Taking the Shot: The Davidson Basketball Moment First edition by Michael Kruse (2008) Paperback

by Michael Kruse

The basketball team from Davidson College captivated the country in the 2008 NCAA tournament. It was more than just a Cinderella story. There was Bob McKillop, a coach who preached balance and family. There was Jason Richards, a gritty point guard who went from sitting on the bench to leading the nation in assists. And there was of course a baby-faced, just-turned-20 Stephen Curry, the fledgling superstar who wrote scripture on his sneakers and made shot after shot from all over the court. It led to a singular and unforgettable moment. In Taking the Shot , Michael Kruse, a Davidson graduate and award-winning reporter, tells the tale of hope, trust and togetherness. This is the story of not just the start of the legend of Stephen Curry but of that moment as a whole and why it meant so much to so many. From the "It wasn't a feeling of imminent victory. What it was, was an overwhelming feeling of opportunity. The chance. We can win this. It was, for some alums, particularly for those who had been boys during the Lefty years of the 1960s, something like a reawakening of the possibility of national success. Two days after that, late in the second half of the comeback against Georgetown, one fan turned to his left and looked down his row in Raleigh and saw a white-haired alum with a single tear running down his cheek and then turned back to his young son and asked him to please watch this game close."

176 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2008

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you care about basketball, academics and the dream of Division I athletics having a team that can mix both, you need to read this unbelievable story about Davidson basketball and their unlikely star - Stephen Curry. Kruse captures the darlings of the 2008 men's basketball tournament and how they tugged at each of our hearts as they made their way to the Elite 8.

[Dan Ream · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent portrait of Davidson College's 2007-2008 basketball team that featured sophomore sensation Steph Curry and their stunning run of victories to reach the "Elite 8" in the 2008 NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. The title refers to the last moment of that season and what it meant to the players and Davidson students and alumni to have gotten there. Very thoughtful.