Maybe now, everyone understands why Kentucky coach John Calipari kept DeAndre Liggins around.
The quiet, unassuming junior forward from Chicago has never been the star, even under former coach Billy Gillispie. Most critics wondered where he would fit into Calipari's system, one that seems to rely so heavily on one-and-done freshman phenoms.
It turns out he fits in quite nicely.
After struggling early in the game, Liggins drained a 3-pointer with 37 seconds remaining Sunday to help the Wildcats beat North Carolina 76-69 in the East regional final.
He finished with 12 points, and he sure made them count.
''He knows how proud I am. He's come so far as a player, trusting people, trusting his coaches. This kid works,'' Calipari said. ''He's overcome a lot of stuff.''
It was something akin to vindication for Liggins, who said Saturday that even he wondered where he would fit into the Kentucky program when Calipari rolled into town. Liggins admitted it hurt to watch newcomers take minutes that the veterans believe they earned, then reasoned that all of those freshmen must be pretty good to get a chance to play.
So he accepted his role on the team - being the mentor, being the scrappy defender, doing everything he can to make first-year guys like Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones excel.
And when he gets an open look, knocking it down.
''He's a big-time player,'' North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. ''You got to give kids credit for making plays. I love DeAndre's game, I really do.''
Kentucky built a double-digit lead in the second half against the Tar Heels, only to watch the kids from Chapel Hill come roaring back. North Carolina closed within 70-69 on a basket by Tyler Zeller with just under 2 minutes remaining, then got the ball back when Knight missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity at the foul line.
Kendall Marshall drove to the basket for the would-be go-ahead shot when Liggins slid in front and made the block. Liggins ran back to the other end of the floor, set up in the corner by the Kentucky bench, took a pass and let go a 3-pointer in one fluid motion.
It went crisply through the net.
''Kendall drove past me and my lift gave me the ability to block that shot,'' Liggins said. ''And that 3 I took, Coach just said if there's a kick out, you'd better shoot it.''
It may have been the biggest shot for the school since Scott Padgett - who also wore No. 34 for the Wildcats - knocked down the go-ahead basket to finish off a dramatic comeback victory over Duke in the 1998 regional finals.
The Wildcats would go on to beat Stanford and Utah in the Final Four that year, and they'll get a chance to win another title in Houston now - thanks in large part to Liggins.
''At different times throughout the year it was a little rough for him,'' said Padgett, who still follows the program closely and made his way down to the court after the game, where he watched the Wildcats celebrate on a platform brought onto the floor.
''My guy DeAndre,'' Padgett said with a smile. ''Something about No. 34 over there.''
Few people would have expected Liggins to take the big shot a year ago, or even six months ago, back when Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl was chastising him for ''trash talking'' and he was picking up technical fouls for his emotional outbursts on the court.
His intensity stems from his background playing pickup games in Chicago, where gangs and brawls and guns were common. But he's learned to keep a cooler head, part of the maturity process that comes with being a leader, something Calipari has been trying to drive home with Liggins for the better part of two years.
''DeAndre has overcome a lot, and you look at him right now,'' Calipari said, pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts. ''I'm really proud, and I'm on him now - I'm on him, to do the right things, and if he screws up, he knows I'll be there.''
He wouldn't have it any other way.
