Davidson Wildcats men's basketball explained

Current:2023–24 Davidson Wildcats men's basketball team
Davidson Wildcats
University:Davidson College
Conference:Atlantic 10
Location:Davidson, North Carolina
Coach:Matt McKillop
Tenure:2nd
Arena:John M. Belk Arena
Capacity:5,223
Nickname:Wildcats
Studentsection:D-Block
H Body:BF0C26
H Pattern B:_thinsidesonwhite
H Shorts:BF0C26
H Pattern S:_blanksides2
A Body:BF0C26
A Pattern B:_thinblacksides
A Shorts:BF0C26
A Pattern S:_blacksides
Ncaaeliteeight:1968, 1969, 2008
Ncaasweetsixteen:1966, 1968, 1969, 2008
Ncaaroundof32:2008
Ncaatourneys:1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2022
Conference Tournament:Southern Conference
1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013----Atlantic 10
2018
Conference Season: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.

Conference affiliations

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

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

First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game
Rhode Island
Syracuse
Saint Joseph's
W 95–68
L 78–94
L 76–92
First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
St. John's
Columbia
North Carolina
W 79–70
W 61–59OT
L 66–70
First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Villanova
St. John's
North Carolina
W 75–61
W 79–69
L 85–87
First Round St. Bonaventure L 72–85
First Round Kentucky L 55–75
First Round Michigan L 61–80
First Round Ohio State L 64–69
First Round Ohio State L 62–70
First Round Maryland L 70–82
First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Gonzaga
Georgetown
Wisconsin
Kansas
W 82–76
W 74–70
W 73–56
L 57–59
Second Round Louisville L 62–69
Second Round Marquette L 58–59
Second Round Iowa L 52–83
First Round Kentucky L 73–78
First Round
  1. 7 Michigan State
L 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.[1] Following the tournament, the Wildcats earned a number 9 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today poll.[2] 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.

First Round Syracuse L 77–81
First Round West Virginia L 69–85
First Round South Carolina L 73–100
Opening Round
First Round
Second Round
VCU
SW Missouri State
Maryland
W 77–62
W 82–71
L 63–78
First Round
Second Round
South Carolina
Saint Mary's
W 70–63
L 68–80
First Round Missouri L 77–85
First Round Florida State L 74–84
First Round Lipscomb L 81–89
First Round NC State L 61–75

CBI results

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

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[3] 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

See main article: List of NCAA men's basketball 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.[4] [5]

Davidson Wildcats retired numbers
width=px style="" No.width=150px style="" Playerwidth= px style="" Pos.width=100px style="" Tenurewidth= px style="" No. ret.width= px style="" Ref.
2006–2009 2022 [6]

Retired jerseys

Honored, but numbers are still active:

1963–1966
1984–1988
Hobby Cobb 1952–1956
John Gerdy 1975–1979
1961–1964
1962–1965

All-Americans

Consensus Second TeamAP (2nd), NABC (2nd), UPI (3rd)
Consensus First TeamAP (1st), USBWA (1st), NABC (1st), UPI (1st)
Consensus Second TeamAP (2nd), USBWA (1st), UPI (2nd)
Consensus Second TeamAP (2nd), USBWA (1st), NABC (3rd), UPI (3rd)
AP (3rd), NABC (3rd), UPI (3rd)
Consensus Second TeamAP (2nd), Sporting News (2nd)
Consensus First TeamAP (1st), USBWA (1st), NABC (1st), Sporting News (1st)

Wildcats in the NBA/ABA

2009–present NBA champion (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022); 2× NBA Most Valuable Player ; NBA Finals MVP (2022); NBA All-Star Game MVP ; NBA Western Conference Finals MVP ; NBA Clutch Player of the Year ; 10× NBA All-Star (–, –); 10× All-NBA (first team:,,, ; second team:,,, ; third team:,); Olympic gold medalist (2024)
1965–1971 Top overall pick in the 1965 NBA draft
1968–1969
1970–1973
1966–1979 NBA champion (1979)
1997–2003

Wildcats playing in international leagues

Players in Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame

Coaches in Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Forde: Davidson's novel concept -- students first. March 27, 2008. ESPN.com.
  2. Web site: 2018-19 Men's College Basketball Rankings for Week 14. ESPN.
  3. Web site: Men's College Basketball Blog. ESPN.com.
  4. Curry to be Honored, Enshrined at Davidson in August . Davidson Wildcats . June 17, 2022 . June 17, 2022.
  5. News: Davidson to retire Stephen Curry's No. 30 in August ceremony following Golden State Warriors star's graduation . ESPN.com . June 17, 2022 . June 17, 2022.
  6. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2022/06/17/steph-curry-no-30-jersey-retired-davidson-warriors/7664478001/ Davidson College will retire Steph Curry's No. 30 jersey