UNC Basketball: Top 10 moments for Tar Heels in 2020-21
By Zack Pearson
Andrew Platek’s game winner
by Nick Delahanty
After dropping two of their first three ACC conference games, the Tar Heels desperately needed a win on the road against the Miami Hurricanes. In one of the most exciting, nail-biting finishes of the season, it was Andrew Platek who proved to be the surprise hero for the UNC basketball program.
The Hurricanes tied the game up at 65 points a piece with just 14 seconds left to play. Instead of calling a timeout to set up a play, Roy Williams trusted that the five players on the floor could get a good shot off.
Junior Leaky Black brought the ball up the court, and found Platek in the right corner of the court. Instead of settling for a contested three-point attempt, the senior guard drove the base line and put up a floater just out of the reach of the emerging defender.
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The shot went in, and with under four seconds left, the Hurricanes heaved up a full-court shot in desperation. Miami’s attempt to win the game was unsuccessful, and the Tar Heels were able to leave Coral Gables with a victory.
In a time where the Tar Heels were still trying to find their identity, this big moment from Platek proved to be a huge momentum builder. After that night, the Tar Heels got in a rhythm, winning four of their next five ACC contests.
For Platek, this was most certainly one his biggest moments as a member of the UNC basketball program. The senior stepped up in the big moment when his team needed him the most, and this play will always standout when you look back at the 2020-21 season.