When Tyler Hansbrough returns from the injured list, the 2008 national player of the year will be the best player in the ACC but not in his own state.
That distinction belongs to Davidson guard Stephen Curry. Just in case you thought the four-game NCAA Tournament clinic Curry put on last March was a fluke, he put up 44 points at Oklahoma on Tuesday in an 82-78 loss.
Curry's not only the best shooter in college basketball, he finds his shot when everyone in the building knows he's going to shoot. And it's not like he's Michael Jordan. He's not 6-6 and he can't shoot over most players outside of the Southern Conference.
What he lacks in size, he's suspiciously listed at 6-2, 185 pounds, he makes up for with a ridiculously quick release and unbelievable ability to make seemingly every open shot he takes.
Unlike Hansbrough, a power forward, Curry does not get the benefit of garbage points, easy putbacks from under the basket, and unlike Hansbrough, Curry does not have the benefit of playing with Ty Lawson or Wayne Ellington.
Curry does more with less help against teams whose entire mission is stop him. They still can't.
Jason Richards was a great point guard in Davidson's system and did more of the heavy lifting in the tournament than he got credit for. But Richards is gone, which makes Tuesday's performance against a physical Oklahoma team even more impressive.
Let's be honest about Hansbrough — he's going to end his four-year career as the most productive player in ACC history. He will likely be the leading scorer in league and UNC history and the leading rebounder in UNC history.
He'll also go down as the best free-throw shooter in college basketball history.
But he's a limited college basketball player. The words "Cole" and "Aldrich" should squash any argument to the contrary.
Let's put it this way, Hansbrough has missed two games and UNC hasn't missed a beat. Where would Davidson be without Curry?
Comments
Great Post
Sat, 07/11/2009 - 02:13 — Alex_drakeNice article, curry will be chosen before Hansbrough in the draft and will have a more successful career. Physco T is all-world against smaller or less physical players. great work again. dissertation writing help | custom dissertation | dissertation help.
thanks
best player
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 23:41 — droogan1I know its early, and I know I'm biased, and Curry can shoot lights out BUT; have you seen Jeff Teague? Sick skills, speed, defense, ups, shot (when needed), IQ, etc, etc., etc... Just hide and watch.
Draft Position
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 20:34 — lil576The difference is Curry continues to improve and can get his shot off against bigger defenders. Curry will be chosen before Hansbrough in the draft and will have a more successful career. Physco T is all-world against smaller or less physical players. His junk won't fly in The League. Curry is definatley at a different level.
the draft
Tue, 04/28/2009 - 05:04 — umakatrickthe draft and will have a more successful career. Physco T is all-world
against smaller or less coursework physical players. His junk won't fly in The
League. Curry is definatley at a different level. buy assignment
curry vs. hansbrough
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 18:34 — psh0117I have to say I don't agree, Yes curry is a great player, but I don't think he is the best player in the state. I mean we didn't even know about this kid until last March. and I agree he had a very good run, but there is a reason why he is at Davidson, and not some other big time program. When you throw the ball up 30-40 times a game, of course he will have points, and then add the free throw points and it looks like a great game, but he only 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and recorded 3 TO. When I think of the Best player, I don't think of the best shooter (which Curry probably is) I want someone who can shoot, rebound, pass the ball and play great defense. Curry is good, But Hansbrough is better. That’s why he was the POY and not Curry.
you HAVE to say it?
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 22:25 — izzykareemyou said: "When you throw the ball up 30-40 times a game, of course he will have points, and then add the free throw points and it looks like a great game, but he only 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and recorded 3 TO"
wasn't this always the knock on Jordan himself. He took 40 shots a game, got every foul call, of course he's gonna score 30/game.
Well we know what the basketball world thinks of MJ, he's the greatest. When you get out of Hansbrough's underwear you'll see how much better Curry is.
S. Curry
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 13:37 — gvillegatr6-14 from inside 3 pt land. (piss poor)
6-15 from 3 pt land. (slighty above avg)
14-14 from the charity stripe. (excellent)
i'd say hes prolly in the top 6 running for POY.
if you give this character POY, then you need to start politicing Armanti Edwards (or should have last year) as a Heisman Trophy award winner.
both ironically play in the same conference (and yes, Div 1-aa in football is equivalent to the comepetition these same teams play in college baskets in conference ... and, please, people dont over think this) and both have excelled against better competition.
the only problem with football is, you simply dont have the ability to play the whole game.
and just so no one has a cow Stephen Curry is very good.
what a homer
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 18:21 — izzykareemYou don't have an argument and your comparison is piss-poor, as you say.
First of all, the kid wasn't playing the school for the blind, they were playing Oklahoma, ranked 12th, with 2-3 McDonald AA's. Your team has MCDAA's sitting on the bench, i think that was JPG's, horn-blaring Mack Truck of a point, nice to miss that one. Only jealousy, hatred and homerism can cause someone to miss that.
Secondly, its not Armanti Edwards fault that Heisman voters are too UNC'ish too look at Div1AA schools for talent because there are probably guys year-in and year-out who could do anything the Heisman winner that year did. It's popularity and school politics, just like the ridiculous poll system foisted upon college football every year. So this is also a non-argument.
Then you conveniently leave out the NCAA tourney that this kid practically owns.
And please, let's talk about the fouls that Hansbrough "draws". The guy is so uncoordinated it appears like he's getting fouled, flailing his arms and legs all over the place and barreling over people.
Don't forget the swing he took at Brandon Costner either. I wish Obama had been president back then, put that dude in jail.
you are amazing
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 19:27 — gvillegatryou continue to be the biggest tard on this site. Where is it, in my post you blasted, I talked about Tyler Hansbrough?? I didnt even imply he was part of my post. go sit on the toilet man. you have such hatred for UNC, you see it when it is not even there ... at least in my post!
and armanti Edwrads ... "if you give this character POY, then you need to start politicing Armanti Edwards (or should have last year) as a Heisman Trophy award winner." where in here did I say he deserved the Heisman?? All I said was JPG needed to start politicing for him!
how bout getting the stick out of your arse! i actually missed your stupid, left field posts for awhile. I wont anymore!
you are right...
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 22:11 — izzykareemI actually read all the posts and then respond, so sometimes what some other dufus said, i mix with another dufus, my bad, dufus.
doesn't change your stupid argument though does it?
I also didn't say that you said Armanti Edwards should win the heisman, where does it say that in my post, Tardhole? But it also shows your argument that if you're gonna give a guy from a smaller school a big award then you (JPG) also have to "politic" as you say, and advance a small school football player, also a poor argument.
We see the hate, and its all you Tardhole
going to have to frame this!
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 23:02 — gvillegatrI am right!! WOW! Honey, break open that box of wine you got last night at the IGA. We are celebrating tonight!!
you are retarded
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 20:16 — psh0117First of all, if you are talking about Curry when you say "Then you conveniently leave out the NCAA tourney that this kid practically owns." Then you are wrong, I don't see how you can say that the kid owns the tournament after 1 good performance. Where was he at the other years of his college career?
this post in reply to izzykareem not gvillegatr
retarded huh...
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 22:20 — izzykareemDo you know why most of the college basketball world was watching DAVIDSON play Oklahome last night? Because of Curry.
And who else am i gonna be talking about but Curry, another Tardhole.
There was no one, on an individual level, who could hold a candle to Curry in the tournament last year. And so far this year, none can either.
Yes, Hansbrough swung at Costner because he's a euro-trash clothes wearing b***ch. This is why he got a technical
The Obama comment was simply humor in light of the white-on-black crime that almost took place between Hopsbrough and Costner. So you have to be a retard, short bus, helmet wearing dufus not to have gotten the joke and think i was being in any way serious.
And obviously you're a new internet user having to explain that you were replying to me and not gville when you hit the wrong reply button; no doubt in your state of anger and rage. What color do you see when you get that angry: light blue?
MVP or best player?
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 13:26 — GGillenIf you're arguing for MVP, than yes Curry means more to Davidson. However, I'd argue that Tyler's total contributions (points, rebounds, drawing fouls, diving after loose balls, defending post players, etc.) make him the best player in the state.
limited college players
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 13:10 — george32speaking of limited college players benefitting from great surrounding talent and marketing, how is jj doing these days or trajan langdon or joseph forte? it is interesting how wrong expert talent evaluators can be?
the financial crisis stories are in a different section
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 18:11 — izzykareemdo you know anything about talent evaluation? didn't think so. Me neither, that makes two of us