Davidson Basketball Box 7158 Davidson, NC 28035-7158
THE WILDCAT REPORT A N eWSleTTer
for THe frieNDS of
D AviDSoN B ASkeTBAll
S ePTeMBer 2010
Wildcats Make Their Mark in Austria Most Davidson fans are well aware of the numerous international success stories that Bob McKillop has had in his time at Davidson. An article in last September’s edition of TWR detailed the 13 current and former players that have represented their countries at the national team level. No one could have known at the time how that article would end up foreshadowing the explosion of international participation that would take place in the summer of 2010. The festivities tipped off in July of 2009 when Swede Chris Czerapowicz made an early verbal commitment to the Wildcats. The Davidson coaches, already thrilled with Chris’s commitment, were further delighted later in the month when he had a breakout performance in the European under-18 championships in Bosnia. Sweden, led by Chris, went undefeated in the “B” division and earned a spot in the 2010 “A” group. Prior to the team’s perfect showing, no Swedish age group in men’s or women’s basketball—not the under-16s, the under-18s, the under-20s or the men’s national team—had ever advanced to the “A” division…EVER. To top things off, the young Swede, his commitment to Chris Czerapowicz and Bob McKillop Davidson barely two weeks old, was named MVP of the tournament. The only downside for Chris was that the under-18 team would be participating in the “A’s” without him the next year; due to his date of birth he knew that he would be moving up to the under-20s in 2010 (a team which, alas, had not qualified for advancement). However, as you will read later on, Chris found a satisfactory way to rectify that situation. The next domino to fall in place was Davidson’s freshman sensation, Jake Cohen. Due to his stellar performance in his freshman season and his Jewish heritage, the Israeli basketball federation approached him and asked if he would have an interest in playing for the country’s under-20 team. Jake said yes and, after a whirlwind of logistical planning, he quickly found himself in Israel training with the team in early June. After a few weeks of training and a few “friendly” games (universal European parlance for a scrimmage) he and his teammates headed to Austria for the tournament. The Wildcat contingency, however, was not yet complete. Last spring the coaching staff had heard about a young Scot who was interested in coming to the States. After a brief recruiting period, which included a quick 48-hour transcontinental trip for his official visit to Davidson’s campus, Ali Mackay Jake Cohen and Bob McKillop called Coach McKillop and pledged to become a Wildcat. Standing six feet, 10 inches, Ali’s late commitment gave the Davidson side (European soccer jargon Coming in November. . . for “team” or “squad”) an immediate boost in the frontcourt. Continued on Page 4 Due to the relative inactivity between basketball seasons, Davidson fans are forced to speculate about what to expect in the subsequent season. One topic, in particular, especially piques supporters’ curiosity: the incoming freshmen. What are their names? Where are they from? What positions do they play? How good are they? No matter how many questions they ask, true Wildcat fans always thirst for more information; and yet they cannot truly be satisfied until they can see the youngsters with their own eyes. In the next edition of TWR, we will profile these young men and, hopefully, satisfy all Wildcat fans’ curiosity. For now, just to give everyone a brief taste—and to leave you wanting more—here are the names, hometowns and heights of the newest members of the Davidson family:
Ali Mackay and Bob McKillop
Tom Droney Chris Czerapowicz Ali Mackay Jordan Downing De’Mon Brooks
Pittsburgh, Pa. Goteborg, Sweden North Berwick, Scotland Huntersville, N.C. Charlotte, N.C.
6-6 6-6 6-10 6-5 6-7
Davidson Basketball News and Notes:
Gerry Born ’86, he of the miraculous, gamewinning three-pointer in the Southern Conference tournament championship game in 1986, is the new head boys’ basketball coach at Echols County high school in Statenville, Georgia. Congratulations and good luck to Gerry and his team!...Jason richards ’08 was recently named a graduate assistant coach for the University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball team… John falconi ’07 recently changed jobs. He is now a financial analyst for ESPN and will be working out of their New York City office…Chris Pearson ’02 recently Gerry Born retired from his career as a professional basketball player. Chris, who had been also working as a basketball agent while he played, parlayed that experience into a new job with the prestigious Two Points Sports Agency in Italy. Congratulations to Jason, John and Chris on their new opportunities!..Congratulations to Ian Johnson ’06 on his recent engagement! In September, Ian will tie the knot with Colette Meek, a professional volleyball player from Edmonton, Canada. Ian’s former teammate, eric Blancett ’06, got engaged in late July. EB will be marrying the lovely Anna Williams of Concord, N.C. Despite the fact that he is two years younger and was mentored by them in college, the pupil became the teacher when Thomas Sander ’08 beat both Ian and EB to the punch with his late April engagement to Sarah Walter ’08. Sarah, a former lacrosse player at Davidson, hails from Baltimore, Maryland. Congratulations to all of the happy couples!...Brendan Winters ’06 signed to play next season with the Atomeromu SE Paks club in Hungary. Atomeromu won the 2009 Hungarian championship on a team that included none other than the aforementioned Ian Johnson. Ian left the champions to play for another Hungarian team, Kecskemeti, last season, but after Brendan’s signing Ian also resigned with Atomeromu, making the two teammates again for the upcoming season…kenny Grant ’06, fresh off of his championship season in Sweden, signed to play the upcoming year for Nancy in France’s top professional league, Pro A. The transition should be a fairly seamless one for Kenny as he is fluent in French, having Boris Meno spent several years of his childhood in France and also already having played one season in the French Pro B league… logan kosmalski ’05 recently agreed to play next season in Stockholm, Sweden. Joining the Solna Vikings, he will be taking over for Kenny as the latest Wildcat to hold court in the Swedish league…Boris Meno ’08 recently re-signed with his Czech club, Basketbol Brno. This will be Boris’s third year in the Czech Republic and his second season with Brno… TWR and the whole Davidson family wishes Brendan, Ian, Kenny, Logan and Boris the best of luck in their upcoming seasons!…July 3rd marked a special day in the Wildcat basketball family: Bryant Barr ’10 married Brittany Narr ’09 in a beautiful ceremony in Excelsior, Minnesota. Many family and friends attended the wedding and reception as did the ever-present contingency of Davidson players and coaches. Bryant and Brittany left the very next day for their week-long honeymoon and, upon their arrival back home, immediately began their new jobs in Chicago…On August 1, a Davidson reunion of sorts convened in Concord, N.C. There, family and friends gathered for the baptism of Benjamin Miles Ebong, the son of Sylvana and Ben ebong ’99. Those Davidson members in attendance included Cathy and Bob Mckillop, Mikaela, Jamye and Michael Bree ’02, Bentley, Jessica and Michel lusakueno ’03, Andrew lovedale ’09 and girlfriend Molly McQuillen and frank Ben-eze ’12…the Davidson coaching staff received a very pleasant surprise in late August when Wildcat legend Jerry kroll ’70 stopped by the office for a quick visit with his nephew, Matt, and Matt’s son, Matthew. The coaches were treated to a few special moments with the Davidson great, who some say played like recent NBA first round draft pick, Gordon Hayward… Continued on Page 4 Jerry Kroll
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Q with &A
Brendan McKillop The Wildcat Report: Thanks for joining us, Brendan. Wildcat fans are dying to hear what this year’s lone senior has to say about the upcoming season. So please tell us, what do you foresee for the Wildcats in the months ahead? Brendan McKillop: I see a group of guys that are hungry to help return Davidson to its status as the Southern Conference’s powerhouse. Every single one of us was disappointed with the results of last season, and we will work tirelessly to make sure we have a much more successful season. I also see a group that is going to have a lot of fun. We have a very close group returning and a great freshmen class coming in, and we know that in order to succeed, we need to have fun! TWR: Having grown up attending almost every Davidson basketball game, you have a perspective that is different than most fans and players. What has it been like to watch Davidson basketball games for almost 20 years? And now, as a player, what is it like to actually be on the court playing in those games?
2010-11 fast Break Club The Fast Break Club has helped the Davidson men's basketball team reach new heights of success. Fast Break Club revenues are used for projects such as improving the facilities, publishing The Wildcat Report, providing the pep band, purchasing equipment, sponsoring promotional and game related activities, all of which enhance the Davidson Men's Basketball Program. Membership benefits this year will include receipt of The Wildcat Report, the pre-game social and scouting report (at every home game), Fast Break Club Hospitality room activities at the Conference Tournament, and a repeat of last year's well received and very informative pre-season behind the scenes look at the Davidson College basketball program, “An Inside Look at the Cats.” The minimum donation required for membership is $200 for an individual and $300 for families. Family membership includes children 21 and under. A donation of a Gift Membership can be for a Family or Individual. Donations to the Fast Break Club must be in addition to any contributions already being made to Davidson College and are not tax deductible. If you would like to become a member of the Fast Break Club and support the Davidson Men’s Basketball Program, please fill out this form and return it to:
Men’s Basketball office Davidson College Box 7158 Davidson, NC 28035
BM: Luckily, I was too young to know what was actually going on in my Dad’s first few years as the head coach at Davidson, but ever since I can remember, Davidson basketball has been my life. Growing up, I lived and died with the Wildcats, from traveling to games on the road and watching practice every day. Being a part of this team has been a dream come true. I get to play for the team I’ve loved my whole life as well as the team my family and extended family has loved their whole lives. It’s a gift to know that every time I step on the court, I’m not just playing for Davidson, but I’m also playing for my family. TWR: You were a highly recruited high school player coming out of Charlotte Catholic. What gave Davidson the edge when you made your college choice? BM: My brother Matt’s graduating class consisted of seven seniors who were all great friends and a really tight knit group. When I was making my college decision, I knew I wanted to be in a place that had the same type of family atmosphere. After watching the Wildcats play in the SoCon tournament and NCAA first round in 2007, I knew this was the right place for me. TWR: Your older siblings, Kerrin and Matt, both graduated from Davidson. What advice, if any, did they give you about what to expect from your Davidson experience? BM: Most of Matt’s advice dealt with what it would be like playing for my father. He told me I needed to forget about expectations and pressure and just play the way I know how too. It took me a while to grasp that, and I think I finally fully understand how to do that. Kerrin just told me to enjoy every aspect of college. It’s well known that she misses her days as a student and event planner on Davidson’s campus so she wants me to take advantage of my time here while I can. TWR: What has it been like playing for your father the last three years? BM: It’s been great at times and very rough at times. Like he once said of our situation: “the highs are very high, but the lows are very low.” During my first two years and even at points last season, I felt overwhelmed by pressure of being the coach’s son and feeling like I had to constantly prove myself. This year, however, I’m just going to let go of it all and play like I know I can. TWR: Has your Davidson career been, so far, what you had imagined it would be? BM: My career has been somewhat of a roller coaster, going from the Elite 8 to last years postseason-less year. While last year’s outcome wasn’t what we expected, it’s definitely a year we can learn from and grow from to help the program excel starting with this upcoming season. TWR: What are your plans after you graduate? Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years? BM: I definitely want to continue to play basketball after graduating, at least while my body still allows me to. After that, I haven’t decided yet. I may go back to school or may follow my dad and brother’s footsteps into coaching. TWR: We asked Ben in the last edition, and now we want to ask you: was your group robbed of the first place trophy in last year’s A Night with the Cats dance contest? Do you expect to win the contest this year? BM: Last year’s judging was a travesty! Our loss is on the same level as Armando Galarraga’s lost perfect game. There’s no doubt in my mind that we will dance our way to the trophy, as long as they give me another solo.
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Wildcat Fan Forum The Wildcat Fan Forum is back for another round! In this edition, head coach Bob McKillop answers questions from faithful Davidson basketball fans Greg Johnson and Jim Smith. Greg Johnson: What motivates you to get up and go to work every day? Bob Mckillop: I get up each morning very excited about the responsibility and the opportunity to serve as our head basketball coach. For so many years, I have had a love affair with Davidson College and Davidson College basketball. I understand the mission. I understand the challenges. I have a deep rooted affection for our ever growing Davidson family. To quote the 13th century scholar, St. Thomas Aquinas, “We only do well that which we do with joy.” Twenty-one years is a long tenure. It cultivates consistency. It encourages endurance. I know I’m not the way I was when I came here in 1989. In a sense, my Davidson experience continues to be a remarkable education. Each day is an opportunity to get better, have fun, and serve the Davidson community. What a great way to greet each day! I am so thankful to my family of players past and present, alums, and supporters who have trusted me with this opportunity. It is certainly always a great day to be a Wildcat. Jim Smith: Are coaches assigned a specific task with regards to recruiting, game preparation, and scouting? Bob Mckillop: Our coaching staff is a team, a very cohesive team. Their loyalty is unsurpassed. They wear Davidson and our basketball program on their hearts. Their commitment of time and energy is superb. Trust, Commitment, Care. They know our Code well. They’ve embraced it with passion. I count myself as very lucky to be on a team with Jim, Landry, Matt, Terrell, and Susan. Each staff member is given a very detailed job description. Just as our players have abilities that put them in position to be our point guard or a power forward or our best defender, so too does each staff member have responsibilities that are crafted to fully capitalize on their individual strengths. In giving them assignments, I hope to nurture and cultivate the skills and abilities that give our coaches the opportunity to be very well prepared for a future as a head coach. I’m strongly convinced that providing experiences that foster versatility should be a significant part of their job responsibility. Every one of them becomes involved in recruiting, practice and practice planning, player relations, program development, scouting and game planning, as well as public relations. As an example, in the area of recruiting, Jim, Landry, and Matt are assigned specifically to either high school seniors, juniors, sophomores or freshmen. Each of them will then coordinate all of the activities relative to the recruitment of that particular class. Generally, the coordinating coach for the senior class will have to schedule home visits and official visits as well as being certain that the prospect completes the college admission process along with the NCAA eligibility process. Some areas of responsibility for junior recruitment would be securing transcripts, watching DVD’s of prospects, the scheduling of unofficial visits, and developing the calendar of summer recruiting activities. Every coach lends support in all areas insuring that no detail slips through the cracks. We do not have specific designations as Coordinator of Scouting or Recruiting Coordinator or even Defensive or Offensive Coordinator. I’m convinced that versatility provides the best foundation upon which to structure the coaching careers of our guys. Each staff member is challenged by a full plate of responsibilities, and I clearly define my own expectations for them and challenge them to demonstrate leadership and creativity as they work to make our program the best it can be. We all truly believe that we represent our alums, our college community, and all of our fans and friends.
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Breaking New$ The Davidson Athletic foundation (DAf) recently announced a change in financial policy:
Davidson Athletic Foundation donors may designate their gifts to any of Davidson’s 21 NCAA Division I athletic programs. Many fans have asked about the guidelines in the past, so TWr wanted to alert everyone to this significant shift in DAf policy. for more information, please call the Davidson Athletic foundation at 704-894-2396.
Compliance Question of the Month If you have been a faithful reader of this segment of TWR, you know that the Davidson players and coaches have to be very wellinformed about the NCAA’s rules and regulations and that they must be vigilant at all times about following all compliance guidelines. These rules govern members 365 days a year, but one especially important time—with very specific rules—is the July recruiting period. For 20 days in July, college basketball coaches are permitted to watch high school student-athletes play in sanctioned events all over the country. Because the coaches, players and parents are in confined spaces like high school gymnasiums and small arenas, there are specific guidelines restricting what is and is not allowed. Therefore, the question for this month is, what type of contact, if any, is allowed between college coaches and players and their parents? This question is answered in the very helpful “Rules Primer” that the NCAA and Southern Conference provided coaches in June: “Any face-to-face contact by a Division I coach will constitute an impermissible contact during the July evaluation period if the encounter is prearranged or if the coach positions himself in a location where contact is possible (e.g., near gym entrances, designated paths for prospects, etc.). A coach, who is innocently approached by a prospect, parent or someone associated with the prospect, will not be charged with a violation of the contact rule provided the encounter is not prearranged, the coach does not engage in any dialogue in excess of a greeting and the coach takes appropriate steps to immediately end the encounter.” This guideline is succinctly stated and easy to understand. Coaches used to position themselves underneath baskets when players and teams were warming up, or by doors when they were arriving or departing. This practice, clearly stated above, is no longer allowed. One issue that sometimes arises: parents and players do not always know, or abide by, this rule. College coaches are therefore sometimes forced to rather forcefully break off contact and walk away. It may seem rude at times, but it is what has to be done to make sure they are following the rule, which is in everyone’s best interest to do in order to uphold fair play and an even playing field. If you have any specific compliance questions, please contact our coaches or our director of compliance, Katy McNay.
TWr Credits
Contributors: Landry Kosmalski, Jim Smith, Greg Johnson Photos: Tim Cowie, Bill Giduz, FIBA, Angelika Novak, Sports Information Archives layout / Design editor: Mark Brumbaugh Printer: Powerhouse Color
Wildcats Summer Recap Fans may remember that in last September’s edition, TWR had much to say about the team’s much-heralded trip to Europe. At the present time, NCAA rules allow teams to make such international trips once every four years. The Wildcats are still waiting for the day when teams are allowed to travel once every year; alas, that day may never come. Until then, the Davidson players and coaches continue to find ways to make the summers productive, successful and enjoyable. And as close observers probably know, the success of Jake, Ali and Chris in the European under-20 championships was not the only bright spot of the summer for the Davidson basketball program. One of the more pleasurable staples of the summer takes place every year in mid to late June. At that time, a horde of youngsters descends on the Davidson campus for two weeks of the Bob McKillop basketball camp. The 230+ boys that attended this summer were coached by a staff of counselors that consisted of high school and college coaches, as well as current and former college players. In long days that both started and ended at 9:00, the campers participated in drills, contests and games, and gleaned insight from the very knowledgeable staff. Needless to say, camp was a demanding, yet extremely enjoyable experience for campers and coaches alike. The Davidson basketball family had their fun each night after camp. Current, future and former Wildcat players took the court for intense and competitive 5-on-5 pickup games. Members of the 2010-2011 team that were in town for camp included Brendan McKillop, Ben Allison, AJ Atkinson, Will Reigel, Frank Ben-Eze, Clint Mann, JP Kuhlman, Nik Cochran, Jordan Downing, De’Mon Brooks and Tom Droney. Former players Andrew Lovedale, Logan Kosmalski, Will Archambault and Stephen Curry likewise participated in the action. Also in town, but not participating in camp pickup games, were former players Jason Richards, Ben Ebong, Michael Bree, Chris Pearson, Brendan Winters and Conor Grace. While the two weeks of camp served as an exciting time for campers, it was also a very special experience for different generations of Davidson players to come together and continue to improve upon an already strong and loyal familial bond. After camp ends each year the Davidson players return home to continue their workouts while the coaching staff heads out on the recruiting trail for most of July. This year, however, provided an exciting twist to the normal routine: throughout July and August, Wildcat fans closely followed Davidson great Stephen Curry’s bid to make the top team in the country: the USA Dream Team. Stephen gained national team experience back in 2007 with the US under-19 team, which competed in Belgrade, Serbia. This time, however, the stakes were higher as he was competing for a spot on the team against some of the best players in the world. Timing is sometimes a wonderful thing, and it was especially fortuitous for Bob McKillop and assistant coach Landry Kosmalski in July. The coaches, in town to recruit at AAU tournaments, were able to attend a national team practice in Las Vegas. There they were able to see Stephen and 18 other men’s team members in action. Basketball fans far and wide know that NBA players are some of the most talented athletes in the world—this fact is especially clear when they are seen up close and personal. Their speed, quickness, length and athleticism make the court look small and Stephen Curry continues to grab headlines.
the college players that they practiced against felt the full brunt of their talent and tenacity. A few days later the team held their first of many scrimmages—this one of the intra-squad variety—aptly called the 2010 USA Basketball Showcase. In his first live action as a men’s national team player, Stephen had 14 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes of action. While that was a very successful debut for the 22-year old, the best news came a few days later as the team made cuts and Stephen found out that he had made the 15 man roster. After a short break the team reconvened in With only numbers 4 through 15 available as per FIBA rules, No. 30 will wear No. 11 during the World early August in New Baskeball Championships York City for practices and more exhibition games. In a US win in a scrimmage against China, Stephen tallied seven points and three assists in 13 minutes and had four points in 12 minutes the very next day as the Americans thrashed France by 30 points. The team, and Stephen in particular, received strong support versus the French squad from a contingency of Davidson well-wishers. Bob McKillop and Jim Fox represented the Davidson coaching staff, while a Wildcat players’ fraternity of Brandon Williams, Chris Clunie, Kenny Grant, and ex-teammate Steve Rossiter were on hand as well to cheer him on. Before the France game even tipped off Stephen received more good news, as he learned that he had made the 13 man roster. The team ultimately kept 12 players, but he would not find out his final fate until after the team’s final exhibition games in Europe Stephen’s surprising success on the team (surprising to all nonDavidson fans, that is!) began to garner attention from the national press. Within a few days, he was featured in lengthy articles in the New York Times and CBSsports.com. Both articles expressed deep admiration for his showing during the tryouts and portrayed the humble Stephen that Wildcat fans know and love: "Nothing can beat this experience of being around these guys and learning as we go through this," he said. "No matter how much I play, how well I play in Spain, whether I make the team or I don't, either way I'm still going to benefit a lot from this whole journey." Following their short stay in New York, the team boarded a plane for a flight to Madrid for more exhibition games. Once there, Stephen unfortunately faced some adversity: in a practice on Wednesday, August 18, he sprained his ankle and was forced to miss practice on Thursday. He rebounded quite nicely that weekend, however, and played well in US wins versus Lithuania and Spain, including scoring seven points in seven minutes in a close one-point victory against the Spaniards. Two days later Stephen received the news he had been hoping for: he made the final twelve man roster! At the time TWR went to press, the team was competing at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey. The US was off to a strong start with a 4-0 record in their first four pool games. Hopefully, by the time you are reading this article, the team has reached their goal of winning a gold medal. The experience has undoubtedly been a positive and happy one for Stephen, and yet another source of pride for Wildcat fans. The young man who showed up on Davidson’s campus as a skinny, baby-faced freshman just four short years ago lived out his dreams on the biggest stage in the world.
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Wildcats Make Mark In Austria, from Page 1 Scotland’s oldest national team is the under-18 squad, but Ali took advantage of the Scottish-British connection to try-out for, and ultimately make, the under-20 Great Britain team (according to both Ben Allison and Ali, this team is simply called “GB” by anyone “in the know”). So, in mid-June of 2010, the Wildcat coaching staff looked around at each other with dazed looks and said, “Wow, we are going to have three guys playing in the European under-20 tournament in July.” It all came together so abruptly—with Jake’s somewhat unexpected addition to another country’s team and Ali’s late Davidson commitment—but the surprise was a pleasant one. Even more satisfying was the fact that Chris and Sweden would be tipping off the tournament against Jake and the Israelis—a fact which caused an immediate escalation to the flow of Facebook trash talk. When the tournament kicked off on July 14, Sweden versus Israel was the first game of the tournament and Davidson head man Bob McKillop was front and center (side note: McKillop turned 60 the previous day. Jake had dutifully prepared his teammates, so when Coach attended his practice that day he and his teammates sang him “Happy Birthday” in...wait for it…Hebrew). McKillop saw a great game, one in which there were many lead changes before the Swedes ultimately prevailed, 71-67. Jake got the best of the individual matchup, with 16 points and nine rebounds to Chris’s nine points and four rebounds, but Chris and the Swedes continued their hot streak and earned the win. In the late game of the day, Great Britain defeated Denmark, 79-65. Despite it being his first game ever with the GBs, Ali played very well and impressed McKillop by scoring six points and pulling down five rebounds in 20 strong minutes of play. At the end of the first round all three teams advanced to the next round of pool play with records of 2-1. Now, here is where things get tricky to the casual American observer: Sweden and Israel both finished the second round of pool play with records of 2-1; however, for reasons too complicated to explain in this short article, Sweden advanced to the semifinals and Israel did not. An even more convoluted explanation is needed to explain the following: the GB side went 3-0 in the second round of pool play but, because of a loss in the first round of pool play, they lost a tie-breaker based on point differential. Follow that? Needless to say, Ali and his teammates were nearly apoplectic over this seemingly unjust outcome. Regardless of the reasons, when the dust finally settled the Swedes advanced to the critical semifinals and the Israelis and British did not. There was, however, good news from a Davidson perspective. Despite their disappointment at not advancing, Jake and Ali were pleased to see that their teams would be facing each other in Chris Czerapowicz for Sweden the fifth place game.
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News & Notes Continued . . . Another Davidson great, this one a Bob McKillop-era player, was seen on campus recently. Janko Narat ’93 was in town for a special Davidson College event: the retirement of Spanish professor and devoted Wildcat fan, Dr. Alberto HernandezChiroldes. Janko’s daughters, Naomi and Leah, were with their father on his short visit back to campus…The Wildcat Report is now offered in an electronic version. If you would like to receive this eversion, please shoot us an email and let us know (sumercer@davidson.edu). Likewise, if you are moving, please email us your new address.
NEW LOOK FOR WILDCATS
Janko Narat
With their spirits buoyed, the trash talk resumed. In a good-natured email to assistant coach Landry Kosmalski, Jake stated, “This game means a lot, I would have bragging rights over Ben and Ali for a long time to come, plus it means a 5th place finish” (ah, the beauty of friendly rivalry). Much to Ali’s chagrin, the Israelis earned the victory in a shootout, 103-92, and Jake led his team with 23 points and nine rebounds. Now, the even better news: in European tournaments the two finalists—regardless of whether they win or lose—automatically advance to the “A” group for the next year. Therefore, a semifinal victory by the Swedes meant that Chris would again lead his team to this prestigious advancement. As alluded to earlier, he did just that. With their 79-69 semifinal victory over Poland, the Swedes advanced to the “A” group for only the second time in their basketball history. This time, Chris will get to reap the rewards of his hard work as he will again play for the under-20 team next summer. Maybe a little overly pleased with their advancement, Sweden lost in a meaningless final game to the Austrian home team, 71-66. The strong showing by the Wildcat players garnered quite a bit of media interest. With averages of 20 points and eight rebounds, Jake finished as the tournament’s leading scorer and 8th leading rebounder—and one of its media darlings. The Jewish Journal’s “The Great Rabbino” blog featured him in an interview titled, maybe a touch impulsively, “Jake Cohen Takes Over for Stephen Curry.” The Jewish newspaper Haaretz published an article as well, with the clever title of “Shooting Star of David(son).” Sports Illustrated also got in on the act: in an online article, writer Luke Winn wrote about Jake and then went on to include him, Chris and Ali in his top 20 ranking of players participating in both the “A” and “B” division tournaments…high praise, indeed. The three young men earned the attention and exposure with their hard work and strong showings in the tournament. Their performances spiced up the summer and should excite all Wildcat fans about the future of Davidson basketball. Jake Cohen for Israel
Davidson College unveiled its new spirit marks during Meet the Wildcats Fan Day on the Davidson Town Green, Saturday, Aug. 14. Davidson put together a campus committee comprised of students, staff, alumni and coaches who teamed with SME, Inc., a branding company out of New York City. A yearlong process of creative design and market testing produced primary, secondary and tertiary marks, a youth mark and a new font, specifically designed for Davidson. The new spirit marks are for use campus wide but will not replace Davidson’s institutional mark, which is the word “Davidson” with a bar and diamond underneath it. “Through the process, we found that our students, alumni and fans really have an affinity for and identify with our current logo, the cat with the diamond behind it, so we opted to continue along that evolutionary track to get our primary mark,” said Director of Athletics Jim Murphy. “I’m extremely happy with the results, and I think it will help us capitalize on the equity we have already built in our current brand. We also added a secondary mark, tertiary mark and youth mark to give us variety.” The secondary mark is a “D” with claw marks through it, and the tertiary mark is a paw print in the shape of a “D.” All three marks along with the words, “Davidson,” “Davidson College” and “Wildcats” allow for a myriad of design options for Davidson’s 21 varsity athletic programs. “There are hundreds of thousands of people—locally, nationally, and all over the world—who care deeply about Davidson and who follow news about the college,” said Davidson President Tom Ross. “Thanks to a number of things, including The Davidson Trust and the success of our student athletes, the college has achieved a new level of visibility in recent years. The college’s commitment to honor, integrity and excellence in the classroom and in the athletic arena is stronger than ever. We hope that our new fans as well as those who have loved Davidson for years will embrace and enjoy the new spirit marks.” Davidson teams will be sporting the logo this fall on their practice and travel gear and will phase the new marks in on competition uniforms over the next two to three years as the need to purchase new uniforms arises. “I’m thrilled with the look of our new spirit marks,” said coach Bob McKillop. “They are clean, crisp, bright and exciting, and they hold true to the identity of Davidson. Our fans and alumni have such a strong connection to Davidson, and I think the new marks will further strengthen that bond.” The new spirit mark is the ninth Davidson has used since becoming known as the Wildcats following a football game at Auburn in 1917. The most recent before today’s launch had been in use since 1994. Pictures of Davidson’s previous logos, as well as a full gallery of the new logos, are available online at DavidsonWildcats.com. Apparel bearing the new look for Davidson basketball is on sale in Cats on Main, located at 131 Main Street, and the college’s on-campus bookstore.
The new primary mark
The new secondary mark
Additional Logo Info - Where can i see the new logos in full color? On the very back of this edition of TWR is the new wildcat head. Note that it is sporting a black diamond on the red background. In most other applications, the diamond is red. Otherwise, you can view a gallery of the new logos online or pick up some new Wildcats gear at Cats on Main. - What about the basketball court? The new marks are indeed on the floor at Belk Arena. We could describe the changes here, but why ruin the surprise? Let’s just say it is a little darker and a bit more menacing to our opponents. We won’t have to remind you to take notice when the ‘Cats return to action.
The new, stylized paw
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