JP in the Jacksonville paper

Alumni watch: Former Providence basketball standout JP Kuhlman enjoyed a brilliant rookie season for Davidson.

Two years ago now

The Post and Courier in a story on Wofford: Davidson’s run to the Elite Eight in 2008 earned the SoCon an extra $4.5 million.

(More) on the NCAA tourney expansion debate

McKillop: “If it’s going to be an experience in which, sure, the Southern Conference regular season winner goes, but then the ninth-place finisher in the SEC or the ACC or the Big East goes with those additional 30-plus or 10-plus or 5-plus slots, I don’t think that’s fair to the mid-major and low-major programs.” Earlier.

Mike Young

On Stephen: “I’m glad he’s not in the league anymore.”

Taking another shot

DeCourcy:

It’s amazing how quiet it is now that Davidson is Davidson again.

With Stephen Curry gone to the NBA, the Wildcats finished 16-14, 11-7 in the Southern Conference. So maybe they’re not really Davidson; even before Curry, this wouldn’t have been a vintage finish under Bob McKillop.

His teams have won the Southern’s automatic bid five times. The Wildcats begin their trek toward another NCAA appearance Friday against the Elon Phoenix, whom they defeated on the road in overtime in their final league game.

There’s no more Steph Curry, but Davidson still is one of college basketball’s best programs. The 2010 Southern Conference tournament is another chance to prove it.

Katz on the SCT: Nobody from the Southern Conference has a player like former Davidson guard Stephen Curry. But at least some of these teams have had the experience of beating a high-level opponent and will go into this tournament with confidence. If the semifinals in Charlotte are Western Carolina-Wofford and Charleston-Appalachian State, the league should have a highly competitive final two days. The Observer points out: Brendan McKillop’s assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7 is the best in conference.

Jake: also SoCon Freshman of the Year

The writers’ pick. First time it’s different than the coaches’ choice: DavidsonWildcats.com.

JP: SoCon Freshman of the Year

Back on Dec. 4 in Charleston: These two rookies. And: The Southern Conference Freshman of the Year is going to be a Davidson Wildcat. Today: Kuhlman joins current assistant coach Landry Kosmalski and Stephen Curry as the only Wildcats to claim the coaches’ Freshman of the Year accolade. With Jake, of course, on the all-rookie team, too: It’s the first time Davidson has had two players on the All-Freshman Team since 2003, when Ian Johnson and Brendan Winters earned the honor. Telep in August. JP in Jacksonville. JP Kuhlman from St Paul's Middle School ...: Florida Hoops.

This weekend in Charlotte

From Peter Wagner’s e-mail: Want to see other Davidson fans? Meet at Strike City! The official alumni headquarters for the weekend will be Strike City in the EpiCentre in Charlotte. Located right across the street from Bobcats/Time-Warner Arena, it’s the place to go before and after each of the games in Charlotte.

Another view

Rossiter on his Cowens

Cheap Tickets: “That play where we look to steal from the point guard is something we work on. At that point in the game, I figured their big men was going to try to get it out to their point guard. I just looked for the point guard, and luckily the ball came to me.” No. 4.

The morning after

1. I drove all those miles to watch McKillop-Matheny. The game made me watch Davidson-Elon. Good.

2. Eddie on the court after the game: “I’m 52 years old and that’s the best ending I’ve ever seen.”

3. About the last half of the second half, Matheny was using his left hand to swipe the sweat off his forehead and kept taking quick glances up at the scoreboard clock, and I thought: They’re gonna make him earn this.

4. They call it a Cowens, as in Dave Cowens, and here’s what it is: Make like you’re sprinting back on defense, fake it like you mean it, a couple hard, purposeful steps the other way -- then turn. Maybe the ball will be coming your way. McKillop after the game wanted to talk less about Steve’s shot and more about Steve’s Cowens.

5. Steve?

Hey.

Did it feel like it was going in when it left your hand?

“To be honest,” he said, before heading to the bus back to the village, “I can’t say yes.”

Davidson 99, Elon 96

AP:

ELON -- Davidson’s Brendan McKillop and Steve Rossiter hit 3-pointers in the last 3 seconds of a double-overtime win over Elon on Saturday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.

The Wildcats (16-14, 11-7 Southern Conference), who overcame a 14-point second-half deficit, trailed by three with 14 seconds left in the second overtime period. McKillop tied the game at 96 and Rossiter knocked down the game-winner 2 seconds later after Elon’s Adam Constantine turned the ball over.

McKillop and Jake Cohen scored a career-high 24 points, while JP Kuhlman’s 24 matched his career-high.

Davidson won its 15th straight against Elon (8-22, 5-13), whose first-year coach Matt Matheny was an assistant for 16 years with the Wildcats.

Burlington: An exhausting classic rocked by wild swings of energy and dripping with emotion seemed destined for a third overtime. ElonPhoenix.com: ... in front of a raucous crowd of 1,934 on Senior Night at Alumni Gym. After a Brendan McKillop three-pointer tied the game with two seconds remaining, Rossiter stole the inbounds pass and let go of a prayer before the final horn sounded. DavidsonWildcats.com: McKillop had a career-high seven 3-pointers. … It was the largest second-half deficit the ‘Cats have come back from this season. … It was Davidson’s third overtime game this season, and the ‘Cats are 2-1. … Cohen also had a career high nine rebounds. Highlights. Hot Click.

The video

Another thing

There’s a bit of cold-blooded in Jake Cohen. JP too. Also Brendan.

Live from Elon

1. That was worth 22 hours in the car.

2. I’d say the same thing had Elon won.

3. Not gonna lie. I feel bad for Matt.

Tonight’s reunion

Matheny on McKillop: “My confidant, my friend, my mentor. He’s like a brother. He’s like blood.”

Tomorrow night in Elon

Game notes: It will be an emotional game for Davidson coach Bob McKillop and Elon coach Matt Matheny. Matheny, who is in his first year with the Phoenix, was an assistant coach on McKillop’s staff for 16 seasons. ... Matheny played football and basketball for the Wildcats and is a 1992 Davidson graduate. ... Elon assistant coaches Tim Sweeney (2 years) and Will Roberson (3 years) were also members of McKillop’s staff at Davidson, and Roberson is a 2002 Davidson graduate. Matt. Elon’s senior night.

2010 SoCon Hall of Famers

Including Hetzel.

Davidson 60, UNCG 56

AP:

DAVIDSON -- Brendan McKillop's 3-pointer broke a tie with 27.7 seconds left and Davidson held off North Carolina-Greensboro 60-56 on Wednesday night.

The Wildcats (15-14, 10-7 Southern Conference) led 56-52 with 3:29 left after another McKillop 3-pointer. The Spartans (6-22, 5-12) cut it to 56-54 on a basket by Kendall Toney, then tied it with 56 seconds left after a steal and layup by Kyle Randall.

UNC Greensboro led by seven points, 46-39, with 11:19 left in the second half after an 18-5 run that included seven points by Randall.

DavidsonWildcats.com: Freshman JP Kuhlman scored 14 points to help send the Davidson seniors off with a 60-56 SoCon men's basketball victory over UNC Greensboro on Senior Night at Belk Arena Wednesday. With the win in their final home game, the Wildcat senior class of Will Archambault, Bryant Barr, Dan Nelms and Steve Rossiter has now been a part of 100 career victories at Davidson. McKillop: “I'm thrilled that our seniors were able to finish their career here at Belk Arena with a win.” “Observations.”

Senior night at Belk