W&M’s McCurdy linked to UR hoops history

Thirty-five seasons after Bob McCurdy brought the University of Richmond's basketball program recognition as the nation's leading scorer, the Spiders will face his son.

Sean McCurdy starts for William and Mary, where UR (2-0) plays tonight.

During the 1974-75 season, a dozen years before the arrival of the 3-point shot in the college game, Bob McCurdy averaged 32.9 points as a 6-7 Spiders' senior. McCurdy, a left-hander, featured a terrific outside touch and interior moves with both hands. As a senior, he had 11 assists in 26 games.

Like father, not like son.

Sean McCurdy, a 6-1 senior, "is a prototypical point guard," said Bob McCurdy, 57 and the president of Katz Marketing Solutions in New York. Sean McCurdy has 14 assists in two games for the Tribe (0-2).

Bob McCurdy transferred from Virginia to UR, where he played two seasons. Sean McCurdy spent two seasons at Arkansas before switching to W&M. He played in 61 games (six starts) for the Razorbacks, and averaged about nine minutes as a sophomore.

"It was a great experience," he said. "I just felt like it was time for a change."

UR's staff showed some interest in Sean McCurdy while he played at St. Anthony's High in Jersey City, N.J., and McCurdy again examined Richmond after deciding to leave Arkansas.

"I knew they had a young team, and they were looking to build with those players," Sean McCurdy said.

William and Mary came to his attention through a friend of his father's. Bob McCurdy grew up on Long Island with Mitch Kupchak, the Los Angeles Lakers' general manager. Kupchak played at North Carolina with Tony Shaver, W&M's coach since 2003.

"Mitch always spoke of Tony in just glowing terms," said Bob McCurdy, a member of the UR athletic hall of fame. His picture is among those on the mural, honoring former players and coaches, around the inside of the Robins Center.

Sean McCurdy's quickness was limited by injuries last season, when UR and W&M did not meet. Surgery was required (both ankles). He says he feels "100 times better" this season.

Bob McCurdy's business obligations may not allow him to visit W&M Hall for tonight's game. But he added, "If I can move a few things around, I'll see if I can shoot down there and shoot back on Friday morning."

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