I know that I have always been more of a supporter of Darrell Davis than most UD fans at the games and on this message board. To me, it seems that he has often taken an unfair amount of blame for our failures and hasn't always gotten the credit he deserves for our success. Again, that is just my opinion reading this board and listening to others, but not here to talk about that really.
I think most of us can admit that Darrell has been a great example of what we want out of our athletes. Someone who we have never had to worry about working hard in practice or in the classroom, or concerned that they may find themselves in trouble. A guy who went from being a skinny freshman often lacking confidence to a well built senior and potentially a 1,000 point scorer. I remember at the Summer cookout prior to his freshman year, he was shy and kind of hid behind the older guys (like most of the freshman do each year). It's been fun to watch his development.
I thought it would be fun to run through a few highlights from his career that I'll remember most fondly:
- everyone remembers that stretch of 6 games his freshman year where he hit 17 of 19 from three (including ten in a row over three games!); one thing that is often forgotten about that stretch is that it started with was the exact game following the removal of Devon Scott and Jalen Robinson. If you'll recall, we were really unsure how the season was going to go and unsure of how we were going to play, and the first game out, Darrell scores 19, 5-5 from deep. That hot stretch over the next few games really helped us steady the ship and set us up for one of the most enjoyable seasons in my lifetime.
- the game AT St. Louis that year. St. Louis was awful, but we were playing awful (and in retrospect, any loss like that would have kept us out of the tournament). Darrell leads the team in scoring with 12 points. Darrell hit three 3 pointers in the second half, each one gave us the lead (we were losing by one or two prior to the shot on all three).
- Sophomore year, we're getting killed (down 16 and looking awful) at Vanderbilt toward the end of the first half. Darrell gets two steals and scores 8 straight points for us, and we end up down just 8 at the half, and go on to win in the second half.
- obviously, at Rhode Island, his sophomore year, hitting the game winner in front of their student section. Dagger.
- his junior year was a struggle, but actually a couple of my favorite memories of him were from that season. One is the game at Rhode Island, he didn't play all that well and wasn't even in the game when Xeyrius spiked his second three. But watch his reaction when the timeout is called. He reacted with even more excitement than when he had hit the game winner the year before, he was so happy for Xeyrius. Great example of being all in for your teammates. 3:15 of this clip:
- obviously his senior year has been a struggle for the team, but he has certainly had some highlights. More than anything, his scoring has been amazing! Say what you will about his game and his struggle down the stretch for the season, but he's really improved his ability to put the ball in the hoop, including some monster performances. He's only 28 points away from 1000 (which is amazing considering he only had a bit over 500 going into this year). I really, really hope he can find a way to get over 1000.
Really proud of Darrell and all that he accomplished. Always seemed to be a great representative of the team and University. Really hope he can go out with a win tomorrow afternoon.
Let's get it!
I think most of us can admit that Darrell has been a great example of what we want out of our athletes. Someone who we have never had to worry about working hard in practice or in the classroom, or concerned that they may find themselves in trouble. A guy who went from being a skinny freshman often lacking confidence to a well built senior and potentially a 1,000 point scorer. I remember at the Summer cookout prior to his freshman year, he was shy and kind of hid behind the older guys (like most of the freshman do each year). It's been fun to watch his development.
I thought it would be fun to run through a few highlights from his career that I'll remember most fondly:
- everyone remembers that stretch of 6 games his freshman year where he hit 17 of 19 from three (including ten in a row over three games!); one thing that is often forgotten about that stretch is that it started with was the exact game following the removal of Devon Scott and Jalen Robinson. If you'll recall, we were really unsure how the season was going to go and unsure of how we were going to play, and the first game out, Darrell scores 19, 5-5 from deep. That hot stretch over the next few games really helped us steady the ship and set us up for one of the most enjoyable seasons in my lifetime.
- the game AT St. Louis that year. St. Louis was awful, but we were playing awful (and in retrospect, any loss like that would have kept us out of the tournament). Darrell leads the team in scoring with 12 points. Darrell hit three 3 pointers in the second half, each one gave us the lead (we were losing by one or two prior to the shot on all three).
- Sophomore year, we're getting killed (down 16 and looking awful) at Vanderbilt toward the end of the first half. Darrell gets two steals and scores 8 straight points for us, and we end up down just 8 at the half, and go on to win in the second half.
- obviously, at Rhode Island, his sophomore year, hitting the game winner in front of their student section. Dagger.
- his junior year was a struggle, but actually a couple of my favorite memories of him were from that season. One is the game at Rhode Island, he didn't play all that well and wasn't even in the game when Xeyrius spiked his second three. But watch his reaction when the timeout is called. He reacted with even more excitement than when he had hit the game winner the year before, he was so happy for Xeyrius. Great example of being all in for your teammates. 3:15 of this clip:
- obviously his senior year has been a struggle for the team, but he has certainly had some highlights. More than anything, his scoring has been amazing! Say what you will about his game and his struggle down the stretch for the season, but he's really improved his ability to put the ball in the hoop, including some monster performances. He's only 28 points away from 1000 (which is amazing considering he only had a bit over 500 going into this year). I really, really hope he can find a way to get over 1000.
Really proud of Darrell and all that he accomplished. Always seemed to be a great representative of the team and University. Really hope he can go out with a win tomorrow afternoon.
Let's get it!
