Felton Is Big Man in Big Moments

It’s Raymond Felton’s heart that North Carolina Coach Roy Williams loves. And the attitude. It’s that mouthy, cocky belief that whatever play he runs, whatever shot he takes, it’s the right-thing-to-do belief in himself that point guard Felton has and Williams adores.

Felton is only 6 feet 1 and he can’t hit 200 pounds on the scale even when he eats cheeseburgers and pizza, but in his mind, Felton thinks he can do anything, anytime.

“He’s a tough little rascal,” Williams said.

“I believe in myself,” said Felton, a junior from Latta, S.C. “Why shouldn’t I?”

There was no reason Monday night in the NCAA championship game. Although Tar Heel center Sean May was the tournament’s most outstanding player with 26 points and 10 rebounds in North Carolina’s 75-70 victory over Illinois, Felton brought a relentless confidence that led him to tell Roy Williams not to worry when he got his second foul with 12:57 left in the first half.

That confidence also led him to make a three-point basket with 5:10 left. Felton even stepped back to create room between him and his defender, Illinois guard Deron Williams.

Felton’s 24-footer gave North Carolina a 68-65 lead, the working margin that meant the Tar Heels would get tied once more but never get behind. And after the Illini had rebounded their own misses three times on one possession when North Carolina led, 72-70, it was Felton whose quick hands and good listening skills -- “Coach told me to watch for a chance to break up a pass,” Felton said -- helped him nab Luther Head’s mis-aimed toss to Deron Williams with about 30 seconds left.

“Hey,” Felton said, “he basically threw the ball into my hands. I guess I was going to catch it. That’s what I do. I make it happen. I made a big steal, I took a big-time shot.”

Deron Williams said he wasn’t surprised when Roy Williams left Felton in the game with two early fouls. “He’s the critical part of the offense,” Deron Williams said. “You got to leave him out there.”

Felton said he told Roy Williams, “I’ll be fine. I’ll be OK. I’ll play it smart.” Felton’s coach rolled his eyes a little and giggled. But Roy Williams loved his point guard’s line -- 17 points, seven assists and two steals in 35 minutes. And four fouls. Not five.

“The biggest play in the game,” May said, “was Raymond’s steal. That shifted the momentum, and the looks on their faces said they knew they couldn’t win. But I guess that play doesn’t happen if Ray fouls out. But he wasn’t going to do that. I mean, he said he wasn’t.”

And who wouldn’t believe the little guy with the big mouth?