Oakland (8-11) is 4-2 in the Horizon after a rocky non-con schedule, meaning Saturday's showdown -- set for 2 p.m. at Calihan Hall in Detroit, with coverage on ESPN+ -- could go a long way in determining the seeding of March's Horizon League Tournament at Little Caesars Arena, where either team could make a run at an NCAA Tournament berth.
Davis is averaging 31 PPG in the Titans' six conference games, thanks in part to a season-high 48 against Wright State on Jan. 3 -- his second 40-point game of the season and eighth with at least 30. His three-point shooting (42 percent on 11.9 attempts per game) has made him the conference's biggest threat and its biggest star.
"I mean, it’s a thought, but I feel like I’m not even there yet honestly. Despite the numbers and stuff like that, I’d love to just stick around and just win for the program," Davis said.
"Just to keep improving, for myself, and then seeing what I can do to make the team better," he said of his goals the rest of the season. "And just hopefully being able to say that we’re conference champions by March and be able to be in the locker room and watch our names get called on Selection Sunday."
Davis's father, Mike, has landed in Detroit after making four NCAA Tournament appearances in six seasons with Texas Southern. Davis made four NCAA appearances as head coach of Indiana University, including a run to the 2002 national championship game, where his Hoosiers fell to Maryland.
The Metro Series, as the two schools branded the rivalry in 2014, has heated up since Oakland joined the Horizon League in 2013. Despite Detroit owning a 13-9 advantage in the series all-time, the Golden Grizzlies have won eight of 10 meetings as conference foes.
Oakland is led by junior forward Xavier Hill-Mais, who is averaging 20.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
There are seven players from Metro Detroit between the two teams and 10 total from Michigan.
Detroit Western High School grad Josh McFolley is the Titans' second-leading scorer at 13 PPG.