Tulane is currently off to an 8-0 start, it’s best winningstreak since 2000. The team is young and features three first-yearstarters. Prior to the start of this season, the Green Wave gainedone of its most valuable players, forward Josh Davis, after he satout a year following his transfer from N.C. State. He is currentlyaveraging a double-double with 14.7 points and 11.3 rebounds pergame, both of which are team highs.

Davis grew up in Raleigh, N.C., where he attended Athens DriveHigh School. In his senior year, he averaged 25.4 points per gameand 8.3 rebounds per game. He transferred to Tulane from N.C. Statefor several reasons, including head coach Ed Conroy. Davis wantedto play for Conroy because of the versatility of Conroy’s systemand the ways that Davis would be used in that system.

The 6-foot-8 sophomore said he gained the trust of his teammatesthis summer when he began practicing with the team. Members of theteam were impressed with the effort that he consistently put forth.Davis’ teammates trust that he will do what is best for the teamwhenever he has the ball in his hands. 

“My teammates know that I want the team to get better,” Davissaid.

Davis describes his playing style as energetic, and he neverstops pushing himself when he is out on the court. Hustle is one ofhis main focuses: He tries to do a little of everything because heknows that anything can change the outcome of the game. 

Davis said that he is committed to helping the Green Waveimprove team defense. In particular, he wants the squad to playdefense with an increasing level of intensity. 

“Our defensive intensity is getting better every day,” Davissaid. “That is what we focus on.” 

So far, the team’s points allowed have been consistentlydecreasing since the start of the season. In the first couple ofgames, opposing teams averaged 56.5 points per game. At the Hoopsfor Hope Classic last weekend, Tulane’s opponents only averaged46.7 points per game. Davis was named Most Valuable Player of thetournament.

Davis plays at a high level of intensity as he tries to provethat he can be a leader on a successful basketball team. Hispersonal reminder of this goal is his number, 00, which he and hisfamily decided he would take at Tulane. He wants to go from a zero,an unknown and new player, to a hero, a leader of the team bothwhen it comes to scoring points and motivating the team. 

The Green Wave will take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets(4-3) from the ACC 1 p.m. Saturday in Fogelman Arena. Davis said heis confident in his team and its chances of winning the game.

“I feel like we got a lot of the pieces to the puzzle,” Davissaid. “We have a lot of people that do a lot of versatile things,and that’s what makes teams good: their versatility.”