Stephen Curry (Part 2)

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10 Mar 2024

Stephen Curry (Part 2)

During his sophomore season in 2007–08, Curry continued to excel on the basketball court, leading the Southern Conference in scoring once again with an average of 25.5 points per game, while also contributing 4.7 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game. His exceptional performance propelled Davidson to a remarkable 26–6 regular-season record, including a perfect 20–0 conference record, earning them their third consecutive NCAA tournament berth.
In the opening game of the 2008 NCAA tournament on March 21, Davidson faced off against seventh-seeded Gonzaga. Despite Gonzaga's early 11-point lead in the second half, Curry's incredible scoring spree, with 30 points in the half and 40 points overall, led Davidson to a thrilling 82–76 victory, marking their first NCAA tournament win since 1969. Curry's sharpshooting was particularly impressive, going 8-for-10 from three-point range.

Two days later, on March 23, Davidson took on second-seeded Georgetown in the second round. Despite a slow start with just five points in the first half and trailing by as many as 17 points, Curry's explosive second-half performance, contributing 25 points, propelled Davidson to a stunning 74–70 comeback victory.
In the Sweet 16 matchup on March 28, 2008, Davidson secured another impressive win, this time against third-seeded Wisconsin, with Curry leading the charge with 33 points in a 73–56 victory, advancing Davidson to the Elite 8. Curry's scoring prowess in these games solidified his place in NCAA tournament history, joining elite company as one of the few players to score over 30 points in each of their first four career NCAA tournament games.

Despite Davidson's eventual loss to top-seeded Kansas on March 30, 2008, Curry's remarkable season was recognized with numerous accolades. He finished the season averaging 25.9 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, earning him a spot on the Associated Press' All-America Second Team. Additionally, he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest Region of the 2008 NCAA tournament, becoming the first player from a team not making the Final Four to receive this honor since Juwan Howard of Michigan in 1994. Curry's outstanding performance also earned him a nomination for an ESPY in the Breakthrough Player of the Year category.

After Davidson's loss to Kansas in the NCAA Regional Finals, Curry made the decision to return for his junior year, expressing his desire to further develop as a point guard, a position he anticipated playing in the NBA. He kicked off the 2008-2009 season with an impressive performance, scoring a career-high 44 points in a game against Oklahoma on November 18, 2008. This marked the seventh consecutive game in which Curry scored at least 25 points, extending a career-long streak.
In the following games, Curry continued to showcase his versatility, recording a career-high 13 assists along with 30 points against Winthrop on November 21. However, he encountered a rare setback on November 25, being held scoreless by Loyola as they constantly double-teamed him. This marked Curry's only scoreless collegiate game and just his second without double-digit points. Nevertheless, he quickly bounced back, matching his career-high of 44 points in a victory over North Carolina State on December 6.

On January 3, 2009, Curry surpassed the 2000-point mark for his collegiate career, scoring 21 points against Samford. Despite suffering an ankle injury on February 14, which caused him to miss one game, Curry returned to the court and continued to make history. On February 28, 2009, he became Davidson's all-time leading scorer, totaling 34 points in a win against Georgia Southern and surpassing the previous record held by John Gerdy.
Davidson went on to clinch the 2008–09 Southern Conference regular-season championship for the south division, finishing with an impressive 18–2 record in the conference. In the 2009 Southern Conference tournament, Curry displayed his scoring prowess once again, dropping 43 points in a quarterfinal victory over Appalachian State, marking the third-highest point total in tournament history.

Despite Curry's outstanding performance, Davidson failed to secure a bid for the NCAA tournament. Instead, they entered the 2009 NIT as the sixth seed, where Curry led them to a first-round victory over South Carolina with 32 points. However, Davidson fell short in the second round against Saint Mary's Gaels, with Curry contributing 26 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in his final collegiate game.
In his junior season, Curry averaged an impressive 28.6 points, 5.6 assists, and 2.5 steals per game, leading the NCAA in scoring and earning consensus first-team All-American honors. Despite opting out of his senior year at Davidson, Curry remained committed to completing his degree. He fulfilled this commitment in May 2022, earning a bachelor's degree in sociology.
Curry's completion of his degree made him eligible for jersey or number retirement at Davidson, a honor reserved for players who complete their degrees at the school. In a ceremony held on August 31, 2022, Curry became the first Davidson player to have his number retired, as he also entered Davidson's athletic hall of fame and received his diploma.