Richmond’s first two months have been disappointing. They are currently at 10-6. The Spiders are only 1-5 against top 100 teams and have won most of their matches against cakewalk opponents.
In November, Richmond was projected to finish at the top of conference with Davidson just outside. Now, the odds are that Richmond will win the league with +1500 while Davidson is at +360.
This matchup is set to turn into a 3-point shootout. That will add value to the total.
Davidson Wildcats
The Wildcats offense is based on their shot-making skills. This group is second in the country in 3-point percentage with 41% of their attempts.
The three-headed monster Hyunjung Lee Foster Loyer, Michael Jones and Foster Loyer lead the shooting. Together, the trio have hit 117 of 256 shots outside — a combined 46%. They are Bob McKillop’s main offensive players and average double-digit points per game.
Davidson also makes 58% of its field goal attempts, ranking sixth in the country. 41% of shot attempts by the team come from behind, which is 38% of the total points for the season. Although the Wildcats are slow in pace, they are extremely efficient and don’t often turn the ball over.
The Wildcats have all the perimeter weapons they need, but they are not able to defend. They rank outside the top 100 for defensive efficiency. They let opponents hit 51% of their field goals and 35% from 3-point range, both outside the top 200.
They will face off against the Richmond offense, which takes 44% of its shots from outside and hits at 35%.
Last time out, Davidson beat UMass by 10 points at home. Luka Brajkovic went 9-for-10 and led all scorers, scoring 25 points.
Richmond Spiders
Richmond brought back four of the five members from the squad last year that was a strong contender for the conference. The group hasn’t had the same success this year.
The Spiders have a similar offense to Davidson’s, but with a faster pace.
Richmond converts at an impressive rate and takes a lot of 3-pointers. The Spiders are the best at basketball and rank 11th in the country in turnover percentage.
Grant Golden and Tyler Burton are the Spiders’ starting forwards. They are key to their offensive success. They average 34 points per game and bring in 14 rebounds per contest, while scoring double-digits in every other game this season.
Even though he is only 5-foot-9, Jacob Gilyard is Richmond’s most prominent ball handler. He averages 6.5 assists per match, but isn’t great shooting the basketball at 35%.
They have contributed to 63% of the team’s made field goals this season. This is the top 12 percent in the country.
Richmond’s defense has allowed 71 points per match, and when they play against top 100 teams, that number jumps up to 81.
They have been terrible at protecting the perimeter and allowed opponents to score 35% (260th nationally). This is a serious concern for Davidson, which primarily lives on 3-point territory.
Davidson vs. Richmond Betting Pick
McKillop’s best case scenario is that his roster gets into a 3-point shootout. This matchup may be the one for him.
Both teams attempt more than 40% of their shots from beyond the arc. Davidson converts at 41%, while Richmond converts at 35%. Both teams rank outside the top 250 nationally in defense of such shot attempts.
Davidson has made 10 or more 3-pointers in its last five games and it is unlikely that it will do the same in this one.
Both teams will be converting well and are expected to bomb away in this matchup. This is a strong argument for the over. This is a game that’s set up to be a 3-point contest.
