2008 NCAA Tournament Preview: Davidson Wildcats

Can a team from the Southern conference make an impact in the NCAA Tournament? The Davidson Wildcats are looking to do just that. Many of my previews of small-conference teams indicate that I have little faith in the team I am writing about. Davidson is not one of those teams. In this edition of my 2008 NCAA Tournament previews, I examine a very good Davidson Wildcats team.

The casual college basketball fan is most likely unaware that the Davidson Wildcats went undefeated in conference play this season. The entire nation could become well acquainted with this team before the end of the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Davidson clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament by defeating over-matched Elon 65-49 in the Southern conference tournament championship game. The win was Davidson's 22 consecutive victory, the longest winning streak in the nation entering the tournament. The Wildcats went a perfect 20-0 in regular season conference play and then coasted to their conference tournament championship. Now the Wildcats, ignored by many fans as well as media outlets, will look to continue their impressive streak to 28.

Nothing makes for an impressive tournament resume quite like perfection. It's noteworthy that Davidson went 0-3 against ranked opponents this season. A four-point loss at North Carolina is definitely nothing to be embarrassed about. Neither a six-point loss against Duke nor an eight-point defeat at the hands of UCLA should hurt any team. The worst loss suffered by Davidson this year was on the road against N.C. State (15-15, 4-12 entering the ACC Tournament) on December 21. However, the Wildcats haven't lost a game since then.

Any team that is going to make a significant run in the NCAA Tournament needs one phenomenal player than can carry his team when the situation calls for him to do so. Davidson has arguably the best player in college basketball. Sophomore guard Stephen Curry enters the tournament averaging 25.1 points a game. Curry seems to never have an off night. He has scored at least twelve points in every game this season.