Twelve current Warriors players have played in the NCAA Tournament, with two, Donte DiVincenzo and Ty Jerome, winning titles. With the round of 64 beginning on Thursday, the Dubs have eight players with alma maters in this year’s bracket.
Dubs That Played in Tournament
Stephen Curry, Davidson
Draymond Green, Michigan State
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
Kevon Looney, UCLA
Jordan Poole, Michigan
Donte DiVincenzo, Villanova
Ty Jerome, Virginia
Andre Igoudala, Arizona
Moses Moody, Arkansas
JaMychal Green, Alabama
Anthony Lamb, Vermont
Gary Payton II, Oregon State
Alma Maters Represented in 2023
South Region: No. 1 seed Alabama, No. 2 seed Arizona, No. 4 seed Virginia
East Region: No. 7 seed Michigan State, No. 15 seed Vermont
West Region: No. 1 seed Kansas, No. 2 seed UCLA, No. 8 seed Arkansas
Curry's Magical '08 Run
Before coming to the NBA and ending a 40-year championship drought for the Warriors, Stephen Curry led Davidson to the Elite Eight for the first time in 39 years. First, 10th-seeded Davidson (27-6) defeated 7th-seeded Gonzaga (25-8) in the first round 82-76. Curry scored a game-high 40 points, shooting 8-for-10 from three and 14-for-22 overall from the field. Curry carried that momentum throughout the Wildcats' run, averaging a tournament-best 32.0 points per game. He also recorded the most 3-point field goals in the tournament with 23 3-pointers. Davidson beat 2nd-seed Georgetown and 3rd-seed Wisconsin before ultimately losing to the eventual champions, the 35-3 Kansas Jayhawks.
DiVincenzo vs. Poole, 2018 Championship
Donte DiVincenzo was on a stacked team at Villanova filled with multiple future NBA players, including Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. The Wildcats won the 2016 championship with DiVincenzo on the roster, but he started receiving consistent minutes in the 2017 season. After losing Josh Hart to the NBA, DiVincenzo became a significant spark plug off the Wildcats’ bench. He averaged 13.4 points per game and 4.8 rebounds, shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from three on five attempts per contest. DiVincenzo shined brightest when it mattered most, being named the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four, including a game-high 31 points and five threes in National Championship win over Jordan Poole and Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines wouldn’t have made the championship game if it weren’t for Poole, who hit a game-winning shot to defeat the Houston Cougars in the second round.
Like DiVincenzo, Jordan Poole gained championship game experience in a lesser role before getting his chance to shine. Following the championship game loss to Villanova, Poole started in all 37 games— after starting in zero the previous season— and more than doubled his points per game output (from 6.1 to 12.8). With Poole in the starting lineup, Michigan advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Texas Tech.
Ty Jerome's 2019 Championship Run
Ty Jerome was a significant part of one of the NCAA Tournament’s biggest redemption stories. In 2018, Jerome’s Virginia Cavaliers were the first seed with a record of 31-3. However, shockingly, they were upset by 16th seed UMBC 74-54 in the round of 64. The following season, Virginia again was a top seed, but this time, they went all the way to the championship. Jerome scored 24 points in the Elite Eight, 21 points in the Final Four, and 16 points in a National Championship win over Texas Tech. In addition, Jerome and teammates Kyle Guy and Deandre Hunter earned first-team all-tournament honors.
Draymond Green’s Four Straight Tournament Appearances
Draymond Green and his Michigan State Spartans were a staple in the NCAA tournament. The Spartans went to the National Championship game in Green's first season before losing to North Carolina. Green scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds in the championship game without missing a shot. They again made a deep run the following season, losing to Butler in the Final Four. Green's Spartans made the tournament every year in his tenure and won three Big 10 championships.
Green became the third player in NCAA history to have multiple triple-doubles in the NCAA Tournament, joining Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Green posted 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against UCLA in 2011 and 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists against Long Island University in 2012.
MORE NOTABLES:
Andrew Wiggins spent one season at the University of Kansas, leading the Jayhawks to the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. The number 1 overall pick of the 2014 draft scored 19 points in Kansas’ first-round victory over Eastern Kentucky.
Kevon Looney and the 11th-seeded UCLA Bruins made the Sweet 16 in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, upsetting sixth-seeded Southern Methodist (60-59) and also beating 14th-seeded UAB (92-72).
Andre Igoudala made the NCAA Tournament in each of his two collegiate seasons at the University of Arizona, reaching the Elite Eight in his freshman season in 2003.
Moses Moody spent one year at the University of Arkansas where he helped take the Razorbacks to the Elite Eight in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. He also won SEC Freshman of the Year.
JaMychal Green made the NCAA Tournament in 2012 with the University of Alabama, ending a five-year tournament drought for the program. The Crimson Tide lost in the first round despite 12 points and six rebounds from Green.
Anthony Lamb scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Vermont's 80-70 loss to Purdue in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Gary Payton II scored 19 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists and picked up four steals in Oregon State's first-round loss to Virginia Commonwealth in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.