Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: 3 things to know about first-round foe Davidson

By Connor Muldowney

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 05: Foster Loyer #0 of the Davidson Wildcats is introduced before a college basketball game against the George Washington Colonials at the Smith Center on February 5, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 05: Foster Loyer #0 of the Davidson Wildcats is introduced before a college basketball game against the George Washington Colonials at the Smith Center on February 5, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 12: Foster Loyer #0 of the Davidson Wildcats shoots the ball in the second half against the Saint Louis Billikens during the 2022 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament Semifinals at Capital One Arena on March 12, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 12: Foster Loyer #0 of the Davidson Wildcats shoots the ball in the second half against the Saint Louis Billikens during the 2022 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament Semifinals at Capital One Arena on March 12, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

2. Davidson is 8th in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage

Davidson can shoot the heck out of the basketball. In fact, the Wildcats are ranked No. 8 in all of college basketball in 3-point shooting percentage, making 38.8 percent from deep.

This should definitely worry the Spartans as they’ve struggled against the three-ball late in the season, getting torched by teams like Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. The Spartans can get lost on switches, allowing someone to sneak open from distance and that just can’t happen against this Davidson team because they’ll make the Spartans pay.

The Wildcats have five players who shoot at least 38.8 percent from 3-point range, led by Foster Loyer at 45 percent. Hyunjung Lee shoots about 39 percent from deep and has a quick release and doesn’t need much space to get his shot off which is dangerous, Luka Brajkovic makes about 42 percent of his threes and can stretch the floor, Michael Jones makes 43 percent, and Grant Huffman makes just over 39 percent.

These five guys need to be smothered all game long and the Spartans must force the Wildcats to get some shots up inside the perimeter. Loyer, Lee, and Jones primarily take deep shots so force them to put the ball on the floor.

Home/Spartans Basketball