By Stephen Schramm / Times-News
November 14, 2007 12:19 AM
If the top-ranked Tar Heels are to start the season with a victory, it will come against a Davidson team that likely won’t make it easy.
The Wildcats feature the Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year in shooting guard Stephen Curry. The 6-foot-3 sophomore is the son of former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry.
“The kid can shoot,” said Thompson, who played with Curry during this summer’s under-19 FIBA World Championships. “No matter where he is on the court, he can shoot. He’s a real cool kid.”
Davidson, which returns five starters from a team that went 29-5 and claimed the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament titles last season, is also hoping to exorcise some postseason ghosts.
The Wildcats had Maryland on the ropes in their first-round contest, losing 82-70 despite holding a second-half lead that got as high as eight points.
“They’re a very dangerous team regardless of who they’re playing or where they’re playing,” Williams said. “This is a major challenge for us. … We’ve got to make sure our guys have the same kind of intensity that the Davidson guys have.”
North Carolina and Davidson have a long history with North Carolina winning 60 of the teams’ 71 meetings. North Carolina and Davidson twice met in NCAA Tournament regional finals (1968, 1969) and the Wildcats have a victory against the Tar Heels as recently as the 2001-02 season.
“It’s hard being Davidson in this state knowing how much attention, particularly Duke and North Carolina get,” Williams said. “They feel that they’re pretty doggone good, and rightfully so.”
November 14, 2007 12:19 AM
If the top-ranked Tar Heels are to start the season with a victory, it will come against a Davidson team that likely won’t make it easy.
The Wildcats feature the Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year in shooting guard Stephen Curry. The 6-foot-3 sophomore is the son of former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry.
“The kid can shoot,” said Thompson, who played with Curry during this summer’s under-19 FIBA World Championships. “No matter where he is on the court, he can shoot. He’s a real cool kid.”
Davidson, which returns five starters from a team that went 29-5 and claimed the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament titles last season, is also hoping to exorcise some postseason ghosts.
The Wildcats had Maryland on the ropes in their first-round contest, losing 82-70 despite holding a second-half lead that got as high as eight points.
“They’re a very dangerous team regardless of who they’re playing or where they’re playing,” Williams said. “This is a major challenge for us. … We’ve got to make sure our guys have the same kind of intensity that the Davidson guys have.”
North Carolina and Davidson have a long history with North Carolina winning 60 of the teams’ 71 meetings. North Carolina and Davidson twice met in NCAA Tournament regional finals (1968, 1969) and the Wildcats have a victory against the Tar Heels as recently as the 2001-02 season.
“It’s hard being Davidson in this state knowing how much attention, particularly Duke and North Carolina get,” Williams said. “They feel that they’re pretty doggone good, and rightfully so.”
No comments:
Post a Comment