For the first time this season, the U-Hall crowd had a reason to rush the court. Its name was Todd Billet.
With 13.6 seconds left and the Cavaliers down by one, senior Todd Billet nailed his third game-winning three-pointer in the last four games to lift Virginia (15-10, 5-9 ACC) over North Carolina (16-8, 6-7), 74-72, last night.
Bringing the ball up court with under 25 seconds to play, Virginia was faced with the decision of taking the first available opportunity or waiting for the last shot. The play called for Elton Brown to set a high pick, with Billet curling around for the shot or passing to an open teammate. Despite his options, Billet knew the shot was his. Brown picked, Billet curled, and with UNC guard Raymond Felton's hand in his face, Billet drained yet another astonishing bucket.
"I just wanted to give it a shot and put it up there," Billet said regarding the game-winner. "I had good fortune the last two times, so I thought: I could give us a chance to win."
The momentum shifted back and forth throughout most of the first half. After trailing by as many as eight, Virginia battled back with a combination of three-point shooting and excellent defense. Using the same box-and-one defense that held Florida State's Tim Pickett to only nine points last week, the Cavaliers were especially effective at defending the ACC's leading scorer Rashad McCants, who was held to single-digit scoring for only the second time this season. After struggling in the first half, McCants was even less effective following halftime due to early foul trouble.
Despite being without their most potent scorer, UNC held strong in the second behind the play of the sophomore point guard Felton. With sixteen points and six assists, Felton was able to push the pace of the game in typical North Carolina fashion.
UNC's up-tempo style of play wound up hurting them significantly with seven minutes to play. Up nine points, North Carolina stole the ball and flew down court for an easy bucket that could have sealed their victory. But Billet picked off a fumbled pass between Felton and sophomore forward David Noel and dished it to junior Devin Smith who threw down a thunderous dunk, sending U-Hall into a frenzy.
"That was a big play," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "Felton is a great player. He does a great job of pushing the break. So for us to break up their break, which is kind of like their signature, that took a little zing out of them and gave us some life."
In addition to Billet's heroics, junior Devin Smith put in an incredible performance. Waking up each day with a herniated disc in his back, not knowing he will be able to play, Smith continues to provide the team with scoring, and more importantly, leadership.
"I say it once but I will say it again, I can't believe Devin Smith," Gillen said. "He gets 20 points and he is in too much pain to practice. But somehow, he mentally blocks off the pain and he plays. I don't know how he does it."
His players may be astounding him, but their current play does not. The Cavaliers will need all the confidence their coach can muster when they try to extend their home winning streak to three games next Tuesday against Wake Forest.
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