Hansbrough Stays Quiet About His Future OptionsSAN ANTONIO — With his team trailing by 17 points at halftime Saturday, North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough jogged stoically to his team’s locker room. There, Hansbrough, the 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior forward, sat down and began retying the white laces of his baby blue and white shoes. As some of his teammates sat stunned and others wandered aimlessly, the scene was indicative of Hansbrough’s grittiness, a never-give-up attitude that made him college basketball’s player of the year this season. He lived up his reputation in the second half, helping spark a comeback bid to pull the Tar Heels within 4 points before they lost, 84-66, against Kansas in the semifinals of the N.C.A.A. tournament. In what could have been his last game as a collegiate player, Hansbrough, a three-time all-American, scored 17 points. He shot 6 of 13 from the field, made 5 of 6 free throws, and had 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 turnovers in 32 minutes. Hansbrough, nicknamed Psycho T for his intensity, averaged 22.8 points and 10.3 rebounds this season. “We just didn’t make shots,” Hansbrough said. “Our energy level wasn’t there. They came to play and we didn’t.” Seated in a chair in front of his locker surrounded by television cameras, microphones and tape recorders, a downtrodden Hansbrough declined to discuss whether he would return to North Carolina for his senior season or declare for the June 26 N.B.A. draft. “I don’t really want to talk about leaving,” Hansbrough said. Underclassmen have until April 27 to declare for the draft and until June 16 to withdraw. Chad Ford, an N.B.A. draft expert for ESPN.com, does not project Hansbrough as a lottery pick in the N.B.A. draft, but said he would be a first-round pick if he declared. “I don’t think he can help his stock anymore than he’s done,” Ford said in a telephone interview. “He’s the player of the year.” Ford said some N.B.A. scouts thought Hansbrough was three inches shorter than his listed height of 6 feet 9 inches. They also have questions about his athleticism, he said. Ford said he believed that Hansbrough could be a better version of Mark Madsen of the Minnesota Timberwolves. “Everybody loves his motor,” Ford said of Hansbrough. “The guy never takes a play off. He’s also like Kevin Love in that he’s physically so strong. He can kind of will his way around the basketball. He’s a smart player too. He’s not just a brute. He’s got a very high basketball I.Q.” The North Carolina sophomore point guard Ty Lawson, also a potential first-round pick in the N.B.A. draft if he were to declare, said he had not heard Hansbrough talk about the N.B.A. “He wanted a championship so bad,” Lawson said. “I don’t think it’s even crossed his mind yet.” Lawson said he would have no animosity toward Hansbrough if he departed for the N.B.A. “He played well for three years,” Lawson said. “He’s expanded his game. I would see no problem if he did leave because he’s done everything for this team.” Hansbrough said he still had interest in pursuing a national championship with North Carolina next season. “That’s every college basketball player’s dream,” he said. Now, it is up to Hansbrough to decide whether he wants one last shot at that elusive championship ring.
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