Felton Is Much More Than a Go-To Guy

Bad things often happen to North Carolina when All-American point guard Raymond Felton leaves the court.

Felton is the Tar Heels’ linchpin, so they’ll be glad to have him when North Carolina (31-4) plays Michigan State (26-6) in the NCAA tournament’s national semifinals here Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome.

North Carolina says it wouldn’t have reached this point without Felton, as if anyone hadn’t noticed.

“He’s probably the closest thing that I’ve had to an indispensable player in 17 years as a head coach,” Coach Roy Williams said. “I would hate to think where we would be without Raymond.”

Based on their performance in the Syracuse Regional, the Tar Heels would probably be back in Chapel Hill.

Felton’s importance was evident in Sweet 16 and Elite Eight victories over fifth-seeded Villanova and sixth-seeded Wisconsin in part because of his backups’ deficiencies.

Trailing, 64-56, Villanova rallied after Felton had fouled out for the first time this season with 2:13 remaining in the regional semifinal at the Carrier Dome.

Reserve guards Melvin Scott and Quentin Thomas struggled against Villanova’s pressure defense, stirring concern from central New York to Tobacco Road.

The top-seeded Tar Heels, who benefited from an official’s controversial call in the final nine seconds that cost the Wildcats a basket, held on for a 67-66 victory. Felton had 11 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

“Raymond is such a big part of everything we do, and we’re better with him out there, but we just made some dumb plays toward the end against Villanova,” All-American center Sean May said. “We played not to lose instead of keep on attacking. We just weren’t smart with the basketball.”

The trend continued while Felton rested late in the first half of the regional final against Wisconsin.

The Badgers went on an 11-0 run in the final three minutes of the half, tying the score, 44-44, at halftime. Scott’s poor defense was among the Tar Heels’ biggest problems in the closing minutes.

Felton sat out only two minutes in the second half.

The 69% free-throw shooter made six successive free throws in the final minute of an 88-82 victory. He had 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds in helping North Carolina advance to its record 16th Final Four, and first since 2000.

“Raymond is so good, sometimes I just stand there watching him,” forward Marvin Williams said. “I know that’s not good, but he’s amazing.

“We feel like we have the best point guard in the nation, and we really need him right now.”

Although players were supportive of Scott and Thomas in Syracuse, the Tar Heels’ weakness was revealed on a national stage.

“Nobody can really replace Raymond Felton,” All-American swingman Rashad McCants said. “Everything goes through him.”

And for obvious reasons.

Felton, a 6-foot-1, 198-pound junior, is among the nation’s fastest players with the ball -- he has been clocked at 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash -- setting the pace for the Tar Heels’ productive fastbreak and prompting opponents to alter their defenses.

After Felton sprinted through Iowa State’s three-quarter-court press early in the second round of the Charlotte subregional, Coach Wayne Morgan quickly changed direction in a 92-65 loss.

“Having a great point guard helps any team,” Morgan said. “And they have one.”

A three-year starter, Felton has 684 assists, ranking fourth on North Carolina’s all-time list.

Felton has led the Atlantic Coast Conference in assists the last two seasons, averages a team-leading two steals, 4.2 rebounds and is fourth in scoring at 12.7 points. He’s shooting a career-high 45.3%, and 43.2% from the three-point arc.

Roy Williams pushes the Tar Heels to play fast, and that’s Felton’s favorite speed.

“I know what it takes, I know what Coach Williams wants from his point guards and we have that special bond,” Felton said. “I think whatever he’s thinking on the bench. Sometimes, he calls a play, and I’m calling the exact same play before I even look at my teammates.

“We’re on the same page, and I know I’m basically the backbone of this team. I’m out there controlling the tempo, running the offensive sets and trying to get a guy into the right spots. That’s my job.”

Felton’s intensity and leadership have bolstered the Tar Heels.

“Ray is the one who keeps everybody pumped up and loose,” forward Jawad Williams said. “He just does so many things for our team that only we know about, and he’s also a great point guard.”

Of course, Felton has flaws.

He plays out of control at times, and made some poor decisions against Villanova and Wisconsin. Even so, many expect Felton to be selected early in June’s NBA draft.

Felton presumably should have the edge in the point-guard matchup against Michigan State’s Drew Neitzel and Chris Hill, and North Carolina remained hopeful Scott and Thomas would deliver if needed.

“We have other people who can step up,” May said. “But we definitely want to keep Raymond in the game.”

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AT A GLANCE

How they got there: North Carolina won its first outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title since 1993. In finishing atop the nation’s highest-rated conference, North Carolina, which lost to Georgia Tech in the semifinals of the ACC tournament, secured the top seeding in the Syracuse Regional. In the NCAA tournament first round, North Carolina defeated No. 16 Oakland of Rochester, Mich., 96-68; in the second round, the Tar Heels defeated No. 9 Iowa State, 92-65; in the regional semifinals, North Carolina defeated No. 5 Villanova, 67-66; and in the regional final, it beat No. 6 Wisconsin, 88-82.

* Leading tournament scorers: Center Sean May, 21.5 ppg; guard/forward Rashad McCants, 17.8; forward Marvin Williams, 15.5; guard Raymond Felton, 12.3.

* Leading tournament rebounders: May, 11.8 rpg; Williams, 7.8; Felton, 6.0.

* Keys to the season: Coach Roy Williams persuaded the stubborn Tar Heels to try things his way, and they put team first again. McCants played the biggest role, taking fewer shots and pouting less. Marvin Williams -- the ACC freshman of the year -- provides scoring, rebounding and energy off the bench.

* Key facts: North Carolina is making its record 16th Final Four appearance, two more than UCLA and Duke, and first since 2000. This is Roy Williams’ fifth appearance as coach, and first at the helm of his alma mater. He’s seeking his first national title.