No. 22/20 Davidson Wildcats (8-1) vs. No. 13/18 Purdue Boilermakers (8-2)
John R. Wooden Tradition
Date: Dec. 20, 2008
Time: 4 p.m.
Site: Conseco Fieldhouse (18,345 capacity) - Indianapolis, Ind.
Audio: John Kilgo calls the action on the Davidson Radio Network (1350 AM, 610 AM, 97.5 FM [joined in progress], online on Teamline)
Video: Televised on CBS with Don Criqui calling the game and Jim Spanarkel providing color analysis
Web sites: Davidson (www.DavidsonWildcats.com), Purdue (www.purduesports.com)
Layup Line
• After a week-long break, the Wildcats return to action against No. 13/18 Purdue in the Wooden Tradition at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
• It’s Davidson’s first appearance in the Wooden Tradition. The Wildcats suffered a 75-63 loss to UCLA?in the Wooden Classic in Anaheim last season.
• This will be the ‘Cats’ third game on a neutral floor this season, and Davidson owns a 2-0 record.
• It’s Davidson’s second contest against a ranked opponent this season. The Wildcats fell 82-78 at Oklahoma, currently ranked fourth in both polls, Nov. 18, in the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT?Season Tip-Off.
• Following today’s game, Davidson has just two non-conference games remaining. The ‘Cats play at No. 6/6 Duke Jan.7, and host a BracketBusters game in February.
• The Wildcats have won their last six games and opened Southern Conference play with a 100-95 victory over Chattanooga last Saturday.
• Davidson has won 33 of its last 35 games, dating back to Jan. 3, 2008.
• Davidson is off to its best start since the ‘Cats went 11-1 to open the 1969-70 campaign. That squad finished the season with a 22-5 record and a third-straight NCAA?Tournament appearance.
• Head coach Bob McKillop, in his 20th season, needs two victories to reach 350 for his career.
• Purdue has won its last three contests and is coming off a 76-62 victory over Indiana State at home Saturday.
• The Wildcats and Boilermakers have one common opponent, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated Purdue 87-82 in overtime in the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off Nov. 28.
• The Boilermakers have played in seven of the eight Wooden Traditions, which began in 2000. Purdue owns a 3-4 all-time record in the event.
Series History
• This will be the first meeting on the hardwood between Davidson and Purdue.
Claw Marks
• Davidson has held its opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field in five of its last six games.
• Stephen Curry has hit the 20-point mark in 55 career games, the 30-point mark in 21 outings and the 40-point plateau five times. He owns the school record for career games with 40 or more and trails all-time leading scorer John Gerdy in games with 30 or more (24).
• Curry has moved past Brendan Winters into fourth on the Davidson all-time scoring list. He is 52 points away from 2,000.
• Curry has also moved past Greg Dunn and into 14th on the assist chart (260).
• Davidson set a school record with 25 steals against Guilford Nov. 14. Curry and Max Paulhus Gosselin combined for 17.
• The ‘Cats’ victory over NC?State Dec. 6 was their first against an ACC?school since defeating North Carolina 58-54 in Chapel Hill Nov. 20, 2001.
• Davidson is now 1-2 all-time in Time Warner Cable Arena with the losses coming to North Carolina and Duke last season and a win against NC?State this season.
SoCon Honors
• Stephen Curry was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week Dec. 16.
• Curry helped Davidson improve to 8-1 on the season with wins over West Virginia (68-65) and Chattanooga (100-95) last week. The junior guard averaged 34.0 points, eight assists and 2.5 steals a game.
• He’s been named SoCon Player of the Week 12 times in his career, including four this season.
• Curry was named the Southern Conference men’s basketball Athlete of the Month for November.
• He averaged 29.2 points, seven assists and three steals in leading Davidson to a 5-1 record.
• Curry has been named Athlete of the Month nine times in his career, including all five months in 2007-08.
• Curry earned a host of weekly honors after his performance in the Wildcats’ 72-67 victory over NC State at Time Warner Cable Arena last Saturday.
• He was named the SoCon Player of the Week, the Collegehoops.net National Player of the Week, Andy Katz’s National Player of the Week and Scout.com’s Non-Big 6 Player of the Week.
• He matched a career high with 44 points on 15-of-33 shooting from the field, including 4 3-pointers, and 10-of-13 from the free-throw line. His point total tied the Time Warner Cable Arena record for a collegiate game.