinidad.

I am really focusing on improving my Spanish while I am here. I am currently taking four Spanish courses which include composition courses as well as a conversation course. I am also enrolled in a Latin American Cultures Class, a field studies class. However, my favorite class has to be my dance class. I figured that while I’m here I might as well immerse myself as deep as I can into the Latin American culture. Besides, it is a nice workout as well.

When I first met my host family, I felt a genuine connection to them. My host mom is a 32-year-old psychologist and my host dad is a 30-year-old elementary school teacher by day and a DJ by night. I have two host brothers aged six and three. The set up of my host family was perfect for me because their family structure mirrored that of my actual family back at home. At times when I see them interacting with each other it is like looking at and old photograph of my own family.

What made my living arrangements even better was the fact that my host Dad was an avid football fan. When I told him that I play soccer in college the expression on his face was that of a man who had just won the lottery. Every afternoon he takes me to the beach to find “un mejengon” (a pickup game). The guys I kick around with are maybe two or three years older than me. Most are good enough to play professionally, but each has their reasons for not making the most of their sporting potential. Some say that they have families to take care of, while others say that they just want to be ‘”fiesteros” (party boys). This made me realize that being a professional requires a truly different lifestyle and having skill is only half the battle.

My host dad also took me to see the local club team play these past two Sundays. This team, Puntarenas F.C. was the runner up in the Costa Rican Championship last year. The team resembles Arsenal F.C. in England because it is a young team with explosive attacking abilities. After watching two games I was attracted to their style of play, which is fast paced and very characteristic of Central and South American futbol. They play in pretty decent stadium located in the center of town. It seats about 5000 people. The fans here are passionately crazy about their team and turn the Puntarenas stadium into hell for the referees and opposing team players. After the Tiburones 1-0 defeat this past Sunday to the reigning champs, Liberia, the referees were bombarded with rocks and had to be escorted by the police out of the stadium.

All in all, it has been a great time here so far in Costa Rica. It’s been filled with interesting soccer experiences and great adventures. I’ll keep you posted.

Pura Vida.

Studying Abroad in Barcelona

By Josh Zipin


Whatsup Cats! My name is Josh Zipin and I’m a junior on the men’s soccer team at Davidson. I’m currently lucky enough to be studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain and I’m having a great time. I’m here studying through a program called IES Abroad, and I’m taking classes right in the heart of Barcelona at Plaza (pronounced Plah-Tha) Catalunya.

I’m living with a host family in a neighborhood called Gracia. One of my Davidson classmates, Mike Foglia, actually stayed with them last semester, pure coincidence. The host family is amazing, with one mom, and two sons, ages 19 and 23. I’m right in the middle so I get to hang out with both of them. She cooks for us every night, but I don’t think it’s necessarily Coach Spear approved, with a lot of fried food served and a noticeable lack of green vegetables.

When I was choosing where I wanted to study abroad, I knew I wanted to use the Spanish I’d already learned at Davidson and go to a Spanish-speaking country. Being a soccer player, naturally, I wanted to go somewhere with a great soccer culture as well. Barcelona has fit the description to a tee and I’ve already improved my Spanish immensely and experienced what it means to be a “futbol” (never say soccer!) fan in Barcelona.

If you live in Barcelona, you are an FC Barcelona fan. There is no wiggle room, and very few exceptions. The team has an immense worldwide following, but here in Catalunya, it borders on obsessive. During games, you can find most people at a bar or café with eyes glued to the screen, living and dying with every pass and shot.

This connection with the team goes deeper than just being a fan of the local side. For years, Catalunya has lobbied for its independence from Spain. FC Barcelona, as the team of Catalunya, has been an example of how the people feel. To be a fan of Barcelona is to be a patriot for Catalunya in a way. FC Barcelona’s motto is “Mes que un club,” or More than a club (in Catalan, the local language here).  The club acknowledges that their on-field product goes deeper than just entertainment and extends into the political realm.

I have to say, that living here has almost forced me into becoming an FC Barcelona fan. Being neutral is not an option and viewed with the same disdain as cheering for Barca’s opponents. I went and saw Barca play Getafe at Camp Nou, Barca’s home stadium, and a kind of mecca for fans. The game was wild, with Lionel Messi, the world’s best player, scoring and assisting on Barcelona’s goals, and two red cards for Barcelona. Tonight they play Athletico Madrid, and they are going to have to use one of their young players from the second team to fill in for the regulars that are out due to suspension. It should be pretty exciting.

Okay, well that’s all I got for now. Hope everyone is doing well in D-town and I’ll blog again soon. 

Rolling Along

By: Lauren Biggers

Davidson vs. Georgia Southern

It's been a while since I've written, and while I was away, it seems the 'Cats have put together a nice little four-game winning streak. Maybe I shouldn't write.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I don't have a lot of thoughts to share about last night's 84-74 win over Georgia Southern. Mostly, I'm just glad it's over.

Trying to break a full-court press for 40 minutes isn't exactly what I would qualify as good entertainment, though you can't fault the Eagles for trying. It nearly worked in Statesboro, and according to the scoreboard, it seemed to be working last night.

Only, it didn't really feel that way. It felt like Davidson was squarely in control, despite what the numbers said. With JP KOOLman (or another moniker I heard floating around last night, but I don't wanna embarrass anyone...) pouring in 17 first-half career points, Davidson turned a three-point deficit into a 10-point lead with 13 unanswered points and rolled (in slow motion?) to its fourth straight SoCon win.

Four Davidson players finished in double figures and one senior finished just one point shy of the 1,000 career point mark and all the 'Kicks from 'Cats' t-shirts sold. It was a good night at Belk Arena.

(And a huge thanks to all who bought a t-shirt to support Kicks From 'Cats: Phase II. With your continued support, The Lagos Project will give kids from Andrew and Frank's home country their own chance to succeed. You can still help.)

With all but the final margin decided, a very entertaining Georgia Southern head coach acknowledges the relentless "Sit Down CAR-L" chants from a highly entertaining D-block with a wave of the hand. Then much to everyone's delight, he sits. But only for a second. After all, there's a press to break.

But for Sims

By Lauren Biggers

Davidson vs. Appalachian State

13-for-19 from the field. 5-for-7 from deep. 13-for-13 at the line. 44 points.

I think a year ago, we all know whose line that could be. But not this day. Not in Davidson’s 78-68 loss to Appalachian State.

“He played like a guy who has played in this gym for three years,” said a resolute Coach McKillop in his post-game interview. “He was spectacular.”

“I don’t think anyone has scored 40 on us,” said a resilient JP Koolman in his post-game interview. “But I’ve never seen him play before.”

Well, I have. And he’s been good, but he’s never been 44-points-good.

But the day belonged to Appalachian State’s Donald Sims, doing his best Stephen Curry impersonation. All. Day. Long.

The day (entertainingly, everyone kept saying “tonight” in the post-game) started out (more-than-)OK for the Wildcats, who led by as many as 12 nearly halfway through the first half.

But Davidson just had no answer for Sims. (I miss MAX. especially during in-bounds plays in front of the table).

After Isaac Butts scored the first basket for the Mountaineers, Sims recorded App’s next eight points to single-handedly keep his team in the game so he could single-handedly win it in the second.

Davidson’s scoring was more balanced, with five players with at least five points after the first 20. And that too seemed OK, even good at times, as the Wildcats built their 12-point lead at the 12-minute mark behind back-to-back treys from the youngest McKillop and the WL.

Appalachian State cut it to three behind a 13-3 run, but Davidson scored the next seven to push it back to double-digits. And with just five minutes left in the period, the basketball gods seemed in the Wildcats’ corner.

But for Sims, who scored eight of his 21 first-half points. With the rest of the supporting cast adding four, suddenly we’re all knotted up at 35?

“They made key baskets at key times,” Coach summarizes, succinctly, accurately and painfully. “We missed key baskets at key times.”

That statement pretty much summarizes the second half.

A KOOLman bucket at 15:57 knotted the score at 44, one of four ties in the final period, and Davidson would break through, finally, to lead by one on a layup from Steve Rossiter with 6:58 to go.

But for Sims. Who scored nine of the Mountaineers’ next 10 unanswered points to give App. State a nine-point lead. Who netted 23 second-half points, to seal the game and steal the arena record.

Still doing his best Stephen Curry, Sims was deferential and humble in the post-game.

It was the first time I’ve seen someone score 44 points. It was entertaining, but it was not enjoyable.

Momentum Shifting?

By Lauren Biggers
Davidson vs. Samford

My sister won Bobcats tickets for her company’s corporate suite for tonight’s game versus the Chicago Bulls and elected to invite someone else. And then elected to tell me over e-mail, “Figured you wouldn’t mind.”

As usual, she’s right (don’t tell her I said so). A basketball game is not exactly how I’d chose to spend my day in-between home basketball games (FYI: catch the streaking Wildcat women tomorrow in non-conference action against Longwood at 7 p.m.), leading up to Saturday’s double-header. Thanks, but no thanks. (No offense Bobcats... Sort of?)

I worked 21 games of basketball last week (a PR for sure), but last night’s 66-56 win over the Samford Bulldogs was easily more exciting than the lot.

With the hot-handed Bulldogs connecting on 7-of-10 three-point attempts in the first half, Samford had Davidson on its heels. Eight first-half points from the youngest McKillop had kept the game close, before a layup from J.P. KOOLman tied things up at 14 with just over 10 minutes in the period.

But Samford’s Andy King, Josh Davis and Brian Friday answered with eight quick points on three straight treys and suddenly it’s Samford with a 23-15 lead with 6:38 to go and... GRRR. Getting fouled after a steal, Friday’s second free throw gives Samford its largest lead of the game, and a bit of panic is setting in?

For me, but maybe not these Wildcats. KOOLman and Big Ben Allison combined for five points to cut the Bulldog’s lead to 24-20, but King’s second three of the half deflated the crowd and stalled the would-be momentum.

And so it went. Each time the ‘Cats would score, the ‘Dogs would answer, punctuated by Trey Montgomery's offensive rebound/putback/buzzerbeater to lift Samford to a 33-29 lead at the half.

And it seemed like the second half was just more of the same.

A layup from Jake Cohen at the 16-minute mark made it a one-possession game at 34-31, but Davis scored five straight points to push the margin back to eight. Two straight threes from BMcK, and Davidson’s down just two with 12:01 to go.

Momentum: shifting. But John Peterson answered again for Samford, silencing the crowd with a layup at 11:33 and making it a two-possession game... GRRRR.

But... wait... just... a ... second. Something's happening.

“I know exactly when it happened...” athletic trainer Ray Beltz offers.

When? Because I have a theory, and I want to see if we agree.

“I was in the hallway,” he offers, diplomatically as ever.

9:51. Missed Layup by Samford’s Kaylin Johnson. Block by Ben Allison. Jake Cohen, Johnson, Allison tangled under the basket. Jake Cohen, exit stage left.

Cut to nine straight points from the WILDcats, including a monster breakaway dunk from Allison and back-to-back daggers from Lil McK and JP KOOLman.

Momentum: shifted.

From there on out, it was all Davidson, as the ‘Cats built as much as a 13-point lead. And there’s Samford fouling late en route to the 10-point, 66-56 loss.

And so, no one really knows what the Southern Conference season will hold for these Wildcats (or in general, here's looking attacha, Tar Heels ... GRRR), but it’s time to find out.

Momentum: shifting?
My magic eight ball says too soon to tell, but here's hoping for a fun ride.

And the Oscar Goes To...

By Lauren Biggers
Davidson vs. Penn

In tiny, quaint Davidson, we’re pretty far removed from the celebrity scene. I mean, sure we’ve had some run-ins with some famous people over the last few seasons – King James, Dick Vitale, Joe Gibbs, etc. etc., but for the most part, Belk Arena is not exactly the place you find celebrities sitting court side to see and be seen.

So word got around quickly that a real-life celebrity was to be in attendance to witness the Wildcats’ 79-50 win over Penn Monday night. As I arrived courtside – very casually and incognito, of course — an hour before tipoff, there he was, one of only a handful of people watching the Davidson Wildcats shoot around. Well, probably watching his son Malcolm, a freshman at Penn, shoot around.

O.M.G. Coach Boone! (Confession: I might know Remember the Titans by heart... I know football, but what you did with those boys. You’re the right man for the job ... You’re a hall of famer in my book... etc. etc.)

All “How was your holiday?’ chatter was trumped by two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington. Um, he’s kind of a big deal.

Denzel is undoubtedly very, very cool... His black conductor’s cap cannot tell a lie. (His IMBD biography calls him the ‘tall, strikingly handsome leading man of films and television.” Um, CHECK.)

But what was pretty cool about Denzel on Monday night at Belk Arena was that he just one of thousands watching what turned out to be a pretty good show. For the Wildcats, at least.

Davidson opened up a 21-8 lead behind a pair of treys from the W.L. and the first of five for the youngest McKillop. In the game, the pair combined for eight of the Wildcats’ 13 treys on the evening.

Hey, what’s your favorite Denzel movie? I asked the W.L. post game, post radio appearance, post win.

“Man on Fire... OHHH... say Brendan was a man on fire!”

Um, have we met? I probably said that every time he made a shot all night. “The Man’s on Fire!” Clearly, He Got Game.

I conducted an informal survey of Davidson players, coaches and staff, meaning, basically I shouted ‘What’s your favorite Denzel Washington movie?” at whomever I happened to run into after the game.

Here’s a quick breakdown (I did not provide options. They just watch a lot of movies together.):

Man on Fire: the W.L., Asst. coach Jim Fox.

Pelham 1,2,3: Ben Allison (though, he wasn’t thoroughly convincing.)

Glory: Student Assistant Coach Billy Thom, Asst. coach Landry Kosmalski, DOB TI, assistant director of marketing Richard Agner, SID Marc Gignac.

Training Day: Clint Mann, J.P. KOOLman, athletic trainer Ray Beltz.

He Got Game: Asst. Coach Matt McKillop, Will Archambault, Nik Cochran.

Remember the Titans: Brendan McKillop, Steve Rossiter, A.J. Atkinson

Malcolm X: Team photographer Tim Cowie, ticketing director Jamie Hendricks. (Is he in Malcolm X? ...He IS Malcolm X.)

The Preacher’s Wife: Me. (Kidding. Kinda. That’s an awesome soundtrack, though.)

Denzel Washington: Cry Freedom, Glory, Malcolm X and Training Day.

(Confession: I did not ask him, though I wanted to. I learned this on IMBD. You can too. I also learned that he vacations with his family in Italy every summer, and “where he handles or uses sidearms, there's always a scene of him swiftly ejecting a bullet from the loaded chamber by pulling back the slide assembly and subsequently catching the bullet before it falls to the ground.” You’re welcome.)

Collectively, the Wildcats carried a 46-19 lead into the break. They won the second half by just a bucket, but won the game handily, 79-50. It was the sort of outing the ‘Cats needed after (what I read was) a tough weekend in New York and not even Denzel could steal the spotlight.

Finding A Voice

By Lauren Biggers
Davidson vs. The College of New Jersey

First of all, apologies. I haven’t written since Nov. 7. Before Thanksgiving. Before the snow storm canceled my Christmas trip to The Big Apple. Before Tiger Woods. (…Too soon?)

I have been meaning to, and I have wanted to. But I just haven’t quite been able to. Because much like this team, I am still finding my voice.

Of course, I like to write about wins, and forget about losses. I also can’t write about what I can’t see.

But by these criteria, I should’ve easily been able to write about Davidson’s 78-37 win over Fredonia State in Belk Arena on Nov. 25. And yet … nothing.

For the past three years, I knew what to expect and thus, how to write it.

See... While Stephen was entertaining you on the court, he was entertaining us off of it. And thus, there was always plenty to write about.

He’d make daily visits to our office, usually for interviews, but sometimes just to watch youtube. He always greeted with an enthusiastic high five (LISA!) and proceeded in a very specific pattern around the office. No. matter. what. Those not in their seats were treated to air high fives. (Riiiiichard! Imaginary Richard!)

You could always count on The Cheese to do something noteworthy. Everyone depended on him. The players, the coaches, the students, the fans, the marketing department, the ticket office, the Southern Conference, CBS, ESPN. We are still learning how much.

And I am no exception. Writing about Stephen (and Andrew and Jason and Thomas and Max and co.) was easy. Because I knew him. I know you’re probably tired of hearing the ‘Without Stephen’ story. Me too.

But there’s something to it. Because we are still figuring it out without him.

His roommate, the WL, carries on his traditions admirably, and this week, he inducted transfer Clint Mann. While juniors and seniors tend to have no problems wandering confidently into the SID office, others are not always so. Typically, Clint lingers in the doorway, as Bryant and I encourage him.

“You sit over there,” the WL directs.

He enters hesitantly and sits where he’s told. Proceeds to eat his lunch quietly as the WL and I go through our routine. How was class? What did you learn? When is practice? Do you like this (t-shirt/poster/newspaper ad) design? Too girlie?

We explain things to Clint. Like who is who. Like what we do. Like why Bryant’s supposed to eat lunch in the SID office at least once a week. Because it’s just what you do. Because I said so.

“It’s your first SID lunch!” I tell him. “This is a REALLY big deal.” Though I don’t think he believes me.

“What’s SID?” he asks, seriously. But he’s beginning to warm up now.

We all laugh. Because he doesn’t know. (Sports information department. You're standing in it.) Probably has no idea about this blog.

And I know this isn’t really a game story.

But you can read the actual game story for the play-by-play. There you will find Steve Rossiter’s double-double (Stats people love to write about double-doubles. As if 10 rebounds is significantly better than nine... It’s not.) There you will find Jake Cohen and J.P. Kuhlman. And the WL.

When I finally decided I could write about this team, my (very weak) attempt at an interview with one of the new kids failed. Next time. But I got it on good authority that Clint Mann and Will Reigel DID coordinate their game-day outfits.

In the future, I hope to write more game-like stories. But please, just be patient with me.

We are all still getting to know each other.

A.S.I.F.

By Lauren Biggers
Davidson vs. Lenoir-Rhyne

It’s basketball season?

No matter how masterful you are with words, you can’t express inflection.

So what I was thinking as I turned onto Baker Drive today was not, “It’s basketball season?” as in “Did basketball season ever really end?”

But rather, “It’s basketball season?” as in… “Really? Are you sure?”

Because quiet isn’t even the right word to describe this offseason. I can count the interview requests on one hand. Not one single photo shoot. ESPN hasn’t called, and it seems no one is talking about These Wildcats.

Yet as I arrived today for the Wildcats scrimmage against Lenoir-Rhyne, early and way ahead of the crowd, I found a Wildcat and a coach working out in the gym. A couple of freshmen walking the hallways. Working. Quietly. Getting better.

And as I hit the trails for inspiration in anticipation of flexing my rusty writing muscles, I thought, Yep. It’s here. It really happened, and He’s not coming back to save us.

By now, we have adjusted to life A.S., (my cell phone is always exactly where I left it, for one) but now we get to see how it plays out on the court.

I used to joke and say that I was the same year as Stephen, because we both arrived to Davidson at the same time. And like a lot of people, I don’t know Davidson Basketball without him.

In our freshman year, the Wildcats had lost seven seniors and were picked to finish fourth in their Division. Fourth out of four. The expectations were low, but they were there, and we heard a ton about this skinny kid from Charlotte who was going to be an impact player, Just you wait and see.

Our sophomore year was magical. You remember that, of course. Good times never seemed so good. So good. So good.

But by junior year, the expectations changed. Suddenly they became the game. At the very least, the Wildcats needed to replicate that success and at the most, well, we were going to Disney World. The pressure, the expectations at times seemed tangible. We all felt it, but it was His to bear.

But as I pounded the hills, I wondered, how do you manage expectations when there are none?

You can’t. You don’t. You just play.

Sitting in my office Friday, Super Senior Steve (can we go back to Stephen now?) Rossiter asks if I’m coming to the game.

Nah, I tell him. I’m pretty much over you guys. Anyways, I was only in it for SteFF-in.

Yeah, that’s what I thought, he responds. Sarcasm perfectly pitched.

But of course, I came. And so did you. Because you wanted to see what Davidson Basketball A.S. was like.

And in my humble estimate it was pretty. good.

I didn’t take a ton of notes about the actual game, but I noted the monster dunk from WILL A. (um, yes. more please.) And I very much enjoyed the offensive rebound from the WL to J.P. to WILL A that resulted in a bucket for Super Steve. “That’s gonna make the highlight reel,” I heard later. And while there’s no way to tell, I felt proud that I jotted it down nonetheless.

But exhibitions aren’t about highlight tapes (just ask Syracuse… too soon?), they are about learning. So what did we learn tonight?

We learned that life A.S. is gonna be just fine.

Four guys in double figures. An “equal opportunity offense,” as Coach McKillop called it in the post-game.

And you can bet he’ll be stressing about those 20 turnovers, demanding his Wildcats take better care of the ball. And without a defensive stopper, he’ll continue to mold his into a “team of defenders.”

But polls are just polls. And opinions are just opinions. Yes, even mine.

But This Team? A.S. I.F.

After Stephen, Is Fine.