Davidson has just one path

DAVIDSON, N.C. – This season is no different than any other for Davidson. To make the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the Wildcats will have to win the Southern Conference tournament.

Because of their fast start and ambitious schedule, there was the sense that they could qualify for an at-large bid, which is unprecedented for a Southern Conference team. That won’t happen now. Their one-sided 75-63 loss to Butler on Saturday assures it.

Davidson junior Stephen Curry said that winning the conference tournament was always the goal.

“Then we won’t have to worry about the selection show,” he said.

They have other worries.

When Curry is not the best player on the court, the Wildcats rarely are the best team. Curry struggled mightily against the Bulldogs, missing his first eight field-goal attempts. He scored 20 points, but needed 23 shots to get them. He had seven turnovers and no excuses.

If you need another reason to like Davidson, here it is. Neither Curry nor head coach Bob McKillop cited Curry’s obviously injured ankle as a reason for the loss. Curry said that once the game began, he was fine. Rather than talk about the ankle, McKillop talked about Butler’s defense.

Curry clearly lacked his usual spring when he came off a pick. He injured the ankle eight days ago against Furman.

But let us praise Butler (23-4). The Bulldogs play basketball the way Wake Forest plays football. They use a system that is not older than dirt but the same age. They pass the ball so quickly it’s as if it stings their fingers. Everybody does everything – dribble, pass, rebound and shoot. They play excellent defense, as Curry will and did attest.

Despite the slip against Butler, some hopeful fans want to believe that the Wildcats can parlay their Elite Eight run a season ago and the popularity of Curry into an at-large bid.

And it is true that the NCAA tournament includes a congeniality bracket.

Alas, that bracket is called the NIT.