LAS VEGAS – Curry, son of former NBA player Dell Curry, is averaging 34.3 points in helping lead Davidson to tournament victories against Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin. Curry has made 33-of-65 (50.7 percent) shots from the floor and has hit 18-of-21 (85.7 percent) from the foul line.

Davidson has advanced by getting past Georgetown and Wisconsin, two of the best defensive teams in the country. The Wildcats beat the Hoyas as 4 ½-point underdogs, 76-70. The combined 146 points went ‘over’ the 132 ½-point closing total. Georgetown was the seventh-best defensive team in the nation, yielding an average of 58.1 points per game.

The Wildcats then knocked off Wisconsin as five-point underdogs, 73-56. The combined 129 points barely sneaked ‘over’ the 126-point closing total. The Badgers were the nation’s top-ranked defensive club, allowing 53.9 points per contest.

Despite its lofty defensive status, Wisconsin couldn’t handle Curry. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard scored 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting from the field. Curry also drained six 3-pointers.

The Wildcats sank 12-of-24 from beyond the arc, while shooting 49 percent from the field. Jason Richards had 11 points and 13 assists for the Wildcats, while Andrew Lovedale chipped in with 12 points.

One of the keys for the Wildcats in their victories against Georgetown and Wisconsin was turnover differential. They only had four turnovers against the Hoyas, while forcing 20. Against the Badgers, Davidson forced 12 turnovers and committing just five.

Davidson has won 25 games in a row, the longest winning streak in the nation. The Wildcats, winners of the Southern League, have covered the spread six of their last seven games.

Kansas presents a different challenge. The Hoyas and Badgers were physical, half-court defensive-oriented teams. The Jayhawks are athletic and up-tempo, ranking in the top-10 offensively with an 81.4 PPG average.

The Jayhawks, 7-2 against the spread in their last nine outings, are bidding for their first Final Four berth since 2003. Kansas went 35-3 last season without a senior, but returned 13 of 14 lettermen from last year.

Brandon Rush paced a balanced Kansas attack Friday as the Jayhawks won and covered as 12-point favorites versus Villanova, 72-57. The combined 129 points dipped ‘under’ the 144-point closing total.

It was the fifth time Kansas has gone ‘under’ in its last seven games. The ‘under’ is 7-4 in Davidson’s past 11 contests.

Russell Robinson scored 15 points and Mario Chalmers added 14 points for the Jayhawks against Villanova.

Kansas opened tournament play by defeating Portland State as a 21-point favorite, 85-61. The combined 146 points dipped just ‘under’ the 147-point closing total.

The Jayhawks followed with a 75-56 victory against UNLV as 13 ½-point favorites. The combined 131 points went ‘under’ the 136-point closing total.

March 30, 2008