Detroit ? To call Davidson the best story in college basketball does not go far enough. Since this is March, Davidson is the best story in U.S. sports. The best story just got better.
Davidson beat Wisconsin, 73-56, at Ford Field on Friday to advance to the Elite Eight against Kansas. Think about it. Only eight college teams are still playing meaningful basketball, and the Wildcats are one of them.
This is an extraordinary story, an extraordinary run. But how extraordinary?
“If Davidson makes the Final Four, this is bigger than Appalachian State,” says Southern Conference commissioner John Iamarino. “And that was the biggest story in the country. It’s right up there with it now.”
Six months ago, Appalachian State upset Michigan in Michigan in football. The Wildcats upset Wisconsin in Michigan in basketball. But nothing about this felt like an upset. It felt easy.
The Badgers are known for their defense. They beat you down, wear you out, make it tough to breathe. The last time they gave up as many points as Davidson scored was in 2007.
The Wildcats were tougher. They were so tough that Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan complained to officials about Davidson’s rough play.
What did Ryan tell the officials?
That Davidson is a school with 1,700 students whose players might eat at McDonald’s but never sniff the McDonald’s high school all-star game? That the Wildcats have nobody in their rotation taller than 6-8? That the Wildcats go to class and eat in the same cafeteria as the other students and know the majority of them by name? That they beat Wofford twice this season?
Please, Mr. Official, tell Davidson not to be so mean.
When the rout ended, the Wildcats pointed to the fans and the fans to the team. This isn’t about the 12 guys who played for Davidson Friday. This is about the community and ideals those 12 players represent.
Dell Curry, father of Davidson star Stephen, was in his seat 11 rows from the court, and extremely numb, after the game. How’s Detroit working for you? I ask.
“Better,” he says.
For the Wildcats, the city’s snow has melted, the cold has abated and there’s nothing but sunshine.
