Game Notes
Audio Broadcast
DAVIDSON, N.C. – In search of their first win over a ranked opponent since 1974, Bob McKillop and his Davidson Wildcats travel west to battle 11-time National Champion and No. 7 / 8 UCLA, Saturday in the John Wooden Classic at 5:30 p.m.
The contest will be televised nationally on WGN and marks the third time Davidson has faced a Top-10 opponent on the young season.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
- Davidson enters 3-4 overall following a 75-68 setback to cross-county rival Charlotte Wednesday evening. The defeat was the Wildcats’ second straight, and the first time since 2004-05 Davidson has suffered more than one losing streak in a season. Despite the loss, sophomore
Stephen Curry poured in 32 points, including seven buckets from deep.
- This afternoon’s contest against No. 7 / 8 UCLA marks the third time this season the Wildcats have met a Top-10 opponent, all of which have been played at a neutral site.
- Curry, named SoCon Player of the Week and Month earlier this week, has hit the 20-point plateau six times this season and has scored double figures in 34 consecutive contests and 40-of-41. It was the fourth time he has received the weekly and monthly honor in his brief career.
- Offensively, Curry continues to lead the Wildcats in scoring, averaging 26.0 points per outing, which also ranks him second in the nation. The 6-3 guard is shooting 49.2 percent (64-130) overall and 44.7 percent (34-76) from downtown.
- Along with Curry ranking among national leaders in scoring, his backcourt mate #Jason RichardsX is also averaging double digits (11.6 ppg.) and leads the country in assists at 9.4 per contest.
- Davidson has never defeated a ranked opponent under Bob McKillop. The Wildcats last win over a team in the Top 25 came during the 1973-74 season when Davidson knocked off No. 15 South Carolina, 70-59, Jan. 12, 1974.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
- UCLA returns four starters from last year’s squad that advanced to its second straight NCAA Final Four and finished 30-6 overall.
- The Bruins enter this afternoon’s contest 7-1 after a 63-61 setback to Texas, Dec. 2. Prior to its loss to the Longhorns, UCLA shared the top-spot in the ESPN / USA Today Coaches Poll and were ranked second in the Associated Press Top 25.
- As a club, UCLA is holding opponents to just 54.1 points per game and overall field goal percentage of 39.9 percent. To go along with their strong defensive pressure, the Bruins are outrebounding their opponents by almost nine boards per outing.
- Freshman Kevin Love leads the club in scoring in rebounding with averages of 17.3 and 9.9 per game, respectively. Josh Shipp (14.9), All-America candidate Darren Collison (13.0) and Russell Westbrook (12.5) are also contributing double figures each time the Bruins hit the floor.
THE MATCHUP
Coaches: Davidson Bob McKillop, the all-time winningest coach in Davidson and SoCon history has compiled a record of 314-222. The six-time league Coach of the Year is in his 19th season at the helm.
UCLA Ben Howland is 98-42 in five seasons on the Bruins’ bench and 266-141 in 14 years as a collegiate head coach.
Series: UCLA leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: The Bruins defeated Davidson 91-64 in the clubs only meeting on the hardwood, Jan. 3, 1975.
Radio: John Kilgo (Play-By-Play) and Logan Kosmalski (Analyst) will call the action on the Davidson Radio Network.
Television: KCAL, WGN and HDNET
Next Up: Davidson will enjoy a five-day break before entertaining SoCon foe The Citadel, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
UCLA hosts Idaho State Saturday, Dec. 15.