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Morris: Curry wins battle of star guards
USC's Sam Muldrow defends Davdison's Stephen Curry in the first half of their game.
Jeff Blake/jblake@thestate.com /The State
Posted on 03.18.09
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Gallery: USC vs. Davidson
IF ANYTHING PROVED true Tuesday night at Colonial Life Arena, it was that one spectacular player is prepared to play in the NBA, the other could use another year of polish in college.
Make no mistake about it, both South Carolina’s Devan Downey and Davidson’s Stephen Curry are a cut above the rest in college basketball circles. On this night, though, Curry won the showdown of sensational stars.
Both are juniors, and both will some day soon decide whether they should throw their names into the ring of potential NBA draft picks. The difference between the two Tuesday was Curry’s wide array of shots and knack for hitting the dagger that proved a killer in Davidson’s 70-63 victory.
Perhaps one exchange told the tale. Downey drove for a layup on a fast break midway through the second half that gave USC a 44-43 lead, its first since early in the game. USC had fought its way back from an 11-point deficit, and its vocal fans were at a fever pitch.
Quicker than you can say, “Davidson needs for Curry to answer,” he did just that. He fired in one of his five 3-pointers, this one from the top of the key, and Davidson had a 46-44 lead it never lost.
“Curry showed why he’s going to be a first-round pick, probably this year, if he wants to,” USC coach Darrin Horn said. “He made a lot of big plays.”
Curry finished with 32 points on 9-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-9 on 3-pointers. He also missed only one of 10 free throws and contributed three rebounds, three assists and two steals. The one blemish on his stat sheet was a whopping seven turnovers, several on unforced passes that never reached his teammates’ hands.
Downey was not at his very best. He finished with 18 points on 5-of-14 shooting and missed both 3-point attempts. He made all eight of his free throws and contributed four rebounds and four assists, but he also had an unsightly six turnovers.
Downey could have used his health as an excuse but said afterward he would only talk about his team not about himself. Horn said Downey had “the sniffles,” and it did not affect his play or Horn’s decision to sit his star player for an uncharacteristic seven minutes in the first half.
Otherwise, the showdown of standout guards was about what fans expected when the NIT pairings were announced late Sunday evening.
Although Curry carried more national name recognition, both proved to be big-game players during the regular season. In seven games against NCAA tournament teams, Curry averaged 28.8 points to go with 45 assists and 40 turnovers. Included in that resume was a 44-point barrage against Oklahoma.
Downey played six games against NCAA tournament teams, averaging 23.3 points to go with 22 assists and 27 turnovers. He put up 37 points against Clemson.
Of course, Curry made a name for himself nationally a season ago when Davidson came within a missed 3-pointer of defeating eventual national champion Kansas and advancing to the Final Four. During the Wildcats’ NCAA tournament run, Curry averaged 32 points.
The two play a differing style of basketball. Curry is a shooter, a career 41.1 percent marksman from 3-point range. He can shoot straight up or off the dribble, and Davidson runs many sets for him to come off screens and fire away.
Downey is most effective beating a defender off the dribble and scoring in the lane or handing off to teammates for easy baskets. He has made the fadeaway 10- to 12-footer a staple in his game.
On Tuesday, it came down to which player would make the biggest plays when his team needed it most. That turned out to be Curry.
His step-back 3-pointer with 5:53 to go gave Davidson a 60-55 lead. His high-arcing runner from 10 feet in the middle of the lane with 2:44 remaining gave Davidson a 68-61 advantage. Even his steal with 1:41 left and Davidson leading by seven proved crucial.
“He’s obviously a great player. We knew that coming in,” said USC senior guard Branden Conrad. “I grew up playing with him in Charlotte and knew that all along, and I think the whole country knows it.”
For those watching across the country on national television, they probably also know Curry has possibly played his way into being an NBA lottery pick in a few months. There is no shame in knowing Downey could do the same, though it probably needs to be a year from now.
Listen to Morris Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. on ESPN Radio 93.1 FM.
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