Amid the hype and “madness” of the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament, there are those occasional moments when the excitement of a true upset victory or the grace and earnest emotion of a spectacular young player live up to the billing. Such was the case when tiny Davidson College overcame Georgetown, a final four participant from 2007, and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen round of the tournament. It is in such games that the mystique of the tournament prevails for many college basketball fans. In a matter of days 10th seeded Davidson upset Gonzaga, a 7 seed, and Georgetown, the number 2 seed in the region.
Big East vs. Rural South
This game rightfully produced lots of David and Goliath metaphors, and while some will find the biblical legend appropriate, others will label Davidson’s rise as the stuff of fairytale. Davidson, an elite liberal arts college located among the forests and farms outside Charlotte, North Carolina, has an undergraduate population of just over 1,700. While Coach Bob McKillop has been building a quality basketball program for nineteen years, advancing the team into the NCAA tournament by winning the Southern Conference for three consecutive years, Davidson is often better known for passing an administrative policy that eliminated student loans, guaranteeing no Davidson student will graduate with outstanding educational loan debt. Georgetown, by contrast, while of course also heralded as an elite academic powerhouse, is home to approximately 7,000 undergraduates and another 7,000 graduate students. Always known for the swarming, stifling defense play of its guards and the intimidating size of its post players, Georgetown basketball teams typically seem to reflect the grit and tenacity of its urban Washington, D.C. setting, not to mention the shear physicality necessary to compete in Big East Conference games.
The David and Goliath metaphors extend into the differences in player personnel. Much of the talk entering post-season regarding the Hoyas focused on 7’2” senior center Roy Hibbert. Leading his team in both points per game (13.2) and rebounds per game (6.5), he is often regarded as one of the most imposing players in the college game, averaging 2.3 blocks per contest and possessing a skill set unusual for his overwhelming size.
In stark physical contrast, Davidson’s star player, Stephen Curry, is a long-limbed, slight 6’2” and 185lb sophomore guard with a graceful shot that has been described by several basketball analysts as among the purest among active college players. In a college basketball arena that produces freshmen superstars who physically look like veterans—think Greg Oden or Michael Beasely—Curry has a true baby-face and wasn’t too jaded to show his excitement after the 2nd round win. To add to the fairytale story, Curry is a local product for Davidson, graduating from nearby Charlotte Christian High School. Yet another dimension to the story may be that he is the son of NBA veteran Dell Curry and had hoped to follow in his father’s footsteps by playing in the ACC at Virginia Tech, his mother and father’s alma matter. Offered a scholarship at Virginia Tech with the condition he play as a walk-on his first year, Curry took his talents close to home at Davidson.
Curry is no stranger to success and attention, finishing 2nd nationally in freshmen scoring last year behind Kevin Durant, the number one pick in the NBA draft, and ranked 9th among all players for scoring average. This year Curry has averaged 25.7 points per game, including hitting 44% of his 3-pointers and 89% of his free throws and adding 68 steals. In the NCAA tournament wins over Gonzaga and Georgetown, he is averaging 35 points per game. Curry is the undoubted star for Davidson, but he is surrounded by talented players who recognize their roles, an outstanding point guard who makes great decisions, and quality, smart coaching.
Building Basketball Success
Veteran college fans who have watched Curry play are quick to remain silent behind “I told you so” grins. Those who saw Davidson push the elite programs of North Carolina and Duke to close losses early in the season may be none too surprised to find the Wildcats hanging around late in the post season. Good teams get better as the season wears on, and the importance of the tough early season non-conference games McKillop scheduled shows as his team, led by his star player, try and take out number 3 seed Wisconsin. The Davidson/Wisconsin game will draw big among fans, and many will watch to see if the fairytale continues.
