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The Basketball Podcast: EP406 with Dan Davis on How to Score 172 Points
In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, Grace College head coach Dan Davis joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on their NCAA single-game scoring record.
Dan Davis is the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Grace College, where he has established one of the most successful eras in program history. His coaching career spans over 200 total wins and includes both NCAA and NAIA coaching experience.
Davis’s teams are known for a high-octane style of play, achieving national statistical ranks in scoring offense and turnover margin. His aggressive approach led to the Grace College women’s basketball team setting a collegiate scoring record in a 172–91 victory over Ohio Christian, which stands as the most points ever recorded in a single game by any collegiate women’s team across NAIA, NCAA Division I, II, or III.
During his tenure at Grace, Davis led the Lancers to the 2024 NCCAA National Championship, securing the program’s first-ever national title, and was consequently named the 2024 NCCAA National Coach of the Year. The 2022–2023 season marked a significant breakthrough, as Davis guided the team to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time and set new program records for total wins (24), conference wins (13), and the longest winning streak (7). His commitment to player development is evidenced by coaching both the former and current all-time leading scorers in Grace College program history (Vironnica Drake and Maddie Ryman).
Prior to Grace, Davis coached for 10 years at Auburn University-Montgomery (AUM). At AUM, he compiled a record of 157–139, led the Warhawks to two appearances in the NAIA Division I National Tournament, and was named the Southern States Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
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Dan Davis Quotes:
“[The System] is press, run, rebound and shoot it and sub right. It’s pressing on makes, pressing on misses. We’re trying to score anywhere between five to 15 seconds, heavy on the threes. We have the formula. We’re trying to get somewhere in that 85 to 90 plus shots area. We’re trying to get somewhere between 25, 30 plus turnovers, with half of those being steals.”
“We want to get 20 offensive rebounds a game. We’re averaging around 19 a game. And so. We’ve had some lopsided wins, some lopsided losses. We’re platoon subbing, and we’ve experimented with different things.”
“We want to be solid defensively . . you’re going to give up some twos in the press by being aggressive. Just stay aggressive, keep playing fast . . So, from a defensive standpoint, we’re going to err on the side of being aggressive. I would say early in some of our conference games we’ve probably given up too many easy points. But, at the same time, it’s been on us by not being aggressive in the press.”
“We want to be better on defense than what the traditional Grinnell system is. We are playing man. We’re switching everything, trapping ball screens. We’re trying to deny one pass away. We might need to do a little bit more gap help based on some things with personnel. Those are some of the things we’re learning.”
“You’re making four to five passes just to get moving a little bit. We were standing, we weren’t getting some cutting action, we weren’t moving the ball . . At the same time, you’re trying not to put the brakes on them because we do want that pace, we do want to get those shots up. And then the other part we’ve got to keep emphasizing is making sure we hammer the glass.”
“It’s really brought a joy to coaching. Those that know me, I’m a very high energy, intense guy on the sideline, very enthusiastic in practice, and it just really fits me from a personality standpoint. And I think there was that fear, we want to control everything as a coach. And I’ve always felt like I don’t want to control everything . . it is a style that can be very successful and there’s a lot of different ways to add your touch to it. But for me, it gave me the freedom to really let go and, more importantly, I think it gave the women the freedom to play.”
“We use the term ‘perfect effort.’ You’re going to make some mistakes. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about perfect effort.”
“I love the fact that, from a recruiting standpoint, I think it really widens your recruiting base . . it really makes it simple. We know exactly the type of players we’re looking for . . I heard Andy Landers say it once, ‘Runners and shooters. If they can’t run, they better shoot. If they can’t shoot, they better run.’”
“It’s going to look ugly at first, but we’re trying to instill that aggressiveness like you said . . and everything we’ve done is trying to get that speed and improve that pace and get those shots up quick. Yes, there are some crazy shots. You’re going to live with some things, but it’s understanding that you’re trying to instill that mentality . . whatever you do, don’t slow down.”
“More possessions, more shots, going to the boards, you might be less talented, but I think it’ll give you a better chance to beat the more talented teams. There are some teams in our league that we’re not going to match scholarship-wise, but I think it’s going to give us a better chance to get there to compete and have more success.”
“You can always slow them down a little bit. Maybe say, ‘Hey, maybe move it a little bit more.’ But I think instilling that belief in that freedom, I think it benefits your team and your kid for the longer run. I rather err on that side of being more attacking and more aggressive than being more conservative.”
“Whatever you believe in . . you emphasize it, you know how to teach it, you know how to coach it. And I think if you’re a good coach, you can coach anything. You’ve just got to learn it and teach it and believe in it.”
“We’ll give up some points in the paints. You understand that. But the big thing for us is . . we’re trying to make sure of that shot differential, our turnovers and their turnovers, our offensive rebounds, their rebounds.”
“Getting kids to learn how to press covers both things. It teaches them to be aggressive on defense and it teaches them on offense to be aggressive and attacking. I think that’s one of the hardest things to teach, especially young girls and young boys, to have that aggressive mindset that you’re always attacking. You’re always attacking on offense, you’re always attacking on defense.”
“It’s not going to happen over your first 20 practices, it’s not going to happen over your first few games. It’s going to take some time . . You’re going to play a team that might be a little more athletic, quicker, faster, and you’re going to want to do more. No, you keep trapping, you keep being aggressive.”
Dan Davis Breakdown:
Dan Davis Selected Links from the Podcast:
Dan Davis
Marty Rowe
Kim Caldwell
Mark Campbell
Doug Porter
Lauren Glenn
Paul Westhead
Scott Moore
Jordan Weidner
Andy Landers
Ron Link
Jim Crutchfield
Ben McCollum
Dave Arseneault
Nate Oats
Bruce Pearl
Bucky McMillan
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