Is Curry overshooting?

He isn't a point guard. We know that much. But is Stephen Curry overshooting? In other words, is America's Favorite Basketball Player trigger-happy?

Let's break this down:

Caveat: Stephen Curry is one of my favorite college basketball players. He is the second-best player in the country to Blake Griffin, and is clear-and-away the best wing player around.

Last year, Curry played the 2. He V- and backdoor-cut, ran through staggered screens, took handoffs and isolated, launched over people, etc. He did everything he could to touch the ball at least once a possession.

This year, the 6-3 junior -- as you probably already know -- is playing point guard. The departure of his senior sidekick Jason Richards has clearly cramped Curry's style. Last year's Three Amigos -- Curry, Richards and big-man Andrew Lovedale -- are down to two, and Curry has taken on an even larger role in the offense.

None of this means that some role players haven't stepped up their parts. Hell, Davidson is 7-1, with its only loss coming in a thriller at Oklahoma. Steve Rossiter has certainly helped Lovedale underneath, Bryant Barr has fit nicely into the lineup as a wing threat and Mark Paulhus Gosselin (who missed last night's game against WVU) continues to be the team's top perimeter defender. And Will Archambault, Ben Allison and Ben McKillop have done well off the bench at different points.

But Richards was the NCAA's assists leader last year, setting up Curry for quicker, easier shots. And Richards also scored at a 13-point clip. That meant less shooting for Curry.

In eight games this year, Curry has taken 31.2 percent of his team's shots. His shooting percentage is nice -- 47.6 percent -- but in games against BCS opponents (at Oklahoma, NC State and West Virginia), Curry is 36 of 89 overall (40%) and 14 of 45 from 3 (31%). That's 29.7 shots a game, including 15 3s a contest.

At those percentages, that's a little too much. I hear your argument, Peanut Gallery. Those are tougher teams, so there is tougher defense, and Davidson relies on its star more than usual to score.

Fair point.

But in the three games against the BCS teams, Curry at times has forced shots. Maybe it's in his blood to bear any burden his team has. Maybe without Richards the trust isn't exactly there with some of his teammates yet. Who knows? But, like CBS's Gary Parrish notes, there was a point last night when Curry was 5 of 22 from the field. And a lot of those missed shots were forced.

Without having the chance to move off the ball to get open, things have changed for Curry. He has had to reinvent himself offensively and figure out how to get his looks. Part of that process is feeling out his comfort zones, and right now, it doesn't seem like he is entirely comfortable.

When he reaches that comfort zone, dear lord, look out.

Elsewhere
-- Texas' defense is as good as we talked about yesterday. Villanova couldn't get into the paint much. Scottie Reynolds struggled. And Texas overwhelmed the Cats on the inside. Recipe for victory.

-- Good matchups tonight: Cal at Utah, Dayton at Creighton, San Diego State at Arizona and Gonzaga at Wazzou.

Tuesday's Tussle

Jay Wright's Villanova Wildcats have a tall order tonight: Beat sixth-ranked Texas (6-1) in New York. And it won't be easy. Texas has tested itself against some of the best competition in the country; No. 15 Villanova hasn't necessarily played the World's Hardest Schedule.

But here's a big chance to see where 'Nova (8-0) belongs. A win here proves the Cats belong in the top circles of college hoops this year (you know, the tier juuuust below North Carolina, which stands alone in its own group); a loss means there is more work to be done with Big East play lurking around the corner.

We know Villanova can defend. And the perimeter talent is always there. But can the Wildcats score against Texas' blistering D? Texas only allows 57 points a game, forcing opponents to shoot just 35 percent from the field. More importantly, the Longhorns have one of the most efficient defenses in the nation, according to Ken Pomeroy's scouting reports.

But 'Nova is no slouch on the defensive end, either. The Wildcats allow the same amount of points per game (albeit against lesser competition) and hold their opponents to 37 percent shooting. And their efficiency ratings are arguably better than the Longhorns'.

Key matchups: It has to be out on the perimeter, where AJ Abrams will try to continue his hot start to the season. It's simple really: When Abrams does well, so does Texas.

The same can be said for Scottie Reynolds at Villanova. Reynolds, however, hasn't exactly scorched the nets in his first eight games. Not that he hasn't had an impact -- the 6-2 shooting guard still averages 14 points, five assists and three rebounds a game -- but Reynolds only just found his shooting stroke, and it was against Houston Baptist. He's shooting 39 percent from the field, which is right around his career average, but he has always needed to be more selective with his shots.

And the key point to make is this: Even with Reynolds struggling in the early going of the 08-09 season, everyone else, especially Dante Cunningham, has picked up the slack. So any added showtime from Scottie will make 'Nova tough to beat.

Elsewhere
-- Another good, albeit quietly, game is West Virginia-Davidson. Bob Huggins's boys love to defend, and it will be interesting to see how WVU matches up with Stephen Curry. A key Davidson guard, Mark Paulhus Gosselin, received a suspension today from the Southern Conference. Keep an eye on how that impacts Curry's trust in his teammates.

-- Just a quick sidenote on college football: Texas got screwed, so'd Alabama. Ohio State shouldn't even be in a BCS bowl. And while I'm at it, does Georgia have to choke every year, or is that just a thing the Bulldogs like to do on their own?

The Perfect Team

At point guard, I want Darren Collison.

On the wings, I want Stephen (not "Steph") Curry and James Harden.

On the blocks, I want Blake Griffin and Tyler Hansbrough.

Honorable mention: Ty Lawson, Patty Mills, Sam Young, Hasheem Thabeet, Chase Budinger, Luke Harangody.

Seriously, Kid Is Nasty

I told you to watch Oklahoma-Davidson. Did you?

If you did, great decision.

If you didn't, you missed Stephen Curry put on a show. The Baby-Faced Assassin had 44 points on an off night ... and Davidson still lost. The Wildcats were behind by as many as 21 in the second half, but stormed back with two runs of 14-0 and 16-5. Free throws and a turnover on the last possession did Davidson in.

And don't forget the winning team. You can thank Blake Griffin, who had 25 points and 21 rebounds, for helping the Sooners get the home win. After all, Griffin's supposed to be the top pick in the Draft next year, right? He sure played like it. Griffin and Curry are two of the top three players in the country. What a treat it was to watch their teams battle this early in the season.

Final score: Oklahoma 82, Davidson 78. Instant Classic.

Forget UNC-Kentucky

You should be watching Davidson-Oklahoma on ESPN 2. Do it.