Bibby finds his shooting touch in 2nd half

The Associated Press Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona's Mike Bibby celebrates the 66-58 win over North Carolina as Miles Simon (34) looks on in the first semifinal game at the NCAA Final Four Saturday in Indianapolis.

After starting out shooting 1 of 9 from the field, the Arizona freshman point guard went on to hit 5 of 6 three-pointers in the final 15 minutes to help the Wildcats to a 66-58 win over North Carolina.

"Mike is a great player, he just amazes me," UA sophomore center A.J. Bramlett said. "He was the key for us down the stretch."

In the first half, Bibby was visibly shaken and could not get anything to fall.

"In the beginning, I was a little (nervous). I didn't really want to take (the shot) that much," said Bibby, who finished the game with 20 points and seven rebounds. "But once I got into the flow of the game, I just knew if I kept shooting from all the pr actice that I was doing that it would fall."

So after one half of "practice," Bibby received the break he so desperately needed. With 14:58 remaining, Bibby forced a shot over UNC guard Ed Cota that hit a forgiving backboard and rattled in.

"That was a tough shot and all of us let out a sigh of relief when it banked in," UA freshman forward Eugene Edgerson said. "But after that, everything seemed to fall."

At the seven minute mark, Bibby struck again. In a period of 2 1/2 minutes, Bibby accounted for nine points and gave Arizona a 61-51 lead. But the freshman wasn't done yet. Following back-to-back Tar Heel baskets, Bibby answered with an NBA three-pointer that took the wind out of UNC's sails.

"He forced a couple of big shots that went in towards the end. When I say forced, I mean that there was a guy in his face," UNC coach Dean Smith said. "You can't stop them from shooting but you can stop them from getting good looks. But at the end he had a couple of good looks and came through for them. He's a remarkable player."

Bibby's youth and inexperience has given him a "no fear" attitude that makes him dangerous in any situation.

"My mentality is to shoot. I'm not worried about what time the game is at," bibby said. "If we have an open shot in our offense we're not going to pass it up. That's what I was doing and I finally started to hit some."

"He plays like a player that doesn't have anything to lose," Kentucky coach Rick Pitino said. "With his attitude, he is a player that we have to worry about."