Full schedule released

The full, official Davidson Basketball schedule is now available. It is published to the right in the sidebar for your convenience. It is also available on the Davidson Basketball official website.

2007-08 Davidson Schedule
Nov. 7 Lenoir-Rhyne (Exh.) 7:00
Nov. 9 Emory 8:00
Nov. 14 UNC 7:00 **
Nov. 21 at W Michigan 7:00
Nov. 24 NCCU 2:00
Nov. 26 at App State 7:00
Dec. 1 Duke 12:00 **
Dec. 5 at Charlotte 7:30
Dec. 8 at UCLA 5:30 ##
Dec. 13 The Citadel 7:00
Dec. 21 at NC State 7:00
Jan. 3 Ga Southern 7:00
Jan. 5 W Carolina 7:00
Jan. 9 at Elon 7:00
Jan. 12 at Wofford 7:00
Jan. 16 at Furman 7:00
Jan. 19 UT-Chatt 2:00
Jan. 21 at W Carolina 7:00
Jan. 24 at The Citadel 7:05
Jan. 26 at Coll Charleston 5:00
Jan. 30 Wofford 7:00
Feb. 2 at UT-Chatt 7:00
Feb. 6 Elon 7:00
Feb. 9 Coll Charleston 3:00
Feb. 13 at UNCG 7:00
Feb. 16 Furman 3:00
Feb. 19 UNCG 7:00
Feb. 22 at ESPN Bracketbuster %%
Feb. 27 App State 7:00
Mar. 1 at Ga Southern 7:30

Mar. 7-10 at SoCon Tourn, Chas, SC

** games at Bobcats Arena
## John R. Wooden Classic
%% Bracketbuster opponent TBD

More info on A Night With the Cats on ESPN-U

Posted by "catsfan" on DavidsonCats.com -

From email sent from Men's Basketball office today:

The Wildcats will tip off the 2007-08 Basketball season when they host A Night with the Cats on Thursday, October 11th, at 7:30 PM.

The ESPN Networks will be taping the event to be featured on ESPNU the following night. This is a FANTASTIC honor for the basketball program and the perfect way to start a season in which we will appear on the national stage several times!

We encourage all of our fans to be in attendance – AND BRING FRIENDS!

We need Belk Arena to be PACKED for ESPN!!!

Important Information:

- ADMISSION IS FREE!

- Basketball teams will hold dances and skits, a 3-point contest, and scrimmages by both the men’s and women’s teams

- Autograph session for everyone following the men’s scrimmage

- One lucky fan will have a chance to win $10,000 in the Allstate Good Hands Shootout.

- Get a chance to meet and mingle with Davidson Basketball Players and Coaches

- “A Night with the Cats” will start at 7:30 PM or immediately following the women’s volleyball game at 5:30. Come early, enjoy some volleyball, and get good seats.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ON OCTOBER 11TH FOR A NIGHT WITH THE CATS!

TV games

Davidson gains more TV games
KEVIN CARY

The Davidson men's basketball team earned national attention after giving Maryland a scare in the NCAA tournament's first round in March. This season, the Wildcats will have plenty of chances to maintain that high profile.

Davidson is guaranteed to have seven regular-season games on national or regional television. The team could have 12 or more games televised if the Wildcats repeat as Southern Conference tournament champions.

The Wildcats are scheduled to have three games televised on national networks -- including games in Charlotte against North Carolina and Duke -- and four more on regional sports channels. Davidson didn't have a nationally televised regular-season game last season and only three were televised on regional channels.

"Last year's team created a buzz and quite a bit of excitement," Davidson coach Bob McKillop said. "But this is a chance for us to get on a bigger stage, a broader audience. ... The players aren't running from that. They have a great attitude about this -- they want to move the program forward."

Davidson isn't losing a scholarship player from a team that went 29-5, including 20-1 against Southern Conference teams. Sophomore guard Stephen Curry has been mentioned as an All-America candidate, and the Wildcats have been ranked in some preseason polls.

Davidson could add more televised games this season. Its game against UCLA Dec. 8 in the Wooden Classic could be picked up by CBS, and the Wildcats' BracketBuster game Feb. 23 against an opponent to be determined could air on an ESPN network.

The semifinals of the Southern Conference tournament will be on SportSouth on March 9, and the final will be on ESPN2 on March 10. Davidson also would be nationally televised if it advanced to the NCAA tournament.

Wildcats' Television Schedule

Davidson will have seven games on regional or national television; the number could jump to 12 or more if the Wildcats repeat as Southern Conference tournament champions:

Nov. 14 North Carolina (at Bobcats Arena) ESPN
Dec. 1 Duke (at Bobcats Arena) ESPNU
Dec. 21 at N.C. State Fox SS
Jan. 26 at College of Charleston SportSouth
Feb. 9 College of Charleston SportSouth
Feb. 16 Furman SportSouth
Feb. 19 UNC Greensboro ESPN2

Construction of the Davidson "Empire" continues...

Wildcats' warm-up to be on national TV
`Night with the Cats' to air on ESPNU on tape delay Oct. 12
KEVIN CARY

Davidson's quest for a third straight Southern Conference championship will open in front of a national audience.

Athletics director Jim Murphy told the Observer the school expects ESPNU to televise the Wildcats' "Night with the Cats" Oct. 12.

Murphy said the school likely would host the opening basketball event Oct. 11, after the Davidson volleyball team hosts Appalachian State. The event, likely to include a scrimmage, 3-point contests or dunk contests, would be broadcast on tape delay on ESPNU the following day.

Murphy said the event likely would start around 9 p.m., because the volleyball game is scheduled for 7. But Murphy said the basketball event could move up if the volleyball match is played earlier in the day.

ESPNU officials could not be reached for comment.

Davidson is considered an attractive option because it returns every scholarship player from a 29-5 team that reached the NCAA Tournament. Jason Richards is a nominee for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the top point guard in the country, and shooting guard Stephen Curry has been mentioned on preseason All-America lists.

Official practices can't start until Oct. 12, but Davidson coaches said teams can have two hours of individual workouts -- or essentially one two-hour team practice -- each week starting Sept. 15.

Davidson coach Bob McKillop said the Wildcats would not have those workouts the week of the event, allowing Davidson to have scrimmages, 3-point contests or dunk contests that night.

"When you have opportunities like this presented to you, you have to grab it," McKillop said. "This is very consistent with what we are trying to do to get us on the national stage."

Davidson has scheduled three nationally televised games and four others on regional sports networks.

Jason Zimmerman & Matt McKillop together at Emory

This is old news, but Jason Zimmerman is the new head coach at Emory. Matt McKillop is an assistant coach for Jason.I came across their profiles and thought I would post the links here. I am also posting a link to a pretty lengthy interview with Jason:

Jason Zimmerman, Head Coach

Matt McKillop, Assistant Coach

Q&A WITH JASON ZIMMERMAN

Best of luck to Jason, Matt & Emory Basketball this season!

More buzz around DC hoops

Excitement builds for Davidson season
Students snatch up tickets for high-profile games in Charlotte
KEVIN CARY

DAVIDSON --The Davidson men's basketball team won't have its first official practice for another three weeks, but a buzz is already developing around campus.

That excitement showed last week, when tickets for games against North Carolina and Duke at Charlotte Bobcats Arena went on sale. Davidson plays North Carolina on Nov. 14 on ESPN, and Duke on Dec. 1 on ESPNU.

Students started showing up at 4 p.m. Sept. 11, more than 15 hours before the tickets went on sale.

The original allotment of 800 student tickets sold out in an hour Sept. 12, and the school took orders for 400 more.

That means Davidson sold more than 1,200 student tickets. The school only has 1,700 students on campus.

"The momentum of excitement has started so much earlier this year," Davidson athletic director Jim Murphy said. "We have a good television schedule, a lot of national exposure in magazines. It's an exciting time for people here. Everybody can puff their chest out a little bit, at least through the preseason."

Students pay $10 a ticket for games at the Bobcats Arena; regular tickets are $25. The line outside the ticket office became a small community in itself last week. Fans brought mattresses to sleep on overnight, reminiscent of the tents Duke students erect to camp out for tickets.

"Welcome to McKillopville," one sign said, referring to Davidson coach Bob McKillop.

McKillop, other Davidson coaches and a handful of players handed out doughnuts to fans waiting for tickets in appreciation for the students' dedication.

"That's as gratifying to me as when they sing `Sweet Caroline' (during games)," coach Bob McKillop said. "These students have always sent a consistent message of support. We know that when anyone at Davidson wins, whether it's the basketball team or an academic award, everyone here wins because we have such a sense of community."

Students do not have to line up to buy tickets for games at Belk Arena -- their tickets there are free. Murphy said the school might have capacity crowds for on-campus games for the first time. The arena can accommodate more than 5,700 fans.

Photo credit: Will Bryan

Vouyoukas commits to Davidson, and Seth Curry commits to Liberty

Scout.com profile: Alex Vouyoukas 6-9 Forward commits to Davidson
KEVIN CARY

DAVIDSON --Davidson has a verbal commitment for one of its three available scholarships for the 2008-09 season, and might already have another spoken for on its roster.

But a player some expected to attend Davidson won't be heading to the Wildcats.

Seth Curry, the brother of Davidson star Stephen Curry, has verbally committed to Liberty. The younger Curry averaged 12 points last season at Charlotte Christian.

"He just really liked the coaching staff there and thought he could make an impact early," Charlotte Christian coach Shonn Brown said.

Curry also considered Virginia Tech, William and Mary and Davidson, but the Wildcats received another commitment Wednesday .

Davidson received a commitment from Alex Vouyoukas, a 6-foot-9 forward from Blair Academy (N.J.), which also produced former Duke star Luol Deng. Blair assistant coach Terrell Ivory played and graduated from Davidson in 2004.

Vouyoukas hasn't played in the United States yet. He played for a Greek club team last season.

"Alex is a Euro forward," Blair coach Joe Mantegna said. "He can pass and shoot and has good perimeter skills. He's a good fit for them."

Vouyoukas (pronounced Voo-YOU-kas) is the brother of former Saint Louis center Ian Vouyoukas. He said he also considered Illinois State, Fordham and Marist.

"I know the Davidson basketball program is on the rise," Vouyoukas said. "Coach McKillop is really well-respected throughout the U.S. They have a great academic reputation, too."

Davidson coach Bob McKillop can't comment on Vouyoukas because of NCAA rules.

McKillop said earlier this month the school also might use a scholarship on Ben Allison, who is with the Wildcats this season as a walk-on. Allison, a 6-foot-8 small forward, played on England's U20 team this summer.

Hello, Australia!

Someone in Australia is checking out the blog. I believe it may be our own beloved Wildcat, Paul Rybiski ('92), who is supposedly in Sydney. Paul, is that you, by chance?

Preseason magazine features Davidson

(Ignore the Tar Heel's head above.)

Click the image to enlarge it.

In case you missed it...

Davidson was on the front page of ESPN's college basketball section a few weeks ago. If you missed it, here's the screenshot. (Click the image for a larger view.)

..Yet another stage in the construction of the Davidson empire.

MCKILLOPVILLE

Photo credits: Will Bryan

Another part of the Davidson empire has been constructed: McKillopville

Students camped out (literally) at Belk Arena to get tickets to the Duke game and the UNC game. I NEVER saw anything like this when I was at Davidson (Class of '94). I remember being able to go to a game and easily sit in your choice of lower bowl (red) seats in Belk Arena (yeah I sound old, I know). That possibility just does not exist anymore. There is a buzz around Davidson hoops that we've not seen in a long, long time.

From the Davidson Athletics website:

Student tickets for the Davidson men's basketball games against North Carolina and Duke at Bobcats Arena went on sale at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, and all 800 paper tickets were sold out in about an hour and 15 minutes.

The ticket office continued to take orders and sold 1,100 student tickets by 10:15 a.m. Students began lining up at around 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon and by the time the ticket staff arrived at the Baker Sports Complex Wednesday morning, the line was wrapped around the Knobloch Tennis Center and heading down the sidewalk.

Coach Bob McKillop and sophomore guard Stephen Curry were handing out Krispy Kreme doughnuts. One group in line had a sign that read "Welcome to McKillopville." Below are some pictures of the camp out with more to come.

Another Top 25

Lindy's College Basketball Top 25

1. UCLA … These Bruins win the hardware
2. NORTH CAROLINA … Another Final Four fave in Chapel Hill
3. TENNESSEE … A Final Four hit parade
4. MEMPHIS … C-USA toughie has April aspirations
5. LOUISVILLE … Loaded with talent, but can they shoot straight?
6. GEORGETOWN … Another Final Four with Hibbert
7. WASHINGTON STATE … Bennett's built a monster
8. KANSAS … Ready for San Antone?
9. MICHIGAN STATE … Seven-year itch? Not for Spartans
10. INDIANA … Sampson's Hoosiers play tough, thinking big
11. GONZAGA … Mushroom jokes coming, plenty of wins, too
12. STANFORD … Some big fellas on the farm
13. MARQUETTE … Far too low, like their shooting percentage
14. TEXAS A&M … Billy left the fridge full
15. ARIZONA … To get back on top, it's back to basics
16. DUKE … Lots of 'Ifs,' but lots of talent
17. PITTSBURGH … Putting the 'Big' in Big East
18. DAVIDSON … Looking for a bracket sweetheart?
19. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS … Still the MVC's big dog
20. TEXAS … More than Kevin's cronies
21. KENTUCKY … 'Welcome to Kentucky, Billy, now win'
22. OREGON … Little man needs to come up big
23. BUTLER … Bulldog power goes beyond Horizon
24. NORTH CAROLINA STATE … Pack in ACC Contention
25. VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH … Rams are for real

Click here for the Davidson preview from Lindy's.

MPG captures Bronze medal for Team Canada

Paulhus Gosselin and Canada Claim Bronze with 20-Point Comeback Victory Over Japan

BANGKOK, Thailand (CIS) - Canada used a 17-0 run late in the third quarter to gain momentum and come back from a 20-point deficit, defeating Japan 90-84 in the bronze medal game at the 24th Summer Universiade.

Updates

The 2007-08 roster is now updated in the right-hand sidebar, with links to the players' profiles.

New additions are Brendan McKillop, Aaron Bond & Ben Allison. Welcome to Davidson, guys. We look forward to 4 great years with you.

Also, check out the new Davidson Athletics website. They've done an excellent job with it.

I'll get the new schedule posted in the sidebar once the school posts it on their site.