Davidson-UNCG Preview: Curry Attempts to Knight Spartans

Davidson Wildcats (19-3, 12-0) at UNC-Greensboro Spartans (3-17, 2-9)

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 – 7:00 PM EST

The Davidson Wildcats, fresh off of a 24-point pounding of Western Carolina, venture to Greensboro on Thursday night to tangle with the Spartans.

Davidson, in search of its tenth straight win, is led by All-America candidate Stephen Curry.

The junior leads the team with 28.9 ppg and 6.5 apg while making almost 39 percent of his three-point shots. If that isn’t enough, Curry is automatic from the free throw line where he connects at a rate of 87.2 percent.

Curry’s sidekick is Andrew Lovedale. The 6’8” senior scores 12.3 ppg and is a monster on the glass hauling down nine rebounds per game.

Davidson is coming into this game red-hot—the same can’t be said for UNC-Greensboro.

The Spartans have lost five in a row and endured a 10-game losing streak earlier this season.

UNC-Greensboro only averages 62.7 ppg and shoots under 40 percent from the field while giving up nearly 75 ppg.

Only Ben Stywall (11 ppg) and Mikko Koivisto (12.4 ppg) average double figures and Damian Eargle falls just short at 9.6 ppg.

While they don’t score particularly well, the Spartans do have depth. Ten players average 15 minutes or more per game.

But that depth won’t be much help against Davidson as the Wildcats have only two starters playing more than 30 minutes per game.

Stywall, an undersized forward at 6’5” who averages over nine boards per contest, will need to hold his own inside against Lovedale.

Current line: Davidson -19.0

Davidson is 8-6 this season in games in which they’ve been a double-digit favorite but only 6-6 in conference play. However, with only three wins on the season, the Spartans don’t stand much of a chance against Curry and the Wildcats.

Steve’s pick: Davidson -19.0