📍 Davidson, North Carolina
🏀 Home of Davidson Wildcats basketball

An unassuming small-town school in the Charlotte suburbs, Davidson College was catapulted into the spotlight in the early 2000s thanks to the legendary point guard Stephen Curry. Now, many years removed from their stunning upsets and Cinderella runs in the NCAA Tournament, the Davidson Wildcats still enjoy a bit of prestige and renown as they take to the court inside John M. Belk Arena.

The venue, part of the larger Baker Sports Complex, seats close to 5,300 fans. Though they would sell out the facility non-stop during the Curry era, the Wildcats still draw fairly large crowds as they storm through their conference slate thanks to a prosperous and loyal Lake Norman populace. The arena, which opened in 1989 and has adapted and evolved over the last few decades, is named in honor of alum and benefactor John Belk.

Belk’s main lobby features a small museum-like space that celebrates and highlights the accomplishments of Davidson’s star athletic alumni. Steph Curry – of course – is a main focal point here, with memorabilia and stats from his three electrifying seasons at the school. Alongside him stands an exhibit on Bob McKillop, Davidson’s winningest and longest-tenured coach who steered Curry and the ‘Cats to the pinnacle of success.

The Wildcats – who had advanced as far the Elite Eight in back-to-back campaigns in 1968 and 1969 – returned to that round in 2008 thanks to the player-coach duo of Curry and McKillop. That year, the #10-ranked Wildcats upset #7 Gonzaga, #2 Georgetown and #3 Wisconsin before falling to #1 Kansas – the eventual champion – coming up just a mere two points short of their first Final Four appearance. But the legacy built by both Steph Curry and Bob McKillop at Davidson remains to this day, with Steph’s number hanging in the rafters and McKillop’s name emblazoned on the court at Belk Arena.

Davidson has spent most of its existence in the Southern Conference, broken up by short stints in the Big South and as an independent. Since 2014, the ‘Cats have been a member of the Atlantic 10 and have followed up their 12 conference tourney wins in the SoCon with a single A10 crown in 2018. More greatness is surely on the way for Davidson College, which will forever be a special part of college basketball history.