Sound familiar?
In the 2008 Elite Eight, that shot didn't fall for Jason Richards and Davidson, as Kansas survived and advanced to eventually win the national championship. But in the teams' first meeting since that memorable March matchup, a three by Nik Cochran did find the target Monday night and led to an 80-74 Davidson victory in Kansas City.
Cochran's three, unlike the one Richards attempted in the 59-57 loss in 2008, did not come at the game's final horn, but against a fading shot clock with 1:33 to play. And it wasn't potentially an instant game-winner, though it may prove to be a season-changer.
Davidson led 68-65 and needed to add to its lead in the Sprint Center, referred to as a neutral site for this game only because it's not the Jayhawks' storied Phog Allen Fieldhouse. It's like North Carolina playing a game at the Greensboro Coliseum — it's essentially Dean E. Smith Center West, and the Tar Heel fans are there in droves. To be sure, Monday's crowd was with Kansas and ready to pounce on any Davidson slip-up or Kansas surge in order to maximize Jayhawk momentum.
As the shot clock dropped under five seconds, it became clear that the possession's outcome was going to rest on a shot from Cochran, a former hockey player who, among Davidson insiders, has garnered a reputation for having ice water in his veins for entirely another reason.
Cochran shaded left toward the Sprint Center logo in front of the Davidson bench. With two seconds on the clock, the Vancouver native aimed and fired over Kansas defender Thomas Robinson. His shot splashed in, extending the Wildcats' lead to 71-65, silencing the crowd and most importantly, giving Davidson the shot it needed in crunch time to get the kind of win that can lead to many more.
The Jayhawks did not trim the deficit to less than five again, and Davidson walked out of Kansas City and onto SportsCenter just like it was 2008 all over again.
This year's Wildcats are deep, as four players have double-figure scoring averages, and three Wildcat juniors have been named Southern Conference Player of the Week, including guard JP Kuhlman and forward Jake Cohen. Cochran was honored Tuesday after the 21-point performance at Kansas, which included a 4-of-5 shooting effort from beyond the arc, a 7-of-8 mark at the foul line and one turnover in 21 minutes. But without a superstar, Davidson has been striving for a signature moment, a breakthrough, if you will. Last year, the home win over the College of Charleston in late January turned Davidson's year around, and the Wildcats let opportunities slip away after leading at halftime at Duke and Charlotte this season. Their rally against Vanderbilt Dec. 7 fell four points short.
Davidson coach Bob McKillop was darn near giddy in Monday's post-game television interview, which should be expected, but the way his team played caused the ultra-intense coach to crack more than a few smiles during the game. That just doesn't happen.
McKillop could grin because Davidson was playing its best ball just nine days after getting run out of Charlotte's Halton Arena with an 84-61 loss. When Davidson got into foul trouble against Kansas — leading scorer De'Mon Brooks (15.7 points per game) fouled out and Cohen and Cochran finished with four fouls — the Wildcats didn't miss a beat.
And after committing 12 turnovers in the first half, Davidson had none — zero — after the break.
"I thought our resiliency was just a great statement about a team maturing, showing poise and taking a week of practice after a tough loss and really capitalizing on it," said McKillop.
Davidson was to play at UMass on Thursday night and will host Penn next Thursday in its final non-conference game until the ESPNU BracketBusters game against a to-be-announced opponent Feb. 18. The new year ushers in a slate of 16 remaining SoCon games — the Wildcats are currently 2-0 in the league.
Davidson is seeking its first SoCon title since 2008 — the Wildcats won the SoCon South Division in 2009 but lost to Charleston in the league tournament's semifinals — and first NCAA Tournament bid since Richards and Stephen Curry formed the Wildcats backcourt.
The win over Kansas isn't a cure-all; Davidson still has room to improve. However, it's a sign that Davidson, 34-30 the last two years, appears to be emerging from its recent mediocrity.
Perhaps Curry's simple, one-word Twitter posting just after Monday's victory best captured the moment of pride and hope that unfolded on a national stage.
"Yeahhhhhhh," the Golden State Warrior guard wrote.
For Davidson, that about sums it up.
