Giant-killer Davidson Rolls

This time, third-seeded Wisconsin is the surprising victim of long-range shooter Curry and the hot Wildcats.

Davidson’s Dan Nelms, left, and Boris Meno celebrate after beating Wisconsin 73-56 in an NCAA Midwest Regional semifinal game on Friday in Detroit. Davidson advances to the regional final Sunday.

AP photo

Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, who played collegiately at Wilkes, looks on during the final minute of his team’s loss to Davidson.

DETROIT — Stephen Curry knocked down yet another three-pointer, thumped his chest and pointed skyward.
Heavens yes, Davidson is marching on.
Curry scored more than 30 points for a third straight game, and the 10th-seeded Wildcats pulled off another stunner Friday night, rolling over third-seeded Wisconsin 73-56 to advance to the Midwest Regional finals.
Davidson (29-6) extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 25. The Wildcats will play Kansas, a 72-57 winner over Villanova, on Sunday for a trip to the Final Four.
Yes, add another defensive powerhouse to Curry’s list of victims. A week after shredding Gonzaga and Georgetown’s vaunted defenses, the son of former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry dismantled the Badgers and defensive specialist Michael Flowers.
Curry outscored the Badgers all by himself in the second half, 22-20.
Wisconsin (31-5) was holding opponents to 53.9 points, best in the nation, and hadn’t allowed Kansas State a single three-point basket in the second round.
But instead of being intimidated by the big stage — not to mention the monstrous Ford Field venue — Curry and Davidson played with such ease and attitude they may as well have been in their cozy little gym back home.
And it did feel a little like home with Davidson’s rowdy cheering section. The Board of Trustees popped for the trip — bus fare, tickets and a hotel room — for students who wanted to make the 11-hour ride from North Carolina, and a few hundred took them up on the offer.
The Wildcats shot 49 percent, including 12-of-24 from three-point range. Curry finished with 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting, including six three-pointers. Jason Richards had 11 points and 13 assists.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Davidson fans bounced up and down and a few chanted, “Rock, chalk, Jayhawk!” in reference to top-seeded Kansas. The Wildcats, meanwhile, calmly shook hands as if they expected to be here all along. And why not, when they have someone as sensational as Curry.
This marked the second time in three tournaments that a double-digit seed got this far. In 2006, 11th-seeded George Mason reached the Final Four. This is the furthest Davidson has advanced since Lefty Driesell’s squad reached the regional finals in 1969, where the Wildcats lost to North Carolina.
The big, brawny Badgers were supposed to overpower Davidson, but it was Wisconsin that looked overmatched. Despite four players in double figures, the Badgers never found their rhythm offensively. And the defense that was so fearsome all year never materialized.
Kansas 72, Villanova 57
DETROIT — The Kansas Jayhawks toyed with Villanova, throwing alley-oop passes off the backboard and raining three-pointers from all over the court without breaking a sweat.
Brandon Rush scored 16 points, Russell Robinson had 15 and top-seeded Kansas routed the 12th-seeded Wildcats to earn a spot in the Midwest Regional finals.
The Jayhawks (34-3) will be a huge favorite to end 10th-seeded Davidson’s stay in the NCAA tournament and advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2003.
Kansas coach Bill Self is in the regional finals for the fifth time — at three schools — since 2000 and is a win away from no longer being regarded as the best coach without a Final Four on his resume.
Villanova (22-13) had to know the night was doomed when star guard Scottie Reynolds shot an airball and missed another try on the opening possession of the game.