Davenport seeks consistency
Tim Gross
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Sports
"When he has a pull-up game, that athleticism is neutralized. He needs to maximize it."
If Davenport maximizes his athleticism, Schmidt said he could draw 50-60 fouls a season. After Wednesday's 67-65 loss at Saint Louis, Davenport has only taken 20 shots from the free-throw line.
Despite Schmidt's desire to draw more production from his second-year guard out of Cincinnati, the coach has noticed an improvement in his play this season. He said Davenport has caught up to the speed of the game at the Division I level.
"He's had a year's experience," Schmidt said. "He feels more comfortable playing in this type of environment with this type of speed."
This season, Davenport's points per minute (0.34), offensive rebounds per minute (0.15), field-goal percentage (44.2), assists (47) and steals (13) all improved from his freshman campaign. He's playing 25.2 minutes per game compared to the 11.8 he saw coming off the bench last year. He said his inexperience, coupled with his concern over playing time, affected his performance.
"Every time the horn would go off, I would always look over my shoulder to see if it was me coming out (of the game)," he said.
Jonathan Hall, then a junior transfer, pulled Davenport aside and talked to him about having fun on the court and the confidence needed to rebound from mistakes.
"At first, he was getting into my ear," Davenport said. "I was just more excited doing my own thing."
His 'own thing' turned into accepting his teammate's advice and following an example, one for repeating shooting mechanics, working in the gym and watching film.
Davenport said he has noticed a difference in his shot after focusing on it in practice.
"When you have a wide-open jump shot, and you know you haven't worked on it, you kind of say to yourself, 'is it going to go in?' or when it goes in, it kind of surprises you," he said.
"(Now) you know it's going down before it leaves your hand. That's just being more confident. Every time I touch the ball, every time I shoot the ball, something good is going to happen."
If Davenport maximizes his athleticism, Schmidt said he could draw 50-60 fouls a season. After Wednesday's 67-65 loss at Saint Louis, Davenport has only taken 20 shots from the free-throw line.
Despite Schmidt's desire to draw more production from his second-year guard out of Cincinnati, the coach has noticed an improvement in his play this season. He said Davenport has caught up to the speed of the game at the Division I level.
"He's had a year's experience," Schmidt said. "He feels more comfortable playing in this type of environment with this type of speed."
This season, Davenport's points per minute (0.34), offensive rebounds per minute (0.15), field-goal percentage (44.2), assists (47) and steals (13) all improved from his freshman campaign. He's playing 25.2 minutes per game compared to the 11.8 he saw coming off the bench last year. He said his inexperience, coupled with his concern over playing time, affected his performance.
"Every time the horn would go off, I would always look over my shoulder to see if it was me coming out (of the game)," he said.
Jonathan Hall, then a junior transfer, pulled Davenport aside and talked to him about having fun on the court and the confidence needed to rebound from mistakes.
"At first, he was getting into my ear," Davenport said. "I was just more excited doing my own thing."
His 'own thing' turned into accepting his teammate's advice and following an example, one for repeating shooting mechanics, working in the gym and watching film.
Davenport said he has noticed a difference in his shot after focusing on it in practice.
"When you have a wide-open jump shot, and you know you haven't worked on it, you kind of say to yourself, 'is it going to go in?' or when it goes in, it kind of surprises you," he said.
"(Now) you know it's going down before it leaves your hand. That's just being more confident. Every time I touch the ball, every time I shoot the ball, something good is going to happen."
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