Killing and Heartbreaking

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North Carolina's players were demoralized after Curry's consecutive three-pointers.

Their offense faltered on the next possession, and as the shot clock wound down, Ty Lawson missed a mid-range shot, ending the play.

On defense, Danny Green and Marcus continued double-teaming Curry, but their energy had clearly waned.

Curry didn't confront the two defenders head-on but passed the ball to Ben Slayton and ran off the ball. He cut inside, then sprinted back to the top of the arc, using an "elevator door" screen set by Drew and Butler to block Danny Green from chasing him. Ben Slayton passed the ball to Curry, who took an uncontested three-pointer.

Swish!

The ball sliced through the net.

51:44.

"Curry scores again! The Bulldogs extend their lead to seven points! He's tearing apart every defense they throw at him. No matter what North Carolina tries, Curry keeps draining shots. His second-half performance is something I've never seen before. After this game, Curry's name will be known all over the United States!" exclaimed Jim Nantz on ESPN Deportes.

North Carolina tried to respond, but it was as if they had forgotten how to play basketball. They passed the ball around the perimeter with uncertainty.

Hansbrough finally took the initiative, managing to score with an assist from Drew.

51:46.

Curry brought the ball up the court.

"Defend him, defend him!" shouted Roy Williams.

Danny Green and Marcus pushed up beyond the three-point line, waiting for Curry two meters from the arc. Curry had just crossed half-court, chewing on his mouthguard, eyes fixed on the basket.

Danny Green sensed what was coming and raised his right hand.

Curry took a step forward and, without even glancing at Green, pulled up for a three-pointer over his defense.

Green stretched out with all his might but was just short. Instead of touching the ball, he made contact with Curry's wrist and body, knocking Curry back while he was still airborne.

Beep—

The referee, standing near the center line, saw it clearly and blew the whistle.

The ball arced through the air and sank into the net.

Curry had earned a 3+1 opportunity!

Stepping to the free-throw line, he sank the shot amid roaring cheers. The audience was no longer divided—many North Carolina fans, too, were applauding Curry's outstanding performance.

55:46.

The Bulldogs had turned a 13-point deficit into a 9-point lead in just six minutes.

North Carolina's players were broken.

They moved sluggishly, like their legs were weighed down with lead. Their offense was disorganized, and their defense lacked intensity. The Bulldogs capitalized, extending their lead even further.

The only time North Carolina showed signs of life was when Curry touched the ball. Terrified, they double-teamed him at every opportunity. If the ball wasn't in his hands, they were at ease.

It wasn't just a physical defeat—it was a destruction of their spirit.

Curry, having cooled off after his scoring explosion, began passing the ball to his teammates, content to spread the floor.

Roy Williams paced the sidelines, shaking his head.

"This isn't right… how can you shoot like that…" he muttered.

He had no timeouts left, only able to watch helplessly as Curry's incredible shooting shattered his team's belief.

It was irrational, almost unreal.

Since becoming a head coach in 1973, Roy Williams had seen countless stars and countless games. But this was the first time he realized that basketball could be played this way. Three-pointers like this? It challenged everything he knew.

In his mind, controlling the paint was the path to victory. The three-pointer was a tool to create space, nothing more.

But Curry had dismantled his team with three-pointers alone.

One man. Six minutes. Twenty-eight points.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, the Bulldogs led North Carolina by 17 points. 69:52. The game was already decided.

A minute later, Liam Gonzalez saw that the contest had lost its competitiveness and called a timeout. He subbed out all his starters.

Roy Williams followed suit, sending in his bench. The game entered garbage time.

After four minutes, the final buzzer sounded.

"Let's congratulate the Butler Bulldogs for defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels by 17 points, 77 to 60, and advancing to the Final Four for the first time in school history! Curry delivered an epic, unforgettable performance. Their next opponent will be the winner of the UCLA versus Xavier game. The semifinal will be held in San Antonio, Texas, on April 5th, and you can catch it live on Movistar Deportes!" Jim Nantz wrapped up his commentary.

Curry's stats flashed on the scoreboard—13 of 22 from the field, 11 of 19 from beyond the arc, 10 of those threes coming in the second half alone. He finished with 40 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds, dominating both the game and all of March Madness.

In just six minutes, Curry had made nine three-pointers—including a 3+1—scoring 28 points and showcasing his explosive scoring ability.

Liam approached the scorer's table to shake hands with Roy Williams.

Even in defeat, Williams was gracious. "Congratulations, young man, your team earned this win," he said.

"North Carolina is an incredible team," Liam replied with a smile.

Williams sighed, "You know, Curry's first tryout was here in North Carolina, but… well, I misjudged him. Coach Gonzalez, your eye for talent is far better than mine."

His voice was tinged with regret.

Liam, out of respect for the legendary coach, responded humbly, "Call me Liam… Stephen's talent was hidden. I just got lucky."

But Williams shook his head. "Don't downplay it. Your defensive tactics were spot on. Number 33's defense was exceptional. And you trained your team well to break our double-teams. Who knows how the game would've ended otherwise… I'm getting old. The future belongs to you young coaches. Go win the championship, Liam."

With a playful wink, the veteran coach turned and walked away, leaving behind a quiet sigh.

End of this chapter

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