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| Victor Davis has helped
Illinois Wesleyan get back to the NCAA Tournament's final
weekend. Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com |
By Brian Lester
D3sports.com
Victor Davis has played in a Final Four before. As a sophomore two years ago, the senior forward was part of an Illinois Wesleyan team that advanced to the national semifinals.
Getting a second chance at something like that is never a guarantee, but Davis and his Titan teammates have one, and they plan to make the most of it.
“It’s a blessing,” Davis said. “To go there once is something not everyone gets to do. To be able to get there a second time is a testament to the hard work we put in as a team this season.”
Every year is different and every team is different, and while having the experience of being there before doesn’t necessarily guarantee anything, the prior trip does help in terms of preparation for what is ahead this weekend at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va.
“For us, there is a level of comfort in having been there before,” Illinois Wesleyan coach Ron Rose said. “We are familiar with the process of it all. We are excited about being able to play this weekend.”
Davis, who is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game, and is grabbing 6.5 rebounds per game, said having been there before helps with staying focused on the game itself this week. The Titans will battle 2012 national champion UW-Whitewater on Friday night.
“We’ve been through the banquet and the community service events and the we’ve played in the gym, in front of a big crowd, so we know what to expect as far as that goes, Davis said. “I think we can go in there and just focus on the game in front of us and give our best effort.”
Davis knows this is his last shot at a championship and he has worked hard to put himself in a position to help pave the way for success for the Titans.
One of the aspects of his game that he emphasized the most was his shooting touch. It seems to have paid off as he is connecting on 50.8 percent of his shots and has hit 28 3-pointers.
“I worked a lot on my shooting in the offseason,” Davis said. “It’s helped make me a much better basketball player. I’ve also grown as a defensive player and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help my team win,”
Davis is one of several players who have played a pivotal role in the success of the Titans, who are 27-4 overall.
Andrew Ziemnik leads the team in scoring at 12.5 ppg and Jordan Nelson is averaging 11.7 points per outing. Dylan Overstreet is clicking for 10.0 ppg. Pat Sodemann has hit 55 3-pointers and is averaging 9.5 ppg for a Titans team that is putting up 82.7 points per outing and allowing 68.
“Our strength on offense is our balance,” Rose said. “We’ve hung our hat on being able to score inside or outside and have been able to count on different players to step up. We have done a good job of taking what the defense gives us. It’s definitely a big key to our success.”
Defensively, Rose said his team has been solid most of the year, particularly as of late during the tournament.
“I feel like the last two weeks we have really stepped up on defense,” Rose said. “Our rotations have gotten better and we are playing very hard on that end of the floor.”
Illinois Wesleyan did survive a scare in the opening round of the tournament, edging Webster 71-70, but has won its last three games by double figures. Despite the outcomes, nothing has been easy on this tournament trail.
Illinois Wesleyan topped St. Norbert 84-68 and beat Calvin College 78-64. It clinched a spot in the final four with a 79-66 win over Dickinson.
“You are only going to play good teams once you get to this point,” Rose said. “We were fortunate to survive that first game, but our other games have been very competitive. The big thing for us is that we’ve done a good job of sharing the ball and our seniors want to keep this season going. They don’t want it to end.”
The Titans have been one of the better teams in the nation all season, and getting to Salem has been a goal from the beginning. The hope now is to finish on top.
“Since Day 1, really since the last time we played in the Final Four, we’ve wanted to get back there,” Davis said. “Its great that we were able to make it a reality and we are looking to play our best and hopefully have a chance to play for the championship.”