(Picture Courtesy of Inside Carolina)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Rashad McCants’ free throw with eight seconds left gave No. 1 seed North Carolina just enough points to eke out a 67-66 win over upset-minded Villanova Friday night at the Carrier Dome. But not before the Wildcats battled back from a 10-point deficit with 3:45 remaining and nearly ended the Tar Heels’ hopes for a fifth national championship.

As I was watching this game I was thinking about 1985 the year when an underdog Villanova team  knocked my beloved Tarheel team out of the regionals and thus advancing to the final four where they ultimately played  a great Georgetown team led by Patrick Ewing in the championship game. That Villanova team which beat the Hoyas are hailed as one of the greatest Cinderella stories of all time.  Last night was the 20th anniversary of that game

With that in mind fast forward to the present. With :09 seconds left on the game clock the Tarheels were clinging on to a 3 point lead.  Villanova’s guard Alan Ray received the inbounds pass, drove the lane and banked in a runner as the whistle blew. Alan Ray probably thought he might have been fouled by the Tarheel’s Rashard McCants and would get a chance to tie the score at the free throw line,  however, the referee signaled Ray had traveled.  Thus ending any hopes of Villanova victory after they mounted a furious rally to cut the Tarheel lead from 10 to 3 in a span of 3 minutes and 36 seconds.

 Upon further review (I have TIVO mind you) He did travel! In the NBA it would have been a good play.  However, this is college and the bottom line is he traveled.  Plus, regardless of whether the refs would have called it or not. Rashad McCants did not foul Alan Ray as some might have implied. 

Quotes:

“On the play, (CBS commentator) Bill Raftery told me that (Ray) clearly did walk,” Tarheels’ coach Roy Williams said.

“I knew I didn’t foul him,” added McCants. “I felt like when he drove he wasn’t expecting anybody to be there. So I just wanted to make a defensive rotation, without a foul, and just make him be as surprised as possible.”

However, Villanova players Wright and Ray saw things differently.

“I didn’t think he traveled but it doesn’t matter,” Wright said. “There were probably other calls during the game where we got a break.”

The Villanova Wildcats played a great game. The Tarheels showed their nay-sayers (Digger Phelps ) that they can win the close games.

Lets go Heels and march on to Saint Louie………………..

Update: 

You be the judge did Alan Ray walk or not

(Click on ) The Walk

Vote on the Call