When Buffalo Hosted the NCAA Tournament in 2007

VCU's upset of Duke and Steph Curry's Davidson debut highlighted the memorable tournament run in Western New York.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:52pm

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In 2007, Buffalo's HSBC Arena (now KeyBank Center) hosted the NCAA men's basketball tournament, featuring several memorable moments. No. 11 seed VCU stunned No. 6 seed Duke with a last-second shot, while a young Steph Curry led Davidson in a loss to Maryland as a No. 13 seed. The tournament also featured future head coaches Jon Scheyer and Greg Paulus on Duke's roster, as well as a young Brad Stevens as an assistant coach for Butler.

Why it matters

Buffalo has a long history of hosting the NCAA tournament, with the city's arenas serving as a neutral site for some of college basketball's most exciting March Madness moments over the years. The 2007 tournament featured several future stars and coaches, showcasing Buffalo's ability to host high-profile sporting events.

The details

In the first round of the 2007 NCAA tournament at HSBC Arena, No. 11 seed VCU pulled off a 79-77 upset over No. 6 seed Duke, thanks to a last-second jumper by Eric Maynor. Two players on Duke's roster, Jon Scheyer and Greg Paulus, are now head coaches, with Scheyer taking over for Mike Krzyzewski at Duke. Butler, led by a young assistant coach named Brad Stevens, also competed in the tournament in Buffalo that year. Additionally, Davidson freshman Steph Curry scored 30 points in a loss to Maryland as a No. 13 seed.

  • The 2007 NCAA tournament games in Buffalo took place on March 16, 2007.

The players

Eric Maynor

The VCU player who hit the game-winning shot to upset Duke in the 2007 NCAA tournament in Buffalo.

Jon Scheyer

A player on the 2007 Duke roster who is now the head coach of the Blue Devils, replacing Mike Krzyzewski.

Greg Paulus

A player on the 2007 Duke roster who is now the head coach of the Niagara men's basketball team.

Brad Stevens

An assistant coach for Butler in the 2007 NCAA tournament in Buffalo, who is now the president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics.

Steph Curry

The Davidson freshman who scored 30 points in a loss to Maryland in the 2007 NCAA tournament in Buffalo, going on to become a NBA superstar.

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What’s next

The 2023 NCAA tournament is scheduled to return to Buffalo, with games taking place at the KeyBank Center in March.

The takeaway

Buffalo's history of hosting the NCAA tournament has featured some of college basketball's most iconic moments, from VCU's upset of Duke to the early days of Steph Curry's rise to stardom. The city's ability to host these high-profile events showcases its status as a premier sports destination.