Vashon product Kennard Davis Jr., the SIU-Carbondale Salukis second-leading scorer and team assists leader this season, found himself in an unusual spot during the Jan. 5, 2025, game at Illinois State – the bench.
In a “Coach’s Decision” situation, SIU-C coach Scott Nagy kept Davis out of play the entire game, an embarrassing 85-54 beatdown by the Redbirds.
In the following game on Jan. 8 at favored Belmont, Kennard’s all-around effort was part of his team’s valiant upset bid, but the Salukis fell 80-76.
Davis had responded by working on his conditioning, improving his play, and becoming the leader his team desperately needed.
“I worked on building team chemistry, exercising, worked on my body,” he said following a win at Missouri State.
“I feel like my energy is contagious. If I’m playing really hard my teammates play really hard.”
During the regular season, Kennard averaged16.3 points and five assists per game.
Davis was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week beginning January 20 after averaging a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds as the Salukis chalked up wins at Missouri State and at home against Northern Iowa.
Davis finished the two-game stretch shooting 57.1% (16-28) from the floor, 46.7% (7-15) from three-point range, and 75% (3-4) from the free-throw line.
He scored a career-high 24 in a win over Northern Iowa and notched his third double-double of by adding 10-rebounds against the Panthers. The sophomore had 18 points, eight rebounds, and three 3-pointers during a road win at Missouri State.
A four-year letterwinner at Vashon, Davis arrived at SIU-C as The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association’s Class 4 Player of the Year. A First Team All-Conference honoree, Davis never ended a season with a loss, with Vashon winning four-straight Missouri state championships.
His Salukis are a long shot in the MVC Tournament, but following his benching, he’s been hitting a lot of big shots.
Jim Jackson joyous for STL
In a Q&A with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MVC Commissioner Jim Jackson said the conference, teams and fans enjoy the Arch Madness experience, and he wants it to remain part of St. Louis sports culture.
“I’m hoping that we can be here forever,” he said.
“It’s been a fantastic marriage, and one that we’re very appreciative of, and one that I know our fan bases are excited to have the opportunity to continue to partake of, because St. Louis is really right in the middle of our conference geography, and I can’t think of a more appropriate place for us to host that championship.”
The Reid Roundup
The MVC Arch Madness Tournament will bring (three) African American coaches to St. Louis seeking the title after challenging seasons. Roger Powell and Valparaiso closed at 13-18 overall, and 6-14 in the MVC… David Ragland and Evansville were 11-19 and 8-11 in conference play, and Cuonzo Martin returned to Missouri State as head coach this year and posted a 9-22 overall and 2-18 MVC record…KU guard Zeke Mayo, a gleam of hope in a dismal Jayhawks’ season, admittedly played poorly in a home loss to Texas Tech last Sunday. Then he received a number of racist and threatening social media attacks immediately following the game…Could someone remind Auburn’s Black players, especially Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome, that coach Bruce Pearl called Vice President Kamala Harris “trash” during the presidential campaign…Earlier this season, Georgetown coach Ed Cooley and a Xavier fan had a face-face argument on the sideline during the game. “Aan opposing team’s fan was verbally attacking one of my players. While nothing physical happened, I will always protect my players if they are threatened.” The Hoyas, 16-13 overall and 7-11 in the Big East are vastly improved this year under Cooley… Former Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III was perfect in “The Gauntlet” receiving drill and posted an impressive 4.42-second 40-yard dash with a top speed of 22.8 mph during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last weekend. The effort should guarantee a first-round selection during the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24-26 in Green Bay.