Collegiate Career
Freshman Season
Before Stephen Curry even played a college game, head coach Bob McKillop said at a Davidson Alumni event, "Wait till you see Steph Curry. He is something special. In his second ever collegiate game against the University of Michigan, Curry scored 32 points, dished out 4 assists, and grabbed 9 rebounds.
Curry led the Southern Conference in scoring, averaging 21.5 points per game and was second in the nation among freshmen in scoring, to Texas' Kevin Durant, who ended up being the 2nd pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Curry's scoring ability helped the Wildcats to a 29-5 overall record and a Southern Conference regular season title.
On March 2, 2007, in the Southern Conference semi-finals, facing Furman University, Curry set the NCAA freshman season record for 3-point field goals with 113, topping the previous season record of 109 set by Keydren Clark of St. Peter's.
Curry eclipsed the school freshman scoring record with his 502nd point against University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on February 6, 2007. On March 15, 2007, Davidson marched into the NCAA Tournament as a 13 seed set to play the University of Maryland. Even though Davidson lost 82-70, Curry was the leading scorer with 30 points and received a standing ovation when he fouled out.[citation needed]
Curry ended his freshman season with 730 total points, including 122 3-point field goals.
After the season ended, Curry was selected for the USA team that appeared at the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championships in Novi Sad,Serbia. Despite playing only 18 minutes per game, Curry averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 45% from the floor.
Curry was selected as Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, Tournament MVP, All-tournament team, All-freshman team, and first team All-SoCon. He was also named an honorable mention in Sports Illustrated's All-Mid-Major.
Sophomore season
Coming off of a stellar freshman season, Curry was eager to impress again. In this season, Davidson would play a tough non-conference schedule including North Carolina, Duke, NC State, and UCLA. Despite being lightly regarded, these games against top-ranked opponents were very close, but unfortunately for Curry and the Wildcats, all losses. Curry shined in each game, though, scoring 24 against UNC, 20 against Duke, 29 against NC State, and 15 against UCLA. On February 13, 2008, Curry's 41 point game against UNC-Greensboro helped Davidson come back from a 20-point first half deficit to win.
Curry once again led the Southern Conference in scoring, averaging 25.5 points per game and ended up fifth in Division I in scoring, while adding 4.7 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game. His scoring and leadership abilities led the Wildcats to a 26–6 regular season record, and a 20–0 conference record. As a result, Davidson earned their third straight NCAA Men's Division I Basketball ChampionshipTournament bid in 2008, as a 10 seed.
On March 21, 2008, Davidson matched up with seventh seeded Gonzaga. Despite Gonzaga being ahead by as many as 11 points early in the second half of this game, Curry scored 30 points in that half to push Davidson to their first NCAA Tournament win since 1969, 82–76. Curry ended up with 40 points, going 8-for-10 from 3-point range. On March 23, Davidson played second seeded Georgetown in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Georgetown entered the game as a heavy favorite after an appearance in the Final Four in 2007 and holding a number eight national ranking. Curry was held to only five points in the first half of the game, and his team trailed by 17 points at that point. However, Curry scored 25 points in the second half to push Davidson to a stunning 74–70 win.
Curry at the NCAA tournament.On March 28, 2008, Curry led Davidson to another upset against third seeded Wisconsin. With NBA superstar LeBron James in attendance, Curry scored 33 points over his defender Michael Flowers, who was considered one of the best in the nation. Davidson easily won 73–56, advancing the school to the Elite 8 for the first time since 1969. In this game, Curry joined Clyde Lovellette of Kansas, Jerry Chambers of Utah and Glenn Robinson of Purdue as the only players to go over 30 in their first four career NCAA tournament games. Curry also tied the single-season record for most three-pointers made in one season set by Darrin Fitzgerald ofButler in 1986-87 with 158. He set the record in the next game against the Kansas Jayhawks with his 159th three-pointer of the season. Despite Curry's 25 points, Davidson fell to the top-seeded and eventual national champion Jayhawks 59-57 on March 30, 2008.
Curry was named to the Associated Press' All-America Second Team on March 31, 2008. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest Region of the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Tournament, becoming the first player from a team not making the Final Four to do so since Juwan Howard of Michigan in 1994.
Curry was nominated for an ESPY in the Breakthrough Player of the Year category.
Junior season
After Davidson's loss in the NCAA Regional Finals against Kansas, Curry announced that he would return for his junior year. Curry said he wants to develop as a point guard and be able to create his own shot to get ready for the NBA. On November 18, Curry scored a career-high 44 points in Davidson's 82-78 loss to Oklahoma. He extended a career-long streak by scoring at least 25 points for the seventh straight game. On November 21, Curry registered a career-high 13 assists, to go along with 30 points, in Davidson's 97-70 win over Winthrop. He was held scoreless in a 78-48 win over Loyola on November 25. Loyola double-teamed Curry constantly in a historic game in his career — it was the first ever time he failed to score and only his second collegiate game without double digits. Eleven days later, in Davidson's next game, Curry matched his career-high of 44 in a 72-67 win over North Carolina State. Scoring Davidson's final 10 points, he helped his team clinch the game in the last moments with a three-point shot from 30 feet, and two clinching free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining. He also had a team-high 3 steals. On December 20, Curry went cold in the John Wooden Tradition inIndianapolis. Going 5-for-26 field goals, including hitting only 2-of-12 threes, he finished with only 13 points against Purdue and its defense (led by Chris Kramer), resulting in the Wildcats' second loss of the season, a score of 76-58.
On January 3, 2009, Curry surpassed the 2000-point mark for his career as he scored 21 points against Samford. He accomplished this feat in just his 83rd career game.
On January 7, 2009, Curry scored 29 points in a loss to Duke and became the second leading scorer in Davidson's history.
On January 28, 2009, Curry made a 75-foot shot as time expired in the first half of a 92-70 win against Chatanooga.
On February 14, 2009, Curry rolled his ankle in the second half of a win over Furman University. The injury caused Curry to miss the February 18 game against The Citadel. It was the first game Curry missed in his college career.
Curry became Davidson's all time leading scorer on February 28, 2009, surpassing previous record holder John Gerdy. Stephen Curry scored 34 points in a 99-56 win against Georgia Southern, giving Curry 2,488 points for his career.
Although Curry opted out of his senior year at Davidson, he still wanted to earn a degree and took online summer classes.
Before Stephen Curry even played a college game, head coach Bob McKillop said at a Davidson Alumni event, "Wait till you see Steph Curry. He is something special. In his second ever collegiate game against the University of Michigan, Curry scored 32 points, dished out 4 assists, and grabbed 9 rebounds.
Curry led the Southern Conference in scoring, averaging 21.5 points per game and was second in the nation among freshmen in scoring, to Texas' Kevin Durant, who ended up being the 2nd pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Curry's scoring ability helped the Wildcats to a 29-5 overall record and a Southern Conference regular season title.
On March 2, 2007, in the Southern Conference semi-finals, facing Furman University, Curry set the NCAA freshman season record for 3-point field goals with 113, topping the previous season record of 109 set by Keydren Clark of St. Peter's.
Curry eclipsed the school freshman scoring record with his 502nd point against University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on February 6, 2007. On March 15, 2007, Davidson marched into the NCAA Tournament as a 13 seed set to play the University of Maryland. Even though Davidson lost 82-70, Curry was the leading scorer with 30 points and received a standing ovation when he fouled out.[citation needed]
Curry ended his freshman season with 730 total points, including 122 3-point field goals.
After the season ended, Curry was selected for the USA team that appeared at the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championships in Novi Sad,Serbia. Despite playing only 18 minutes per game, Curry averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 45% from the floor.
Curry was selected as Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, Tournament MVP, All-tournament team, All-freshman team, and first team All-SoCon. He was also named an honorable mention in Sports Illustrated's All-Mid-Major.
Sophomore season
Coming off of a stellar freshman season, Curry was eager to impress again. In this season, Davidson would play a tough non-conference schedule including North Carolina, Duke, NC State, and UCLA. Despite being lightly regarded, these games against top-ranked opponents were very close, but unfortunately for Curry and the Wildcats, all losses. Curry shined in each game, though, scoring 24 against UNC, 20 against Duke, 29 against NC State, and 15 against UCLA. On February 13, 2008, Curry's 41 point game against UNC-Greensboro helped Davidson come back from a 20-point first half deficit to win.
Curry once again led the Southern Conference in scoring, averaging 25.5 points per game and ended up fifth in Division I in scoring, while adding 4.7 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game. His scoring and leadership abilities led the Wildcats to a 26–6 regular season record, and a 20–0 conference record. As a result, Davidson earned their third straight NCAA Men's Division I Basketball ChampionshipTournament bid in 2008, as a 10 seed.
On March 21, 2008, Davidson matched up with seventh seeded Gonzaga. Despite Gonzaga being ahead by as many as 11 points early in the second half of this game, Curry scored 30 points in that half to push Davidson to their first NCAA Tournament win since 1969, 82–76. Curry ended up with 40 points, going 8-for-10 from 3-point range. On March 23, Davidson played second seeded Georgetown in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Georgetown entered the game as a heavy favorite after an appearance in the Final Four in 2007 and holding a number eight national ranking. Curry was held to only five points in the first half of the game, and his team trailed by 17 points at that point. However, Curry scored 25 points in the second half to push Davidson to a stunning 74–70 win.
Curry at the NCAA tournament.On March 28, 2008, Curry led Davidson to another upset against third seeded Wisconsin. With NBA superstar LeBron James in attendance, Curry scored 33 points over his defender Michael Flowers, who was considered one of the best in the nation. Davidson easily won 73–56, advancing the school to the Elite 8 for the first time since 1969. In this game, Curry joined Clyde Lovellette of Kansas, Jerry Chambers of Utah and Glenn Robinson of Purdue as the only players to go over 30 in their first four career NCAA tournament games. Curry also tied the single-season record for most three-pointers made in one season set by Darrin Fitzgerald ofButler in 1986-87 with 158. He set the record in the next game against the Kansas Jayhawks with his 159th three-pointer of the season. Despite Curry's 25 points, Davidson fell to the top-seeded and eventual national champion Jayhawks 59-57 on March 30, 2008.
Curry was named to the Associated Press' All-America Second Team on March 31, 2008. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest Region of the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Tournament, becoming the first player from a team not making the Final Four to do so since Juwan Howard of Michigan in 1994.
Curry was nominated for an ESPY in the Breakthrough Player of the Year category.
Junior season
After Davidson's loss in the NCAA Regional Finals against Kansas, Curry announced that he would return for his junior year. Curry said he wants to develop as a point guard and be able to create his own shot to get ready for the NBA. On November 18, Curry scored a career-high 44 points in Davidson's 82-78 loss to Oklahoma. He extended a career-long streak by scoring at least 25 points for the seventh straight game. On November 21, Curry registered a career-high 13 assists, to go along with 30 points, in Davidson's 97-70 win over Winthrop. He was held scoreless in a 78-48 win over Loyola on November 25. Loyola double-teamed Curry constantly in a historic game in his career — it was the first ever time he failed to score and only his second collegiate game without double digits. Eleven days later, in Davidson's next game, Curry matched his career-high of 44 in a 72-67 win over North Carolina State. Scoring Davidson's final 10 points, he helped his team clinch the game in the last moments with a three-point shot from 30 feet, and two clinching free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining. He also had a team-high 3 steals. On December 20, Curry went cold in the John Wooden Tradition inIndianapolis. Going 5-for-26 field goals, including hitting only 2-of-12 threes, he finished with only 13 points against Purdue and its defense (led by Chris Kramer), resulting in the Wildcats' second loss of the season, a score of 76-58.
On January 3, 2009, Curry surpassed the 2000-point mark for his career as he scored 21 points against Samford. He accomplished this feat in just his 83rd career game.
On January 7, 2009, Curry scored 29 points in a loss to Duke and became the second leading scorer in Davidson's history.
On January 28, 2009, Curry made a 75-foot shot as time expired in the first half of a 92-70 win against Chatanooga.
On February 14, 2009, Curry rolled his ankle in the second half of a win over Furman University. The injury caused Curry to miss the February 18 game against The Citadel. It was the first game Curry missed in his college career.
Curry became Davidson's all time leading scorer on February 28, 2009, surpassing previous record holder John Gerdy. Stephen Curry scored 34 points in a 99-56 win against Georgia Southern, giving Curry 2,488 points for his career.
Although Curry opted out of his senior year at Davidson, he still wanted to earn a degree and took online summer classes.
