UNC Basketball: Top 15 moments under Roy Williams

Marcus Paige’s shot against Villanova

By Nick Delahanty

Marcus Paige did some superhuman-type things during his career at North Carolina. Among all the amazing things that Paige accomplished, the final shot of his career is one that will always be etched in the minds of Tar Heels fans.

With under 10 seconds to play in the National Championship game against Villanova, the Tar Heels were down three and needed a big-time shot to keep them in the game. Insert Paige, who was definitely not afraid of the big-time moment.

Joel Berry forced a bounce pass in the direction of Paige, who was able to grab it just out of the reach of the Villanova defender. Paige proceeded to take two dribbles before throwing up an acrobatic three-point field goal attempt, one that would go in and make the crowd in attendance and the fans watching at home go crazy!

For a shot that seemed so improbable, Marcus Paige made it happen. It wasn’t the most orthodox shot that he took during his collegiate career, but hey, it worked!

Unfortunately, the game did not go in the Tar Heels’ favor. With just 4.4 seconds remaining, the Wildcats drove down the court and hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to win the game. As heroic as Paige’s shot was, Villanova was able to top it in that given moment. Given the way the game ended, many view Paige’s shot as the one that is forgotten based on what happened just a few seconds later.

If you’re a Tar Heel fan, that’s simply not the case.

The ending of the game can not, and will not, take away from how monumental Paige’s shot was for the North Carolina men’s basketball program. When you think about Marcus Paige’s career in Chapel Hill, it’s very hard to forget this very shot that kept the Tar Heels hopes alive.

During Roy Williams’ tenure, it would be very hard to find a bucket that was bigger than this one. Yes, players have made some clutch baskets for the Tar Heels, but this was definitely one (if not the) biggest shot during the Williams era in North Carolina.

Big-time players make big-time plays. It was only fitting that Paige’s final shot as a Tar Heel was one that would be remembered for a very long time.