How significant was the 2007-08 season for the Davidson basketball program?

Just look at how expectations changed from November to March for the Wildcats. Coach Bob McKillop and his players probably would have been thrilled with a prediction in the preseason that they'd be in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

If you asked them on March 30, when they fell by two points to Kansas, you'd get a different reaction. The Wildcats would have to think of how close they came to upsetting Kansas and becoming the first No. 10 seed to advance to the Final Four. At some point, they'll look back and realize what an accomplishment this season was, with a regular-season Southern Conference title, the conference tournament crown and the run to the Elite Eight in which the Wildcats knocked off three regular-season conference champions along the way.

But with the ball and down two with 16 seconds to play, the Wildcats certainly had a fantastic opportunity to continue their run into the Final Four. Instead, Jason Richards' last shot at Davidson -- a long-distance 3 put up just before the buzzer -- missed and Davidson's dream of a Final Four was over.

Still, the Wildcats became the nation's darlings in their surprising run, and they'll certainly command much more respect in the coming years. The biggest question for the Davidson program is whether Stephen Curry will be back for his junior season. Curry will get a lot of advice, but as much as he enjoyed this season, it's hard to believe he'd want to leave Davidson before he has to, especially with the program enjoying a new level of success.

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