Year after year, tournament after tournament, the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship finds new ways to remind us that this truly is one of the best times of the sports year.
Usually, the most compelling and enjoyable stories come to us in the form of Cinerdellas; those magical underdogs who somehow find a way to win against overwhelming odds and opposition.
Whether it's Hampton defeating Iowa State in 2001, or George Mason rolling to the Final Four in 2006, it's often the teams that start as runts and mature before our very eyes that make this 65-team melee so enjoyable (along with, of course, those wonderful buzzer-beaters).
This year's glass slipper model is Davidson-chic. The designer? Stephen Curry. The sophomore sharpshooter has electrified crowds and opposing teams alike, while carrying the tenth-seeded Wildcats through three straight upsets.
First, Gonzaga felt the heat. Curry scored 40 points—just the fifth time in 12 years any player has scored 40 in a tournament game—with 30 of those coming in the second half alone, rallying Davidson back to an 82-76 win.
Next, it was highly touted, second-seeded Georgetown. In an instance of divine deja vu, Curry once more overloaded the power of his game in the second half, dropping 25 of his 30 in the game's latter stage in a stunning 74-70 win.
Last night, Wisconsin had their chance to slow the baby-faced freight train. Widely hailed as a defensive stalwart, the Badgers had to know that Curry was their main priority.
Well, so much for priorities. Curry scored 33 points in 37 minutes as the Wildcats advanced to their first Elite Eight since the Lefty Driesell era in 1969.
Let this be a word of notice: Davidson, if only for one more round, is the team to watch this weekend. Among a bevy of high-powered matchups, that's saying something. Look for Curry's 'Cats to put on a show against top-seed Kansas on Sunday; it's sure to be the best show in the house.
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6 months ago
good read.
6 months ago
I sure hope Davidson can make it close and have a chance to win. I'm a perennial Jayhawk hater (Go Mizzou) and nothing would make me happier than Cinderella crashing the party...This team is awesome...so unselfish...
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