Davidson Wildcats men's basketball

Last updated

Davidson Wildcats
Basketball current event.svg 2023–24 Davidson Wildcats men's basketball team
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University Davidson College
Head coach Matt McKillop (2nd season)
Conference Atlantic 10
Location Davidson, North Carolina
Arena John M. Belk Arena
(Capacity: 5,223)
Nickname Wildcats
Student sectionD-Block
ColorsRed and black [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away


NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1968, 1969, 2008
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1966, 1968, 1969, 2008
NCAA tournament round of 32
2008
NCAA tournament appearances
1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2022
Conference tournament champions
Southern Conference
1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013

Atlantic 10
2018
Conference regular season champions
Southern Conference
1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1981, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014

Atlantic 10
2015, 2022

The Davidson Wildcats basketball team is the basketball team that represents Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, in the NCAA. The school's team currently competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2022. The Wildcats are currently coached by Matt McKillop, in his first season after succeeding his father Bob after the 2021–22 season. Davidson plays its home games at the Belk Arena in Baker Sports Complex on the school's campus.

Contents

Conference affiliations

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Wildcats have appeared in 15 NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 8–16.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1966 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game
Rhode Island
Syracuse
Saint Joseph's
W 95–68
L 78–94
L 76–92
1968 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
St. John's
Columbia
North Carolina
W 79–70
W 61–59OT
L 66–70
1969 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Villanova
St. John's
North Carolina
W 75–61
W 79–69
L 85–87
1970 First RoundSt. BonaventureL 72–85
1986 First RoundKentuckyL 55–75
1998 First RoundMichiganL 61–80
2002 First RoundOhio StateL 64–69
2006 First RoundOhio StateL 62–70
2007 First RoundMarylandL 70–82
2008 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Gonzaga
Georgetown
Wisconsin
Kansas
W 82–76
W 74–70
W 73–56
L 57–59
2012 Second RoundLouisvilleL 62–69
2013 Second RoundMarquetteL 58–59
2015 Second RoundIowaL 52–83
2018 First RoundKentuckyL 73–78
2022 First Round#7 Michigan StateL 73–74

2008 NCAA tournament

In 2008, Davidson defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Georgetown Hoyas, and Wisconsin Badgers to advance to the Elite Eight. The Wildcats nearly made the Final Four, but lost to the eventual champion Kansas Jayhawks 57–59. Prior to their Sweet Sixteen matchup, the college's board of trustees supplied students with tickets, transportation and lodging for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games. [2] Following the tournament, the Wildcats earned a number 9 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today poll. [3] Stephen Curry, who has since become a two-time NBA MVP with the Golden State Warriors, was the leading scorer of this team.

NIT results

The Wildcats have appeared in nine National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 3–9.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1972 First RoundSyracuseL 77–81
1994 First RoundWest VirginiaL 69–85
1996 First RoundSouth CarolinaL 73–100
2005 Opening Round
First Round
Second Round
VCU
SW Missouri State
Maryland
W 77–62
W 82–71
L 63–78
2009 First Round
Second Round
South Carolina
Saint Mary's
W 70–63
L 68–80
2014 First RoundMissouriL 77–85
2016 First RoundFlorida StateL 74–84
2019 First RoundLipscombL 81–89
2021 First RoundNC StateL 61–75

CBI results

The Wildcats have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational. Their record is 1–1.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2011 First Round
Quarterfinals
James Madison
Creighton
W 85–65
L 92–102

ESPN basketball ranking

In a system ranked by ESPN, Davidson was listed as the #44 Basketball Program [4] of the last 50 years (1962–2012) based on its on the court accomplishments during that period. (out of 309 Division I programs that qualified)

"Positives: Under Lefty Driesell, the Wildcats were a powerhouse in the 1960s, racking up seven 20-win seasons in an eight-year span. The ’64–65 team was AP preseason No. 4 and boasted future NBA No. 1 pick Fred Hetzel. Nine combined conference titles (Regular season & Conference Tournaments) since 2005."

Players

Retired numbers

Per athletic department policy, number and/or jersey retirement is reserved for players who have earned bachelor's degrees at Davidson. While six players have had jerseys retired, Stephen Curry is the first to have his number retired. Curry qualified after completing his bachelor's degree in May 2022. During the retirement ceremony held on August 31, 2022, Curry not only had his number retired, but also entered Davidson's athletic hall of fame and physically received his Davidson diploma. [5] [6]

Davidson Wildcats retired numbers
No.PlayerPos.TenureNo. ret.Ref.
30
Stephen Curry PG 2006–20092022 [7]

Retired jerseys

Honored, but numbers are still active:

No.PlayerTenure
10
Dick Snyder 1963–1966
11
Derek Rucker 1984–1988
21
Hobby Cobb1952–1956
33
John Gerdy1975–1979
42
Terry Holland 1961–1964
42
Fred Hetzel 1962–1965

All-Americans

PlayerYear(s)Team(s)
Fred Hetzel 1964 Consensus Second TeamAP (2nd), NABC (2nd), UPI (3rd)
1965 Consensus First TeamAP (1st), USBWA (1st), NABC (1st), UPI (1st)
Dick Snyder 1966 Consensus Second TeamAP (2nd), USBWA (1st), UPI (2nd)
Mike Maloy 1969 Consensus Second TeamAP (2nd), USBWA (1st), NABC (3rd), UPI (3rd)
1970 AP (3rd), NABC (3rd), UPI (3rd)
Stephen Curry 2008 Consensus Second TeamAP (2nd), Sporting News (2nd)
2009 Consensus First TeamAP (1st), USBWA (1st), NABC (1st), Sporting News (1st)

Wildcats in the NBA/ABA

PlayerYears activeTeamsHighlights
Stephen Curry 2009–present Golden State Warriors NBA champion (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022); 2× NBA Most Valuable Player (2015, 2016); NBA Finals MVP (2022); 9× NBA All-Star (20142019, 20212023)
Fred Hetzel 1965–1971 San Francisco Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Cincinnati Royals, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers Top overall pick in the 1965 NBA draft
Rod Knowles 1968–1969 Phoenix Suns, New York Nets
Mike Maloy 1970–1973 Virginia Squires, Dallas Chaparrals
Dick Snyder 1966–1979 St. Louis Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers NBA champion (1979)
Brandon Williams 1997–2003 Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks

Wildcats playing in international leagues

Jake Cohen 2022-12-22 ALBA Berlin gegen Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. (EuroLeague 2022-23) by Sandro Halank-040.jpg
Jake Cohen

Players in Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame

Coaches in Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lefty Driesell</span> American basketball coach (1931–2024)

Charles Grice "Lefty" Driesell was an American college basketball coach. He was the first coach to win more than 100 games at four different NCAA Division I schools, Driesell led the programs of Davidson College, the University of Maryland, James Madison University, and Georgia State University. He earned a reputation as "the greatest program builder in the history of basketball." At the time of his retirement in 2003, he was the fourth-winningest NCAA Division I men's basketball college coach, with 21 seasons of 20 or more wins, and 21 conference or conference tournament titles. Driesell played college basketball at Duke University.

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Michael Terrence Holland was an American college athletics administrator and basketball player and coach. Holland served as the head men's basketball coach at Davidson College from 1969 to 1974 and at the University of Virginia from 1974 to 1990, compiling a career college basketball coaching record of 418–216. Following his retirement from coaching, Holland was the athletic director at Davidson from 1990 to 1994, at Virginia from 1994 to 2001, and at East Carolina from 2004 to 2013.

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The 2022–23 Davidson Wildcats men's basketball team represented Davidson College during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Wildcats were led by first-year head coach Matt McKillop and played their home games at the John M. Belk Arena in Davidson, North Carolina as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10).

The 1967–68 Davidson Wildcats men's basketball team represented Davidson College in NCAA men's Division I competition during the 1967–68 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. Led by head coach Lefty Driesell, the team played its home games at Johnston Gym. The Wildcats finished first in the Southern Conference regular season standings and won the Southern Conference tournament to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament – the school's fourth appearance in five years. Davidson finished win an overall record of 24–5.

The 1968–69 Davidson Wildcats men's basketball team represented Davidson College in NCAA men's Division I competition during the 1968–69 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. Led by head coach Lefty Driesell, the team played its home games at Johnston Gym. The Wildcats finished first in the Southern Conference regular season standings and won the Southern Conference tournament to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament – the school's fourth appearance in five years. Davidson finished win an overall record of 27–3.

References

  1. "General Info" (PDF). 2021-22 Davidson Wildcats Men's Basketball Media Guide. November 12, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  2. "Forde: Davidson's novel concept -- students first". ESPN.com. March 27, 2008.
  3. "2018-19 Men's College Basketball Rankings for Week 14". ESPN.
  4. "Men's College Basketball Blog". ESPN.com.
  5. "Curry to be Honored, Enshrined at Davidson in August" (Press release). Davidson Wildcats. June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  6. "Davidson to retire Stephen Curry's No. 30 in August ceremony following Golden State Warriors star's graduation". ESPN.com. June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  7. Davidson College will retire Steph Curry's No. 30 jersey by Cydney Henderson at USA TODAY, 17 Jun 2022