Curry Shouldn't Steph To The NBA Yet

In 2008, while the Kansas University men's basketball team captured a national championship, Stephen Curry captured the eyes and hearts of basketball fans.

That season, Curry averaged 28.6 points per game, but it was what he did in the NCAA Tournament that put him on the map. He averaged 32 points per game as he led Davidson to an Elite Eight appearance. But that number doesn't really do what he did justice.

Curry poured in 40 against Gonzaga as he hit 8-of-10 3-point attempts. The Wildcats would need all 40 as they just squeaked by the Zags, 82-76.

As an encore, Sensational Steph dropped 30 on a Georgetown squad that was a Final Four team the year before. The Hoyas came into the game with an outstanding defensive squad that was praised throughout the nation ... of course until Curry hit 9-of-10 free throws and connected on five 3-pointers. Then he did the same dad-gum thing against Wisconsin, an even better defensive squad. Curry scored 33 on 6-of-11 shooting from the great beyond.

And even in defeat, Curry scored 25 points as Davidson (yes, Davidson!) gave Bill Self's Kansas squad one heckuva fight and one helluva scare.

That is why the Davidson star should not forgo his final season of college eligibility for the fame, fortune and comfort at the end of the bench that will come with declaring for the NBA Draft.

This year's NCAA Tournament missed the kind of dramatic flair that came when Curry stepped on the court. Overlooked by the big boys on Tobacco Road, Curry landed at Davidson and started to light up opposing defenses from the day he stepped on campus. He was stuntin' like his daddy, Dell Curry, an NBA Jam Tournament Edition favorite as he dropped threes from every angle. And before you knew it, Curry was arguable the face of college basketball.

However, Davidson flopped in the SoCon postseason tournament, which cost the Wildcats an at-large bid to The Big Dance ... and without the proper credentials in the eyes of the NCAA committee, the 'Cats ended up in the NIT.

Sports fans and hoops experts hoped Curry could lead his team to Madison Square Garden as they crossed their fingers hoping for one more shining moment on basketball's most grand stage. Curry scored 58 points in two games, but fell just short of one more appearance at the Garden.

Thus, the speculation of Curry jumping to the NBA Draft began. The sharp-shooting, bucket-filling combo guard is projected to go 15th to the Detroit Pistons. (Makes me wonder if the rebuilding Phoenix Suns could use a gunner like Curry at 14.) This scouting report compares Curry to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (another NBA Jam legend) and Steve Kerr.

Both were more-than-servicable NBA players, but that is where Curry must answer the biggest question not on any mid-term exam.

What is worth more to Curry?

He could return to being a college superstar being beloved by fans, media and even opposing coaches for just one more year. He would likely be competing for one last shining moment in the NCAA Tournament while completing the four-year trek that nearly no college star ever finishes anymore.

Or he could forgo all that for the NBA's riches, and the torture of having to live in Detroit.

Word On The Street [Draft Express]

In or Out: The Davidson Dilemma

The Davidson Wildcats were the Cinderella story of last year's March Madness.

Correction: Stephen Curry was the Cinderella story of last year's March Madness. The star guard that was passed up by all the big boys (including my beloved Tar Heels) torched anyone and everyone in his path en route to national stardom and an Elite 8 appearance.

What a difference a year makes.

Curry is still lighting up scoreboards on a game-by-game basis, but this year's Davidson squad is lacking, despite a 26-7 overall record and a regular season championship in the Southern Conference with an 18-2 record. Yet, after a loss to the College of Charleston in the conference tourney's semifinal, the Wildcats are squarely on the NCAA bubble.

So, are they in or are they out?

While I would love to see Curry make March mad all over again, I can't justify it. The NCAA Tournament isn't a career-achievement award, it's supposed to be the best 64 teams in a single-elimination tournament. If this was the BCS, not only could I come up with a defense for Curry and the Wildcats even Johnny Cochran would be proud of. But this isn't college football, it's Division I basketball.

The NCAA doesn't need Stephen Curry drilling jumpers left and right to sell March Madness. It sells itself. Besides, there will be another Cinderella story that will come about this year. I guarantee it. Now, I'm not a big fan of making guarantees, but who (other than me, of course) saw this standout named Stephen coming? Not you, that's for darn sure.

Someone special lies somewhere in the field of 64. Someone new. Someone even the keen college hoops eye like mine hasn't even come into contact with.

As for Curry, I can't wait to see him in New York City for the Final Four.

Of the NIT, of course.

Placing Prospects: Why LeBron should stay

Before the news broke today that LeBron James would consider signing an extension, I had the Cleveland Cavaliers on my mind. Not because I was thinking about where the King would be in two years, but because I was about to go watch Davidson vs. Purdue at the Conseco Fieldhouse for the John Wooden Tradition.

I was excited to see America's sweetheart Stephen Curry light up the Boilermakers for a ridiculous amount of points and hopefully confirm a destiny I have had in mind for the young scorer since I first saw his brilliance last March.

Curry did not light up Purdue though. In fact, he only scored 13 points and went 5-for-26 from the field. But even the best have off nights and I still believe Curry is the one who has the power to sway James' decision for what jersey he will wear in 2010.

The Davidson junior is the exact player James needs in his offense. James has needed a "pure" scorer to play alongside for years and has yet to find a perfect match.

With Larry Hughes, he had to fight for his shots since Hughes would put up ill-advised shots or he just was never healthy. After Hughes left James had no options except for the occasional good game from Donyell Marshall or Daniel Gibson.

Now James has Mo Williams and Delonte West which is a better situation but still not perfect. Williams is a good scorer but I saw plenty of him in Milwaukee and I know he just doesn't click with other elite scorers like a Michael Redd.

Williams will score his and then let someone score theirs and then score his and so on. It's never a real fluid relationship like the Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen relationship James desperately wants. While West has been solid this year, he is more of a utility man that will do whatever the team needs him to do and cannot be James' personal wingman when he has rebounds, defense and assists to worry about.

Enter Stephen Curry.

Curry can shoot lights out. He shoots off the pass and at 6'3 he is tall enough to score off the dribble and drive the lane. The most important aspect of Curry is his lack of ego yet complete confidence in his game. Curry doesn't need to score 30 points a game, but when his number is called he knows he can perform.

When James needs the help Curry could become the person that is virtually impossible to stop. When he starts hitting on all cylinders you need to double team him and when you double him then James makes you pay.

Curry is expected to be picked around the 20th slot, and the Cavs will be picking in the upper 20's come draft time. The Cavs should do everything they can to land Curry, even if they have to trade someone like Williams, West or even Anderson Verajo.

Watching Curry throw up shots with confidence despite struggling all game was further proof he is ready to be James' go-to man. He won't be selfish like Hughes, but he will be more dangerous than Williams and West and give James the perfect outlet pass every time down the floor.

So LeBron, don't sign anything yet. But if Curry becomes a Cav, take the extension because I think he would bring a ring with him.

Google Scouting Saint Mary's (minus the Google) and a Purdue/Davidson update

Coming into the first game of the John R. Wooden Tradition, Davidson guard Stephen Curry looked primed to break the tournament's scoring record if he matched his game average.

However, the Purdue Boilermakers asserted themselves as the physically dominant team as they outhustled the Wildcats en route to a 47-24 halftime lead.

Curry is an ice cold 3-for-17 from the floor and 1-for-8 from the 3-point line and still leads the team with 7 first-half points. If the Wildcats want to make a run in this game, they would be wise to move Curry off the point guard position and let him run wild off screens. But for that to work, Davidson is going to have to set more solid screens as they ahve looked lifeless on both ends of the court.

Purdue's E'Twaun Moore leads all scorers with 10 points as seven different Boilermakers tallied points in the first half in what has turned out to be a home game in the team fittingly wearing the white jerseys. Kyle Orton and Drew Brees must be proud.

Google Scouting Presents: Saint Mary's (without the Google)

The combination of a terrible internet connection and access to a Saint Mary's media guide has given me the opportunity to do Google scouting without opening an additional web browser. Here's what I've got for you today.

Location: Moraga, California. According to the SMC media guide, its campus is 13.5 miles away from Oakland (yuck!), 21 miles from San Francisco and 46 miles from Great America. So that's cool.

Mascot: Gaels. It is some sort of horse. I'm assuming it is fast. Who would want a slow horse to be a team mascot?

Conference: West Coast Conference. Better known as the WCC. Also known as the conference Gonzaga dominates. Hey, wasn't SIU supposed to be the next Gonzaga? Just wondering.

Record: 8-1 with wins over powerhouses such as Seattle Pacific and Vanguard. OK, let's give 'em some credit here. They have beaten Providence (81-75), Kent State (75-69) and Oregon (78-73).

Who to watch for: Patrick "Patty" Mills. The 6-foot guard was an Olympic star for the Australian national team. He is averaging 20 points per game and will be a handful for Saluki defenders to guard this evening. I'd also watch out for 6-foot-7 forward Diamon Simpson, who is averaging 12.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per contest and 6-foot-11 center Omar Samhan who averages 15.4 points and 9.6 boards per game.

Don't worry about... Daniel Kickert. The former Gael star graduated in 2006 finishing as the school's leading scorer with 1,863 points.

The 'X' Factor: It's a homecoming for senior guard Wesley Clemmons, who is an Indianapolis native.

Notable: SIU will be playing its third game on a neutral court this season.

Quotable: "I'm looking forward to Stephen Curry dropping 40 on Purdue tonight." - Me, prior to the Purdue-Davidson game.

Prediction: Someone's gotta pull an upset in this tourney, right? I think SIU wins a squeaker in the house that Danny Granger dominates, but no one cares or knows about. Southern Illinois 67 Saint Mary's College 64