2024-25 North Carolina Sports Network
NC Basketball Spotlight, 10-Year Snapshot:
Davidson
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
School: Davidson College
Location: Davidson, N.C.
NCAA DI Member Since: 1908-09
Conference: Atlantic-10 (A-10)
A-10 Member Since: 2014-15
A-10 Ranking Among 31 Leagues (KenPom): 8th (2025), 8th (2024), 13th (2023), 10th (2022), 9th (2021), 9th (2020)
NCAA Tournament Bids: 15 (1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2022)
Final Fours: 0
Sweet 16s: 4 (1966, 1968, 1969, 2008)
Conference Titles: 13 (1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013 in SoCon; 2018 in A-10)
Conference 1st-Place Finishes: 25 (1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1981, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 in SoCon; 2015, 2022 in A-10)
Head Coach: Matt McKillop (41 years old, 3rd season at Davidson)
As A Player: Davidson (2002-06)
Record At Davidson (through Feb. 3): 44-41 (.518) in 2+ seasons
Previous HC Experience: none
College AC Experience: Emory (2007-08), Davidson (2008-22)
Assistant Under: Jason Zimmerman, Bob McKillop
2023-24 Record: 15-17, 5-13 (13th in 15-team A-10)
2024-25 Preseason Prediction (Coaches/Media): 12th in 15-team A-10
2024-25 Record (through Feb. 3): 13-8, 3-5 A-10
2024-25 Midseason Ranking (KenPom): #122 nationally (8th in A-10)
Upcoming Schedule: at Dayton (2/4), Richmond (2/8), at UMass (2/12), George Washington (2/15), Loyola-Chicago (2/18), at Fordham (2/22), Saint Louis (2/25)
For the second time in the past dozen years, the Davidson men’s basketball program — which has a wonderful tradition dating back to the 1960s (Lefty Driesell, Terry Holland, Fred Hetzel, etc.) that more recently was boosted further by Steph Curry’s three sensational seasons on campus (a stretch that ended in 2009) — is in the midst of a major transition.
In 2014, the Wildcats made the bold jump from the Southern Conference, which they frequently dominated over the previous half-century, to the Atlantic-10, which (unlike the modern SoCon) often ranks among the 10 best conferences in college basketball.
In the summer of 2022, the Wildcats took another leap into the great unknown, when legendary coach Bob McKillop opted to retire, about a month before his 72nd birthday. During his 33 seasons as Davidson’s head coach, McKillop’s teams won seven SoCon championships, 11 SoCon regular-season titles, one Atlantic-10 championship (2018) and two A-10 regular-season titles (2015, 2022), among an avalanche of other amazing accomplishments on and off the court.
Matt McKillop, Bob’s 41-year-old son, has been in charge of the Wildcats over these past three seasons, and he needed no introduction to Davidson’s basketball history or culture. Matt played for his father from 2002-06 and served under him as an assistant coach from 2008-22.
The first two years of Davidson’s father-son transition proved difficult. While playing their home games on “Bob McKillop Court” (dedicated in 2014), the Wildcats finished 16-16 and 15-17, for just their second and third non-winning seasons since 1993.
Long ago, Bob McKillop actually took five years to post his first winning record as the head coach of the Wildcats, although he then went the next three decades with only one additional losing campaign.
Before the start of the ongoing 2024-25 season, the Atlantic-10 coaches and media clearly expected Davidson’s losing ways to continue. They picked the Wildcats to finish 12th in the 15-team league.
While that remains possible, it also seems probable that Matt McKillop is on his way to posting his first winning record as a head coach. The Wildcats’ 13-8 mark entering the final 10 games of the regular season included impressive nonconference victories over Providence and East Tennessee State.
In Atlantic-10 play, Davidson has been competitive in almost every game, most recently a 72-66 victory at Richmond and a 64-60 home loss to George Mason, which stands first in the conference standings.
“What play was it that won us the game against Richmond? Well, it was so many little things,” McKillop said. “What play didn’t win us the game against George Mason? It was so many of those little ones.”
After 2023-24 starters Grant Huffman (Vanderbilt) and David Skogman (DePaul) departed via the transfer portal, the 2024-25 Wildcats have been built around their three other very capable starters from last season: fifth-year guard Connor Kochera, sophomore forward Bobby Durkin and junior forward Reed Bailey.
2024-25 Davidson Wildcats
(13-8, 3-5 Atlantic-10; through Feb. 3)
STARTERS (stats = 2024-25 numbers)
G Mike Loughnane, So. (6-4/185) — 2023 HS signee (Phillips Exeter in N.H.)
25 mpg, 5 ppg, 2 rpg, 46% FG, 75% FT, 41% threes, 56/21 ATO, 4 blocks, 14 steals
G Connor Kochera*, Ss. (6-5/200) — 2022 William & Mary transfer (2-year starter)
32 mpg, 14 ppg, 4 rpg, 51% FG, 77% FT, 32% threes, 60/31 ATO, 1 block, 23 steals
G Zach Laput, Ss. (6-4/210) — 2024 Bentley transfer (D2 A-A; 3-year starter)
25 mpg, 8 ppg, 4 rpg, 47% FG, 61% FT, 30% threes, 42/20 ATO, 0 blocks, 14 steals
F Bobby Durkin*, So. (6-7/220) — 2023 HS signee (Glenbard West HS in Ill.)
33 mpg, 15 ppg, 6 rpg, 45% FG, 83% FT, 43% threes, 43/12 ATO, 0 blocks, 29 steals
F Reed Bailey*, Jr. (6-10/230) — 2022 HS signee (Brewster Academy in N.H.)
32 mpg, 20 ppg, 6 rpg, 51% FG, 77% FT, 48% threes, 77/53 ATO, 12 blocks, 15 steals
KEY RESERVES (stats = 2024-25 numbers)
F Sean Logan, Jr. (6-10/235) — 2022 HS signee (Westfield HS in N.J.)
19 mpg, 4 ppg, 4 rpg, 56% FG, 42% FT, 33% threes, 7/9 ATO (INJURED)
G Roberts Blums, Fr. (6-4/200) — 2024 international signee (Latvia)
17 mpg, 5 ppg, 2 rpg, 33% FG, 60% FT, 27% threes, 15/22 ATO, 0 blocks, 7 steals
G Hunter Adam, r-So. (6-7/220) — 2022 international signee (New Zealand)
13 mpg, 3 ppg, 2 rpg, 52% FG, 25% FT, 35% threes, 10/5 ATO, 4 blocks, 6 steals
F Manie Joses, Fr. (6-7/190) — 2024 HS signee (London/NBA Australia)
8 mpg, 2 ppg, 1 rpg, 53% FG, 0% FT, 50% threes, 2/4 ATO, 2 blocks, 5 steals
C Joe Hurlburt, r-So. (6-11/235) — 2024 Colorado transfer (backup)
8 mpg, 2 ppg, 2 rpg, 27% FG, 71% FT, 18% threes, 5/9 ATO, 1 block, 1 steal
Departures from 2023-24: G Angelo Brizzi (So./transfer/Longwood), G Grant Huffman* (Sr./transfer/Vanderbilt), G Jarvis Moss (r-So./transfer/Radford), F Rikus Schulte (Fr./transfer/UC Riverside), F David Skogman* (Sr./transfer/DePaul), G Achile Spadone (So./transfer/Bucknell)
*—2023-24 starter (started at least 50% of the Wildcats’ games last season)
Davidson Wildcats
10-Year Snapshot
Season: Overall, League (Place), Postseason
2023-24: 15-17, 5-13 A-10 (13th), no postseason (Matt McKillop)
2022-23: 16-16, 8-10 A-10 (8th), no postseason (Matt McKillop)
2021-22: 27-7, 15-3 A-10 (1st*), NCAA 1st Round (Bob McKillop)
2020-21: 13-9, 7-4 A-10 (3rd), NIT 1st Round (Bob McKillop)
2019-20: 16-14, 10-8 A-10 (7th), no postseason (Bob McKillop)
2018-19: 24-10, 14-4 A-10 (2nd), NIT 1st Round (Bob McKillop)
2017-18: 21-12, 13-5 A-10* (3rd), NCAA 1st Round (Bob McKillop)
2016-17: 17-15, 8-10 A-10 (9th), no postseason (Bob McKillop)
2015-16: 20-13, 10-8 A-10 (6th), NIT 1st Round (Bob McKillop)
2014-15: 24-8, 14-4 A-10 (1st*), NCAA 1st Round (Bob McKillop)
*—conference champion (regular-season and/or tournament)
NOTE: In the coming weeks and months, please visit the North Carolina Sports Network’s 2024-25 profiles and 10-year snapshots for all 19 Division One men’s basketball programs in North Carolina and all 18 Atlantic Coast Conference programs. The items below will become “live links” as new articles are posted.
Appalachian State Mountaineers, Sun Belt Conference
Boston College Eagles, Atlantic Coast Conference
California Golden Bears, Atlantic Coast Conference
Campbell Camels, Coastal Athletic Association
Charlotte 49ers, American Athletic Conference
Clemson Tigers, Atlantic Coast Conference
Duke Blue Devils, Atlantic Coast Conference
East Carolina Pirates, American Athletic Conference
Elon Phoenix, Coastal Athletic Association
Florida State Seminoles, Atlantic Coast Conference
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs, Big South Conference
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Atlantic Coast Conference
High Point Panthers, Big South Conference
Louisville Cardinals, Atlantic Coast Conference
Miami Hurricanes, Atlantic Coast Conference
North Carolina Tar Heels, Atlantic Coast Conference
North Carolina A&T Aggies, Coastal Athletic Association
North Carolina Central Eagles, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
North Carolina State Wolfpack, Atlantic Coast Conference
Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Atlantic Coast Conference
Pitt Panthers, Atlantic Coast Conference
Queens Royals, Atlantic Sun Conference
SMU Mustangs, Atlantic Coast Conference
Stanford Cardinal, Atlantic Coast Conference
Syracuse Orange, Atlantic Coast Conference
UNC Asheville Bulldogs, Big South Conference
UNC Greensboro Spartans, Southern Conference
UNC Wilmington Seahawks, Coastal Athletic Association
Virginia Cavaliers, Atlantic Coast Conference
Virginia Tech Hokies, Atlantic Coast Conference
Wake Forest, Atlantic Coast Conference