He’s Back: Stephen Curry Picks Up Where He Left Off in March, Scores 44 in Loss to Oklahoma
College Basketball November 19th. 2008, 9:00am
Maybe Joe Posnanski was right? Maybe Davidson’s Stephen Curry should be in contention for Sportsman of the Year. He brought madness to March, and last night his otherworldly act was in Oklahoma, where the wiry kid with the baby face and impeccable stroke dropped an amazing 44 points on Blake Griffin’s Sooners. Davidson fell just short, 82-78.
Dynamic is a word that comes to mind when watching Curry play – it’s as if every swished triple is more improbable than the next. 25-feet out? No prob. Step back job in Griffin’s face? Automatic. Curry reminds us of lethal shooters from the last 20 years, like Duke’s JJ Redick, Georgia Tech’s Dennis Scott or Chris Mullin from St. John’s. They key difference, of course, is that Curry plays for Davidson, isn’t surrounded by Hamburger All-Americans, and has a frail frame. His rise to greatness reminded us of this terrific article on the self-made man. Surely the lack of scholarship offers from the big boys played a part in Curry’s drive to stardom.
He’s must-watch TV. After Davidson cut an 18-point deficit to three in the final minute on Curry’s last bomb, we were forced to look up Davidson’s schedule and put potential TV games in the calendar on our phone. NC State, West Virginia, Purdue, Duke – we don’t want to miss any of them.
We also should mention that Curry didn’t turn in the only scintillating performance last night. Griffin looked like the lottery pick everyone has pegged him for, scoring 25 points and collecting 21 rebounds. He reminds us of a bigger, stronger Carlos Boozer.
Other relevant scores:
UNC 77, Kentucky 58: Never was close. Deon Thompson had 20, Kentucky committed 28 turnovers.
UAB 72, Arizona 71: With less than a second left in a tie game, Arizona was called for an intentional foul at midcourt during a scramble for the ball. College Hoops Journal writes about Arizona’s tough loss at home due to a couple really dumb fouls at the end by the Wildcats. UAB will play Oklahoma at MSG next week.
Arizona State 59, San Diego St. 52: The depleted Aztecs went cold late, spoiling the upset bid against ailing James Harden and the Sun Devils.
42 Responses to “He’s Back: Stephen Curry Picks Up Where He Left Off in March, Scores 44 in Loss to Oklahoma”
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November 19th, 2008 at 9:05 am
The crazy thing is he had an off night.
I think he’ll succeed at the next level. He seems to have a high basketball IQ and I was impressed with his ball-handling against the OU pressure.
Blake Griffin is a monster.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:07 am
sure is an ugly bastard though
November 19th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Curry would have dropped 50+ if he didnt sit out during the first half with three fouls. Blake Griffin is a beast
November 19th, 2008 at 9:09 am
like Duke’s JJ Redick
more on him later
November 19th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Irish,
I know you said you’d talk about JJ later, but could you give your thoughts on him defensively? I’m sure he’s still deficient, but I honestly don’t think I’ve seen him play more than 15 minutes in the NBA. You see him all the time so I’d like to hear what your take on it is.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:17 am
He reminds me of Dell Curry.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:17 am
this kid couldn’t score 5 more points???? fraud.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:17 am
NC State, West Virginia, Purdue, Duke
Win,win,loss,Win
He reminds us of a bigger, stronger Carlos Boozer.
He played like a man among children last night.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Goodness, I missed college hoops. I know there is no big official start off to the season, but I consider last night the get go. Games all over the place.
I’m unfamiliar with the fandom at Boston College, but they are playing St. John’s on national tv and the place might have been a 1/3 full. Maybe. I know Boston is a pro town, but their arena isn’t even that big. Seems like more people would have been there.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:19 am
blake griffin is a BEAST.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Also,
In college basketball, I enjoy the shooters a lot more than the high-flyers. I think it’s because college is the last time the under-talented guys can be absolute superstars. The shooters can be great role players in the NBA, but rarely make the being franchise guys.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:21 am
yeah, real ugly. im sure he gets no women in college
November 19th, 2008 at 9:22 am
No way Blake Griffin is 6-10 though.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:23 am
i wish they would get rid of the woman’s 3 point arch on the court for men’s games. it looks terrible. i hope at least for the final 4 its not there.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I’m not agreeing he’s ugly, but he was the biggest thing in March Madness and easily the “Big Man on Campus.” That guy could look like Frankenstein’s monster and still pull tons of ass.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:25 am
@brave- there really isnt anything to talk about. he brings nothing to the defensive side of the game. He gets torched by SG’s
November 19th, 2008 at 9:26 am
@Irish- ah ok, I didn’t know if he’d improved or not.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Unless those SG’s play for Toronto…
November 19th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Curry still has plenty of time to beef up for the rigors of the NBA, but sure, i’d take a chance on the guy. i dont know how much of an impact he’d have, but hte kid would certainly be a fan favorite
November 19th, 2008 at 9:32 am
FYI – brace yourself for the Oden slurp job at 10. kindly save all comments for then.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:34 am
@TBL
Bingo on Curry. How can ppl say Ricky Rubio is ready for the rigors of the NBA, but not Curry? That’s my thoughts on that matter.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Curry still has plenty of time to beef up for the rigors of the NBA
There isn’t a problem steroids cant fix.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Can’t you say that about all “big-time” college players who flame out in the pros that the fans ultimately don’t care about?
Miles Simon, Troy Bell, Bryce Drew, …
November 19th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I don’t understand why he needs to beef up. He’ll be mainly a shooter and isn’t going to be taking it to the rim like Iverson. There are a plethora of slender scorers in the NBA a la Kevin Martin.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I think the best argument that Curry is ready for the NBA is that Kevin Durant has yet to be snapped in half in his career. If Durant’s frame can survive, I think Curry will be able to too.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Stephen Curry, 6′2″
Kevin Martin, 6′7″
November 19th, 2008 at 9:41 am
and?
plus, kevin martin is 3 or 4 inches taller.
curry will get owned when he’s on defense and can’t attack the rim. what’s that sound like? a poor man’s boobie gibson? monta ellis without the crazy speed (and moped)? id be shocked if he did anything in the NBA, but it’d be cool. im not rooting against him or anything, but i just don’t think he can cut it.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:44 am
So he doesn’t need to beef up, he needs to grow a couple inches got it.
I’m not saying he’ll be a star. He probably won’t even be a starter, but if Chris Quinn can play valuable minutes in the NBA, I think this guy can.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Think Tony Delk.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:46 am
The only thing Curry lacks in size. He is a Natural Talent. He always finds ways to score. Hes like a midget Rip Hamilton with a better shot.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Also look what Aaron Brooks is doing with Houston this year.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:48 am
oh im sure he gets tons of ass. doesnt change the fact hes goofy looking.
and having lived in davidson i would hope he is getting ass in charlotte and not on campus
November 19th, 2008 at 9:48 am
How is doing exactly what Boobie does make him a poor man’s Boobie? Anytime Boobie sucessfully dribbles the ball across half court, I feel like I should be cheering him like he’s a 5th grader. Boobie is all about shooting. Curry is the same way.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:51 am
i really don’t have anything to come back with, just thought that sounded funny.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I think his best bet is an Eddie House instant-offense-scoring-PG-off-the-bench type.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:05 am
The Orange got their first home-win over Richmond last night. Devendorf and Flynn too athletic for Richmond’s perimeter defenders.
Next week are games against Florida, then either Kansas or Washington.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I’d wager that Boobie’s a better shooter than Curry.
40+% from 3 in the NBA impresses me way more than the same at college’s joke line.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:57 am
@NickP… Love me some Boobie, but I think Curry is much more lethal as a shooter, especially off the dribble. There just aren’t a whole lot of guys in the Association that can make those shots anymore. That should make Curry valuable at the next level…
November 19th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Does that mean Mrs. Curry is back too?
November 19th, 2008 at 11:51 am
I don’t know if the kids at Arizona are dumb or if the coaching staff has no clue what they’re doing. The forst foul when the game was tied at 71 was understandable since the kid rebounded a ft miss and ted the game. I’ll chalk that up to adrenaline.
When you come out of a timeout, how do you NOT know the score or if you’re the coach not TELL them the score after what just happened?
Ridiculous.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I am not excited for Davidson to play Duke. Not excited at all.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
On December 20th…..Mr. Curry, meet Mr. Kramer.