The 2021 NCAA Tournament has been filled with upsets and broken brackets through the first few days. As people have witnessed top seeds being eliminated early, it allows many to reflect on previous small schools that made a run against top-tier programs. One of the most spectacular runs by a small program was Stephen Curry and the Davidson Wildcats. In 2008, Curry was able to lead the Wildcats on a magical run in the NCAA Tournament.

Before Curry became a superstar point guard in the NBA, he was known as a skinny kid who was a lethal shooter. Because of his small frame, there wasn't much optimism for Curry for NBA scouts. Therefore, many competitors did not take him seriously. Despite these abnormal circumstances, Curry never lost confidence on the floor. Curry averaged 25.3 points in his three seasons at Davidson. His leadership on and off the floor spectacularly impacted the Wildcats.

In 2008, the Wildcats finished the regular season with a 29-7 record. The team went undefeated in the Southern South Conference and won their conference championship. By the beginning of March Madness, the Wildcats would be the 10th seed and would go on a magical run to the elite eight, where Curry led them with spectacular performances.

Round one vs Gonzaga

As the Gonzaga Bulldogs were the seventh seed in the tournament, it seemed to be a well-balanced test for Davidson to play in the first round. For most of the first half, Gonzaga got off to a fast start led by Steven Gray and Jeremy Pargo. The team was knocking down open shots and continuing to play unselfish basketball.

While the Bulldogs went on a run, the momentum they built didn't stop Curry and Davidson from competing. Curry continued to become a factor moving without the basketball. His teammates found him open looks from the perimeter and he took advantage of the opportunity. Curry’s hot shooting would eventually become a game-changer in the second half. He would make eight three-pointers on the night and lead Davidson to a victory in the first round.

For the Bulldogs, things seemed to have fallen apart after the heroics of Curry’s shooting. They were outscored in the second half by 11 points and it became too late to shift momentum. The Wildcats would shortly celebrate this victory before heading into their next matchup against Georgetown.

Sweet 16 vs Wisconsin

Another tough matchup for the Wildcats was their Sweet 16 matchup against the number three seed Wisconsin. The game started as a back-and-forth matchup between the two teams. Curry once again had a strong first half as he kept Davidson afloat heading into the second half.

Curry continued his hot shooting in the second half. The important aspect of his performance became his ability to become an anchor on the defensive end for his team. Curry added four steals to his impressive night. His ability to put pressure on his opponents and get into the passing lanes was a huge boost for Davidson.

Halfway through the second half, Davidson’s momentum continued to lead the way. Their lead would balloon into a 21 point cushion late into the game. As the Wildcats finished the contest with a 73-56 victory, their Cinderella story continued into their elite eight matchup against Kansas, thanks once again to Stephen Curry.

Elite Eight matchup vs Kansas

At this point in the NCAA Tournament, the Davidson Wildcats could not be contained. The team showed that they could play through adversity against their top matchups and played with execution and purpose to continue to advance. Going up against Kansas in the elite eight was once again another tough outing for Davidson to overcome.

Stephen Curry once again continued to remain an offensive threat, but his scoring did not seem to phase Kansas whatsoever. The Jayhawks continued to communicate on the defensive end and forced other players not to be a factor besides Curry. In that case, Kansas would go on to play exceptionally well on the offensive side. Curry finished the game with 25 points and kept Davidson in the game. Due to the Jayhawks’ tight defense, he was forced to pass up the final shot, which resulted in a 59-57 loss on the last possession.

Despite going down to the Jayhawks in the elite eight, it became a magical run for Davidson in the NCAA Tournament. Curry’s historic performances led the way through his team's journey and made his mark as an all-time great for the program. Curry’s performances in the NCAA Tournament helped him receive great recognition, which led to having a superstar career in the NBA.