This post from 12 years ago shows you where stars come from.
March 29, 2008
March Madness - - - - - truly!
Before I begin, let me warn those who aren't interested in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament that this post might get pretty boring.
I was looking at the bracket today and realized the Elite Eight, as they're called, has four Number 1 teams (North Carolina, Kansas, Memphis and U.C.L.A.) still remaining. Sounds like pretty good rankings by the people who do such things, right? After those four, things fall off a bit but not much. There is one #2 team (Texas) still playing and two #3 teams (Xavier and Louisville). That leaves only one team and the ranking drops way off to #10 Davidson. Davidson? Who'd a thunk it? Well, I can tell you who the believers are. Gonzaga, which came into the Midwest Regional as the number 7 team; Georgetown, which was the number 2 team; and Wisconsin, which was the number 3 team. Those three powerhouses were all unceremoniously beaten by little Davidson, led by little (6 foot 3) Stephen Curry, who has scored over 100 points in the tournament so far.
I was looking at the bracket today and realized the Elite Eight, as they're called, has four Number 1 teams (North Carolina, Kansas, Memphis and U.C.L.A.) still remaining. Sounds like pretty good rankings by the people who do such things, right? After those four, things fall off a bit but not much. There is one #2 team (Texas) still playing and two #3 teams (Xavier and Louisville). That leaves only one team and the ranking drops way off to #10 Davidson. Davidson? Who'd a thunk it? Well, I can tell you who the believers are. Gonzaga, which came into the Midwest Regional as the number 7 team; Georgetown, which was the number 2 team; and Wisconsin, which was the number 3 team. Those three powerhouses were all unceremoniously beaten by little Davidson, led by little (6 foot 3) Stephen Curry, who has scored over 100 points in the tournament so far.
Next up for Davidson is mighty Kansas, one of those four remaining #1 teams, Sunday. Will Davidson surprise yet another basketball powerhouse?
Ask the boys from Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin.
It could happen and a true Cinderella team could be playing in the Final Four. They don't call it March Madness for nothing.
Back to the present now, Kansas defeated Davidson by two points and went on to win the championship. But that "little" player for Davidson, Stephen Curry, went on to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA and, with his amazing 3-point shooting, has set just about every record you can imagine.
I wonder how often he thinks back on that 2008 season.
That "little guy" could carry just about any team.
ReplyDeleteI confess to have stopped following college bball for the most part, though the past couple years it's been fun seeing Oregon's women's team. I followed UCLA years and years ago, when Coach Wooden was there, and they had a seeming unending series of great players. The NCAA playoffs then were know as the "UCLA Invitational", when UCLA had a 80 something game winning stretch.
ReplyDeleteI was following that tournament closely, but did not remember that Curry played for Davidson! How cool is that!
ReplyDeleteI don't follow basketball at any level, admittedly.
ReplyDeleteGood post! Obviously I'm a hoops fan. Living here on the Central Coast I've been a Warriors fan and Steph is a huge reason. He's one of the most fun players to watch, ever!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't much of a fan, but when I was teaching, March Madness was a big deal. Brackets and picks and sneaking into the library or gym where a TV was tuned in to the tournament...teachers AND students were wrapped up in it.
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