Winter sports at Davidson College typically span September to March and include basketball, swimming and diving, track and field (indoor), and wrestling. Of all these sports, the Davidson Wildcats basketball team is the most prominent and popular — probably because high-profile NBA star Steph Curry launched his career at Davidson. Curry is not the first Wildcats alum who progressed to the NBA; Davidson College has a history of recruiting and polishing several future NBA players.
Wildcat Men’s Basketball
The Davidson basketball team is an NCAA Division 1 member, competing in the Atlantic 10 Conference. They have competed in 15 NCAA Tournaments and advanced to the Elite Eight in 1968, 1969, and 2008. There have been 4 Wildcat All-American players: Fred Hetzel (top pick in the 1965 NBA draft), Dick Snyder (1979 NBA champion), Mike Maloy (one of the first African American students at Davidson), and Steph Curry (two-time MVP with Golden State Warriors).
For a candidate to have a jersey or number retired, the Athletic Department policy states that the candidate must have completed and received a bachelor’s degree. Six Davidson Wildcats players have had jerseys retired:
- Hobby Cobb — Played 1952-1956
- Terry Holland — Played 1961-1964
- Fred Hetzel — Played 1962-1965
- Dick Snyder — Played 1963-1966
- John Gerdy — Played 1975-1979
- Derek Rucker — Played 1984-1988
Steph Curry was the first player to have his number retired; this occurred in August 2022 after he completed his degree in May 2022, fulfilling a promise made to his mother. His story of being accepted at Davidson after being passed by Duke, Kansas, and his father’s alma mater VA Tech is truly inspirational!
Curry has continued to support Davidson by starting a scholarship fund to boost women’s athletics on campus. In downtown Davidson, you will see signs of Steph Curry everywhere — from a unique sprinkle-dipped ice cream cone called #30 to an interior mural at the Sabor Latin Street Grill. In a New York Times article, Curry says that Davidson changed his life.
Tickets are required for the Wildcats Basketball games. Check with the front desk if we have any tickets available. They are free for our guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Most games are also televised on ESPN or ESPNEWS.
Additional Men’s Winter Sports
Other men’s winter sports to follow are Swimming and Diving, Track and Field, and Wrestling. Check the schedule for times. Home wrestling matches are Friday nights. Swim and track and field competitions are off-campus, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want your support!
Women’s Winter Sports
Davidson has had a women’s basketball team since 1973. Their record is not as impressive (yet) as the men’s, yet they are still well worth watching either in person or on ESPN. Additionally, Davidson has both a women’s swimming and diving team and track and field team. Tickets are only required for basketball games. Check schedules, as days and times vary.
Free Tickets: First Come, First Served
The only games that require tickets at Davidson are football, basketball (both men’s and women’s), and men’s soccer. All other games are not ticketed and are open to the public. Tickets are available for either the full season or individual games. You can order the tickets online or call 1-800-768-CATS.
However, if you are a guest of the Davidson Village Inn and are thinking of attending a game, please ask us! We have season tickets, and we’re happy to share them on a first-come, first-served basis. We love supporting all the Davidson College teams!
You can support winter sports at Davidson College in many different ways: check the schedule for televised matches, follow the teams on your favorite social media platforms, or look for updates online. Although sports are an important part of campus life, academics are still the primary focus. If you are an alum or a fan, plan a visit to support your favorite Wildcats team! Parents, please call us your home away from home when you visit your student — whether on the field or in the stands.
Updated October 2023
