Kenton Paulino’s form on his final shot in Texas’ and West Virginia’s 2006 Sweet Sixteen matchup was hardly textbook. The Longhorns’ senior shooting guard didn’t get a firm grip on the ball and shot it with a splay-legged release.
None of that mattered. Just after the buzzer sounded, Paulino’s 3-pointer hit the bottom of the net, sending Texas to a 74–71 win and a berth in the Elite Eight. That the shot came just seconds after Kevin Pittsnogle had tied the game with a trey of his own made it loom even larger.
Paulino spent two years playing professionally before turning to coaching. He is in his first year as an assistant at Fresno State — whose July introduction of him to the staff included prominent mention of his famous shot.
Texas and West Virginia square off again on Monday night in Morgantown, their second meeting as Big 12 rivals. Kenton Paulino profile
