CBS TV shows Davidson College players celebrating their upset 74-70 victory over Georgetown Sunday afternoon in a second-round NCAA tournament game at Raleigh. Happy fans throughout town responded with honking horns and happy hollers down Main Street.
Stephen Curry overcame a five-point, first-half cold spell to finish with 30 points and help the Wildcats wipe away a 17-point deficit to advance to the NCAA tournament’s regional semifinal, better known as the “Sweet 16.” Point guard Jason Richards scored 20 and Davidson held Georgetown giant Roy Hibbert to just 6 points for the Cats 24th straight win – the longest streak in the nation right now for the smallest school in the Sweet 16.
How sweet was it? With his parents watching from the stands, Stephen Curry once again ignited his team in the clutch, hitting three pointers and foul shots despite intense Hoya pressure. Hibbert the Huge struggled in the end and ended up fouling out of the game. You could almost hear the sound of brackets breaking across the nation as Davidson, in the words of ESPN, “beat Goliath with Curry’s slingshot.”
How sweet was it? Fans at the Davidson College union watching the televised broadcast of the Raleigh game fell to the ground and then jumped in the air when the final buzzer sounded. They high fived and then hugged and then pulled out their cell phones to spread the word. Cars horns blared along Main Street and pedestrians waved and cheered back at the giddy drivers.
How sweet was it? Before this year’s March Madness, Davidson had not had a win in the NCAA tournament since 1969. Now they have not only tasted tournament success, they’ve muscled their way straight into the Sweet 16, more than validating their top 25 ranking late in the season. The Cats will face Wisconsin Friday in Detroit.
How sweet was it? Davidson, which entered the tournament as the No. 10 seed in the Midwest region, is now four games away from being the national champion for 2008!
How sweet was it? Folks, you tell us! Go Cats!
LINKS
March 23, 2008, NewYorkTimes.com, “Davidson stuns Georgetown to reach round of 16.”
March 23, 2008, NewYorkTimes.com game wrapup, Davidson 74, Georgetown 70.
March 23, 2008, New York Times, “Keen Shooting Eye and Competitive Edge Run in Curry Family”
We watched David take Goliath here in Western Maine. Heart-stopping!!! Go ‘Cats!!!
First the Southern Confernence tournament and now two huge games in Raleigh, I’m not sure even Neil Diamond could keep up with this pace. But ain’t it Sweet! GO CATS!
So, does anyone share the same dilemma as my household? My husband and I may live in Davidson now, but we met in Madison (where my husband was born) as University of Wisconsin students. We’re die-hard Badgers and have been following the top ranking of our alma mater all season, even as we attended all the Wildcat homegames. Who knew the two teams would meet in the Sweet 16? Now my family is emailing me from the Midwest with one pressing question – who are you going to cheer for on Friday?!!! As one (Davidson) friend said, “The Badgers are your past; Davidson is your future!” I guess I’ll watch the game wearing a Davidson shirt, but my lucky Wisconsin varsity letter ring!!!!
Go Badgers! Go Cats!
Laurie, will you be wearing your cheese thing hat too?
Residents in independent living at The Pines range from 65 to 104, but after Davidson’s victory I can personally attest that residents were running up and down the halls screaming! Shades of a college dorm….
Go Cats!!!
Bob Williams, Vail Professor Emeritus and former Dean of Faculty at Davidson, is drumming up fan support amid the snows of Maine.