The Tar Heels are headed to the Final Four

Tie game, after Malik Monk’s three-pointer fell through the net with 7.2 seconds to play. Theo Pinson streaks down the right side of the court, then cuts toward the middle. De’Aaron Fox and Derek Willis follow him into the lane. Pinson tosses the ball to Luke Maye. Step back, feet set, rise, shot. The Wildcats’ Isaiah Briscoe leaps with an outstretched arm to try to get just a piece. But no. Pure stroke. Pure net. Pure elation.

You know the play of the game. You know the Most Outstanding Player of the South Regional. The headlines and the highlights, the splashes on the sports pages will feature Maye, and deservedly so. The sophomore came into the weekend averaging 5.1 points per game; he poured in 33 in two games in Memphis. Maye’s shot immediately joins Walter’s long two, Dudley’s steal, Marvin’s bank shot, Marcus’ three, Michael’s jumper, Rick’s lay-up, Jerry’s dunk in the annals of Carolina history. It’ll be in the highlight reel before player introductions at the Smith Center next season, and probably for years to come. CBS and Turner will use it in promos for the NCAA Tournament. It was that big.

The Tar Heels wanted this opportunity. Maye told his father, former Tar Heel quarterback Mark Maye, that the team wanted another shot at Kentucky, and they got it. “This is what it’s all about,” the proud father said afterward. “For it to work out like that, it’s neat.”

It was neat (an understatement if there ever was one). But to get there, to position Maye to take and make that shot, for Carolina to earn a two-point win over the team that beat them by three in overtime in Las Vegas 99 days ago, the Tar Heels had to make many, many plays along the way. Maye’s shot will get the glory, but without the little things, the Tar Heels aren’t planning a trip to Phoenix this week.

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