The morning after

1. I drove all those miles to watch McKillop-Matheny. The game made me watch Davidson-Elon. Good.

2. Eddie on the court after the game: “I’m 52 years old and that’s the best ending I’ve ever seen.”

3. About the last half of the second half, Matheny was using his left hand to swipe the sweat off his forehead and kept taking quick glances up at the scoreboard clock, and I thought: They’re gonna make him earn this.

4. They call it a Cowens, as in Dave Cowens, and here’s what it is: Make like you’re sprinting back on defense, fake it like you mean it, a couple hard, purposeful steps the other way -- then turn. Maybe the ball will be coming your way. McKillop after the game wanted to talk less about Steve’s shot and more about Steve’s Cowens.

5. Steve?

Hey.

Did it feel like it was going in when it left your hand?

“To be honest,” he said, before heading to the bus back to the village, “I can’t say yes.”

Davidson 99, Elon 96

AP:

ELON -- Davidson’s Brendan McKillop and Steve Rossiter hit 3-pointers in the last 3 seconds of a double-overtime win over Elon on Saturday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.

The Wildcats (16-14, 11-7 Southern Conference), who overcame a 14-point second-half deficit, trailed by three with 14 seconds left in the second overtime period. McKillop tied the game at 96 and Rossiter knocked down the game-winner 2 seconds later after Elon’s Adam Constantine turned the ball over.

McKillop and Jake Cohen scored a career-high 24 points, while JP Kuhlman’s 24 matched his career-high.

Davidson won its 15th straight against Elon (8-22, 5-13), whose first-year coach Matt Matheny was an assistant for 16 years with the Wildcats.

Burlington: An exhausting classic rocked by wild swings of energy and dripping with emotion seemed destined for a third overtime. ElonPhoenix.com: ... in front of a raucous crowd of 1,934 on Senior Night at Alumni Gym. After a Brendan McKillop three-pointer tied the game with two seconds remaining, Rossiter stole the inbounds pass and let go of a prayer before the final horn sounded. DavidsonWildcats.com: McKillop had a career-high seven 3-pointers. … It was the largest second-half deficit the ‘Cats have come back from this season. … It was Davidson’s third overtime game this season, and the ‘Cats are 2-1. … Cohen also had a career high nine rebounds. Highlights. Hot Click.

The video

Another thing

There’s a bit of cold-blooded in Jake Cohen. JP too. Also Brendan.

Live from Elon

1. That was worth 22 hours in the car.

2. I’d say the same thing had Elon won.

3. Not gonna lie. I feel bad for Matt.

Tonight’s reunion

Matheny on McKillop: “My confidant, my friend, my mentor. He’s like a brother. He’s like blood.”

Tomorrow night in Elon

Game notes: It will be an emotional game for Davidson coach Bob McKillop and Elon coach Matt Matheny. Matheny, who is in his first year with the Phoenix, was an assistant coach on McKillop’s staff for 16 seasons. ... Matheny played football and basketball for the Wildcats and is a 1992 Davidson graduate. ... Elon assistant coaches Tim Sweeney (2 years) and Will Roberson (3 years) were also members of McKillop’s staff at Davidson, and Roberson is a 2002 Davidson graduate. Matt. Elon’s senior night.

2010 SoCon Hall of Famers

Including Hetzel.

How’s he do that?

SoCon Player of the Year

Hartsell in Charleston:

It only seems like Stephen Curry won that award six or seven times during his career at Davidson. He actually won it only once ...

If by once he means twice. Don Nelson last night in Oakland: “If we could have finished his passes he could have had 20 assists.”

Prayerful in her place

Claire: ... so I can take the music with me wherever I go.

Senior night from press row

Lauren:

And years from now, when I think back on this senior class, and when I watch them play in their final SoCon championship in a few weeks and receive their diplomas a few months later (should I get a B.A. or a B.S.?), it won't ultimately be the basketball that I'll remember. It'll be the reasons I am able to say yes, this really is that special of a place, to the so many people that have asked me over the years since the run of 2008. The notes on my desk when I'm "late" for work. The heys from the hallways. The post-game high fives. The pranks. The SID lunches. Dart games and photo shoots. SIDIOTY applications. The graduation announcements. The wedding invitations. I have watched over the years as these four have transformed from shy freshmen into team captains and homecoming kings and ambassadors for the game and the kind of people that leverage their influence to raise thousands of dollars for malaria in Africa.

Just my way of saying, Thanks guys. Make us proud the rest of the way, in basketball and in life.

Evenings at Belk

Watching from afar

Stephen: Just watched Davidson get a win on Senior Night. The boys are gonna make some noise in the SOCON tournament I know it. Just wait and see! Floor general.

Davidson 60, UNCG 56

AP:

DAVIDSON -- Brendan McKillop's 3-pointer broke a tie with 27.7 seconds left and Davidson held off North Carolina-Greensboro 60-56 on Wednesday night.

The Wildcats (15-14, 10-7 Southern Conference) led 56-52 with 3:29 left after another McKillop 3-pointer. The Spartans (6-22, 5-12) cut it to 56-54 on a basket by Kendall Toney, then tied it with 56 seconds left after a steal and layup by Kyle Randall.

UNC Greensboro led by seven points, 46-39, with 11:19 left in the second half after an 18-5 run that included seven points by Randall.

DavidsonWildcats.com: Freshman JP Kuhlman scored 14 points to help send the Davidson seniors off with a 60-56 SoCon men's basketball victory over UNC Greensboro on Senior Night at Belk Arena Wednesday. With the win in their final home game, the Wildcat senior class of Will Archambault, Bryant Barr, Dan Nelms and Steve Rossiter has now been a part of 100 career victories at Davidson. McKillop: “I'm thrilled that our seniors were able to finish their career here at Belk Arena with a win.” “Observations.”

Senior night at Belk

And on her blog

Here:

It spreads every year, you know, every day even; this name becomes an image becomes sounds/smells/people becomes meaning. That arena has slammed so much of it together into home for me.

Tonight at Belk.

Claire on Facebook

one more.

On his way

Telep on Jordan: “He’s just a guy who finds the winner’s circle. He’s not an attention hound and he has a great feel for the game. I love the fact that he can shoot from mid-range and play multiple wing positions. He’s a guy, ultimately, who will end his career underrated because he was always a really good player on really good teams but wasn’t a guy who needed the spotlight.”

Vac on Sunday

In the NYP:

Brian Panker: Can someone PLEASE tell me how the guy who hand delivered great basketball players like Wayne McCoy, Reggie Carter, and Bill Wennington from Long Island Lutheran straight to St. John’s, and now makes annual trips to the NCAA tournament with Davidson, has not been given a blank check to come back to New York to coach the Redmen? Come on St. John’s!!! Admit your 15-year mistake and get Bob McKillop in here now!

Vac: Haven’t you heard? McKillop “can’t recruit 125th Street.” At least that’s what the wise men at St. John’s have always said.

Corey Maggette

On Stephen: “He’s going to be an All-Star one day.”

An early SCT preview

Bleacher Report:

Davidson is a team that could be spurred on by the home-town crowd when the tournament comes to Charlotte in a little over a week for the 90th renewal of the tourney. Davidson probably stands the best chance of winning the SoCon title of the teams that play on Friday.

I’ll buy that.

Chattanooga 78, Davidson 73

AP:

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Ricky Taylor scored 22 points and Ty Patterson added 20 to help Chattanooga defeat Davidson 78-73 on Monday night, snapping a five-game losing streak.

The Mocs (14-15, 6-10 Southern Conference) trailed 35-32 at halftime, and shot 52 percent from the field in the second half (26 of 56), including 5 of 10 from 3-point range.

Chattanooga outscored the Wildcats 8-3 after halftime, taking its first lead since 6:56 left in the first half, 40-38, on Keegan Bell’s 3 with 17:24 to play.

Davidson (14-14, 9-7) would lead again, 52-50 with 10:03 remaining, but the Mocs scored 11 straight. Jeremy Saffore’s layup put Chattanooga up 61-52 with 6:38 left, and the Wildcats wouldn’t get any closer than six points the rest of the way.

Jake Cohen scored 16 points and Brendon McKillop added 15 for the Wildcats.

Uch at the Roundhouse: The win snaps a season-long five game losing streak. It also snaps an eight-game losing streak to Davidson which had NBA rookie of the year candidate Stephen Curry for the last three seasons. DavidsonWildcats.com: Davidson went on to take a 35-32 cushion into halftime as seven of the ‘Cats 14 field goals in the frame were from long distance. The Wildcats return to action Wednesday, Feb. 24, for the home finale against UNC Greensboro. Davidson will honor its four seniors, Archambault, Bryant Barr, Dan Nelms and Rossiter, before the game. Ty Patterson: “It’s great to get a win after we’ve been so down. And to beat Davidson -- when was the last time we beat Davidson?”

Tonight in Chattanooga

Game notes: Chattanooga leads the all-time series 31-20, but the Wildcats have won the last eight. ... The best seed the Wildcats can get in the tourney is third in the South, meaning Davidson will have to play a first round game in the tourney for the first time since 2001. ... Appalachian State’s win Feb. 11 gives them a regular-season series sweep over the Wildcats. It’s the first time Davidson has been swept in a regular-season series by a SoCon opponent since 2000-01. Wofford has also won both games of the season series against the Wildcats. Chattanooga. TSN.

Still keeping tabs on your alma mater?

Stephen: “Yeah I watch pretty much every game I can if we don’t play that same night. It’s definitely still weird to watch them play without me out there. I talk to my coach pretty much once a week and all of my roommates and teammates. It’s really like I haven’t left kind of thing.” Sunday night: 32 in a win against the Hawks.

Davidson 61, Furman 58

Saturday afternoon at Belk:

DAVIDSON -- Jake Cohen scored 14 points and Davidson defeated Furman 61-58 on Saturday.

The Wildcats (14-13, 9-6 Southern Conference) led 57-55 with 1:24 to go, and the Paladins missed a shot and had another blocked by Cohen with 9 seconds left. Cohen was quickly fouled and made both free throws for a 59-55 advantage.

Justin Dehm then hit a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left to pull the Paladins (12-15, 6-10) within 59-58. They then fouled Cohen again, who made both shots for the final margin.

Davidson led 53-41 with 5:50 remaining, but Furman went on a 16-2 run to pull within 57-55 on Bryan Barnes' 3 with 1:24 left.

Will Archambault scored 12 points, and the Wildcats scored 22 points off 19 turnovers.

Observer: Cohen was relieved to make the four late free throws. He’s still bothered by two key foul shots he missed in a loss against Cornell at Madison Square Garden earlier this season, helping the Big Red tie the game in regulation and eventually win in overtime. “That was a bad experience,” said Cohen. “I wanted to make sure I made them when it counted this time.” DavidsonWildcats.com: Archambault and Bryant Barr each became the school’s all-time leader in games played with 131.

Gorgeous weekend on campus

Over on Cats.com

William says this: I am also somewhat amused by our shared inability to grasp that Wofford is probably just a few points better. It's not the end of the world.

‘An odd kind of compliment’

The Observer: It’s taken 21 seasons -- since 1989, when he came aboard -- for a McKillop-coached Wildcats team to lose a Southern Conference game by more than 20 points.

Wofford 73, Davidson 51

AP:

DAVIDSON -- Noah Dahlman scored 19 points to lead Wofford to a 73-51 victory over Davidson to extend the Terriers’ winning streak to seven consecutive games.

Thirteen players scored and 15 played for Wofford (20-8, 12-3 Southern Conference), which has won 16 of its past 18 games and is in second behind the College of Charleston (18-9, 13-3) in the South Division.

It is Wofford’s first 20-win season since moving to Division I and its first since 1993-94.

SHJ: Wofford made it look easy, opening a 25-point lead in the first half. After falling behind 5-0, the Terriers went on a 21-2 run to take command. Davidson (13-13, 8-6) went 18 possessions without a field goal, made just 2 of 19 shots after the early advantage and finished the half just 5-for-24. The Wildcats didn’t reach double figures until making a pair of free throws with 6:03 left in the half. A mock cheer went up in the crowd. DavidsonWildcats.com: The game was the first of five in 11 days for the Wildcats. For Wofford? First win in Davidson in 20 years.

So does Adam

Tripp notices something

SoCon Spotlight

Bryant: “I love going to Davidson. It’s a pretty small school, 1,700 kids. I think that’s one of the most exciting things about it. There’s so much support from the school, from your professors and from the community. You look into the stands during a game, and you see people that you go to class with. It’s a small enough school that you recognize almost everybody and you know a lot of people. The people that are in the stands are people that are your friends that you really know well. You end up going to things to support them. I have a couple good friends that come to all of my games. One of them is in the orchestra, so I’ve gone to that. The other one is involved with theatre, so I’ve gone to several of her plays.”

Remember when that happened every week?

Appalachian: Sims is just the second SoCon player since 2005-06 to win the award back-to-back, as Davidson’s Stephen Curry accomplished the feat five times from 2006-09.

Big game at Belk

Game notes for Wofford Wednesday: Davidson has won five of their last six games overall and is 11-5 in its last 16 contests. ... Wofford has won six in a row and 15 of its last 17. The stretch includes an 11-1 record against SoCon teams. ... Wofford allows just 61.6 points a game, and its opponents are shooting a meager 31.8 percent from 3-point range. Spartanburg.

Anthony Morrow

On his buddy from Charlotte: “I told people Stephen Curry was going to be a lot better than people thought.”

Do you want this poster?

How about this one?

When was the last time you pumped your own gas?

Stephen: “Three days ago. That’s just a regular thing. I’m not that big-time where I don’t do something that simple. It’s funny, because sometimes at the pump people in the next car over recognize you and they start going crazy. I’m like, 'All I’m doing is pumping gas.’” Rookie Challenge. Three-point contest.

Davidson 75, Western 72

AP:

CULLOWHEE -- Nik Cochran and Jake Cohen each scored 14 points to help Davidson hold off Western Carolina in a 75-72 victory on Saturday night.

Ben Allison had 12 points and Steve Rossiter added 10 for the Wildcats (13-12, 8-5 Southern Conference), who held a 70-67 lead on Will Archambalt’s jumper with 4:20 left in the second half.

Western Carolina’s Harouna Mutombo answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 70-70 with 4:07 to play. But the Catamounts (18-8, 8-6) would not pull ahead, as Cohen’s layup with 1:05 remaining put Davidson up for good.

Asheville Citizen-Times: Sparked by one of the larger and more boisterous out-of-town crowds to visit the Ramsey Center this winter, Davidson (13-12, 8-5) won for the fifth time in its last six games despite shooting 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) from 3-point range. DavidsonWildcats.com: Davidson reserves put up 35 points. ... Cochran, Barr and Allison combined to score 28 points off the bench in the first half. ... Barr and Will Archambault are one game away from tying Andrew Lovedale for the school record for career games played (130). McKillop: “This is the kind of game you’d see in a conference tournament. This is the kind of game that shows you why Western Carolina’s won 18 games and beat Louisville.”

Tonight in Cullowhee

Game notes: The Catamounts are 3-3 in their last six and coming off an 81-76 setback at Elon Monday. ... Western Carolina is 12-1 at home this season with the lone loss coming to Appalachian State a week ago. ... Davidson caps the regular season by playing five games in 11 days. ... Bryant Barr needs two points to reach 700 for his career. Western: Western Carolina is looking for the regular season sweep of Davidson which would be its first two-game sweep of the Wildcats since 1985.

150 feet of nothing but net

Kid’s something else, isn’t he?

Bright lights

All-Star Weekend in Dallas.

Appalachian 66, Davidson 56

AP:

BOONE -- Donald Sims scored 25 points, making all his attempts from both 3-point range and at the foul line, to lead Appalachian State in a 66-56 win over Davidson on Thursday night.

Sims finished 2-for-2 from beyond the arc and 5-for-5 at the charity stripe for the Mountaineers (15-10, 9-4 Southern Conference), who have won back to back games since losing 87-76 to Division II King College on Feb. 1.

GoASU.com: Appalachian State completed its first season sweep of the Davidson Wildcats since 2001 with a 66-56 victory at the Holmes Center Thursday night. DavidsonWildcats.com: Davidson finished the contest shooting 32.8 percent (20-for-61) from the field and 28.1 percent (9-for-32) from deep. ... Barr finished with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 5-for-7 from downtown. ... Archambault is the 38th player to score 1,000 career points for the Wildcats.

Gregg loves Davidson

On CBSSports.com: If you really care about academics, root for Davidson.

Stephen out in Oakland

Marcus Thompson on Twitter: Curry sets new career high with pull-up 3 in transition. He’s got 34 on 11-for-18 FGs, 7-for-10 from 3-point range. Update: A triple-double. But not just any old triple-double -- 36, 13, 10. Tweets Marcus: one of six rookies ever to post 35/10/10. The other 5: Jason Kidd, Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor. Cowie on Cats.com: And despite all those who would have liked him at Davidson one more year (me included), he’s exactly where he belongs (in the NBA I mean not with the Warriors). Chronicle.

‘No other place’

Claire:

I see more and more faces that I recognize, new students/townspeople/staff, and DCats folks that have -- first virtually, now personally -- welcomed me in.

Let me tell you, it is damn exciting to watch these three freshmen gain those cheers that roar over the announcer's soaring voice, that respect, that taken-in-ness that will last their lives. And it's moving to watch these seniors, my classmates, lead this team. Their determination and focus has started to shine on the court and on the bench, but so has their joy, their appreciation. I catch Will smiling and Bryant hustling on defense, Dan staying on his man, and Steve slapping hands, taking deep breaths, the heart of the huddles in the toughest moments. On Saturday, Will fouled out with ONE FRIGGING POINT to go before he reached 1,000. (one.thousand!) Rob, David, Zach, Carrie, and I had cheered for him unceasingly as he got closer and closer, to the point where I think everyone else in the endzone was turning around to shoot us weird looks, and when that fifth whistle blew it just KILLED us. Even though he'll get it tomorrow, I wanted him to have that moment with us so much. But we all stood and screamed for him, and from the bench he clapped and yelled and grinned. TCC.

Hey. This team is fun. This season is fun.

A treasure trove. “Hi, Claire.”

Makes me want to be there.

Rematch at Appalachian

Game notes: The Wildcats start a two-game road swing at the top two teams of the Southern Conference North Division by traveling to Appalachian State Thursday night. ... Both teams posted wins over the Wildcats in Belk Arena in January. ... Will Archambault is one point shy of 1,000 for his career. ... Archambault and Bryant Barr are now three games played from tying the school career record, held by Andrew Lovedale (130). Appalachian: Buzz Peterson is 4-6 against Davidson.

Thursday night in Boone

One reason to feel, ahem, “hoop-ful,” the Observer says.

Where he comes from

Matt with the boxing talk: “We haven’t been in a situation where we’re trying to hold on to a lead when a team like Western Carolina’s throwing haymakers at us and knocking us down.”

Fantasy Rookie of the Year

I very much dislike fantasy sports, and actually think they’ve changed or are changing how we watch and experience sports in a way that’s more corrosive than most people think, but that’s a separate essay for another day, so in the meantime I’ll just go ahead and post this: “We expected Curry to be able to shoot (1.7 3s per game) and score (14.2 ppg), but did anyone expect him to be such a well-rounded fantasy player this early in his career?” In last night’s loss: 25 and 9.

Home for Jip

Lake Norman Citizen:

Richards, a pitcher and third baseman for the Vikings, was to sign a national letter of intent with the Wildcats this week to officially follow his father Jim (class of 1980) and late paternal grandfather Dick (class of 1949) as third generation Wildcat baseball players.

“Three generations playing back-to-back-to-back like that is a pretty neat thing,” says Jim, who once served as president of Davidson’s athletic foundation. “That’s happened very few places.”

Congrats to Jip, and Jim, too. When I was a student, my seat on press row was right in front of Jim, and next to Jim, always, was tiny, apple-cheeked Jip.

Bryant and Buzzkill

Got a call today from Bryant Barr. He wants to hear from you.

The second year of Bryant-led Buzzkill is scheduled for May 2. He’d like to know what you’d like to see on the list of items for auction. Jerseys? Basketballs? Memorabilia? Autographed? By whom? Last year he raised more than $16,000 for nets to help fight malaria in Africa. This year he’s shooting for $20,000.

Bryant’s getting married in July. He’s got a job lined up already and will be working as an actuarial consultant for Mercer in Chicago. It’s what he wants to do and it’s where he wants to be.

He said it over and over on Monday, so fortunate, so blessed, and the fact that he plays on the basketball team gives him a platform, and that platform gives him a chance to give back.

Whenever I talk to Bryant, I’m reminded that I’m glad he’s a student at my school, and today we talked for a while about how it’s hard to believe his time at Davidson is almost over.

I don’t think it’s untrue or unfair to say that the high point of his basketball life came two years ago in March. But taking into account everything it means to be a full participant of his place -- basketball, academics, life on campus and in the community -- “every year I’ve spent here has been better than the year before,” he said. “It’s been a hundred times better than what I expected.”

“If I had to do it all over again,” he said, “I’d choose Davidson again in a second.”

Post your ideas for items for auction at Buzzkill here or over on DavidsonCats.com.

Definitely watch this

Mike Maloy: The Man, The Place, The Time (Draft) from Andrew on Vimeo.

Stephen will be an All-Star in 3 seasons

Bleacher Report’s 10 reasons.

Super Bowl XLIV

Story in this morning’s paper.

Only the third rookie ever

Stephen on the All-Star three-point contest: “I was surprised they picked me, knowing if they picked one guy from our team, Anthony Morrow would be that guy. Now that I’m in it, it’s something I always wanted to do growing up. My dad was in it twice and he never made it out of the first round. I have to do better than that.”

Painting it red

The Lagos Project.

What it is

Davidson Dad on Cats.com:

Watching my daughter jump up and down all night makes my heart leap.

My favorite piece of a post over there in a good little while.

A note on JP

This year in the two games against Georgia Southern he scored 42 points on 16 shots.

Davidson 84, Ga. Southern 74

AP:

DAVIDSON -- JP Kuhlman scored a career-high 24 points to lead Davidson to an 84-74 victory over Georgia Southern on Saturday night.

Kuhlman was 10-for-14 from the free throw line and Jake Cohen added 18 points as the Wildcats (12-11, 7-4 Southern Conference) won their fourth straight game.

DavidsonWildcats.com: Will Archambault collected 12 points and five rebounds, while Brendan McKillop scored 15 points. Freshman Nik Cochran added nine points off the bench. ... Archambault fouled out in the contest, leaving the senior one point shy of 1,000 for his career. ... Davidson is now 6-2 against SoCon South Division opponents. JP: “We knew coming into this season, that we would have an equal opportunity. That is the way we want to play, and we were able to do it again tonight.” McKillop: “We attacked the pressure. If you let the pressure put the brakes on you, then you’re going to be in trouble, because then you play right into the hands of the press. We will always try to attack the press and take advantage of the floor space that opens up as a result of the pressure.” Highlights.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Ellicott City, Md.

Tonight at Belk

Game notes: It’s Paint It Red Day, and all fans are encouraged to wear a special red T-shirt. Proceeds from T-shirt sales will go towards Kicks from ‘Cats -- The Lagos Project, an effort to build a school in Lagos, Nigeria. ... The Eagles are 0-13 on the road and 0-5 on the road in SoCon games. ... The Eagles like to press and force 18.2 turnovers a contest. Last time. McKellar.

Wearing his gear from home

Lefty’s defense award

McKillop’s a voter.

A Stephen update

He’s in the All-Star 3-point shooting contest in Dallas a week from tonight.

A Max update

Here.

Last night in Pa.

Beaver County Times:

There was really no need for Tom Droney to show off. Already signed to play at Division I Davidson College, Sewickley Academy’s senior guard had obviously made an indelible impression on Wildcats coach Bob McKillop.

But with McKillop watching from the stands at Cornell High School Tuesday night, Droney offered a reminder, a reassurance perhaps, of why he was recruited to the North Carolina School.

From late in the first quarter through the early stages of the second quarter, Droney scored 17 straight points for the Panthers and personally turned a 12-8 deficit into a 25-20 lead. Cornell never threatened again as Sewickley Academy won the Section 4-A game 62-47.

Posters for sale

In the bookstore on campus and at Cats on Main.

The Lagos Project

Lauren:

I wrote an entry for the team’s blog “Signed, Sealed and Delivered” at Wildcats’ Roar, in which I wrote that I hadn’t come up with an answer to the question “How was Nigeria?” I still haven’t, and I don’t know that I ever will.

It was hot, and we were tired, and we were dirty, but I learned so much about the world, about Frank and Andrew and about myself in those 10 days. Even all these months later, I’m still processing it.

Andrew: “I know I am not there but my heart will be there on that very day.” Watch.

(More) how people talk

Tommy Amaker on Cornell: “That’s a team capable of making a Davidson kind of run like two years ago. You could see them in the Sweet 16, and from there, anything is possible. They are very talented and have a lot of seniors. They’ve been in the tournament. They’re legit. They pounded us. I voted for them in the Top 25 well before we played them.”

Stephen in January

NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month. Also: His coach calls him the perfect rookie. His teammates? They call him Middle School.

A thought

It’s the beginning of February. The record is 11-11, which is like 0-0, and now there’s this week with no games. Saturday feels like the start of a new season.