Much Like in the NBA, Steph Curry was a Scoring Machine in College

Golden State Warriors guard, Steph Curry, is a 2-time MVP, 4-time NBA Champion, and considered one of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA. Prior to his NBA days, Steph Curry was also an elite scorer, playing his college ball at Davidson and starting in 103 of their 104 games between 2006-2009. As a freshman he averaged 21.5 PPG, as a sophomore 25.9 PPG, and finally as a junior Curry averaged an NCAA-best 28.6 PPG. 

During his final year in college, Steph Curry was lighting the college scene on fire with his insane scoring performances. In his first five games of the season he had scoring outputs of 29, 33, 44, 30, and 39. It is also important to note that the 44-point performance came against the Blake Griffin-led Oklahoma Sooners, so it was not just low-level collegiate teams that he was thrashing. This historic run came to an abrupt end when Davidson faced off with Loyola Maryland however, when Steph Curry was held scoreless for the first and only time in his college career.

Steph Curry: 0-3 Shooting in 32 Minutes

Entering the game against Jimmy Patsos and Loyola Maryland, Steph Curry was averaging 35.0 PPG on the season. So how did Loyola Maryland of all teams shut him down and hold him to zero made field goals? Simple; Jimmy Patsos ran a triangle-and-two defense the entire game, double-teaming Curry on every possession regardless of the situation. Steph Curry missed his first three shot attempts and added two turnovers, but quickly figured out what Loyola Maryland was doing. This led to Curry standing in the corner all game and telling his teammates to play 4-on-3 on offense, as they cruised to a 30-point victory.

After the game, Coach Patsos explained why he chose to implement this strategy, despite the odd-tactic leading to an inevitable loss; “Anybody else ever hold him scoreless? I’m a history major. (Are people) going to remember that we held him scoreless or (that) we lost by 30?”. Perhaps he has a point, considering that outside of this game, Steph Curry has never been held scoreless in any game at the college or NBA level where he has played 12+ minutes.