Tyler Hansbrough closed his eyes, hoping for a good night of rest. Instead, his mind kept racing, turning over and over the thought of finally getting North Carolina to the Final Four.
"I couldn't really fall asleep," he said. "I kept thinking about this game coming up."
It's somehow fitting that Tyler Hansbrough - a relentless All-American and a star from his first college game - doesn't even take a break even when he should be sleeping.
That he's feeling anxious these days is no surprise. After all, he has worked with every play of his career to win a national championship, a goal now two wins away.
It's why Hansbrough can't talk about his first trip to the Final Four without immediately adding that he wants more.
"It means a lot," said Hansbrough, whose team plays Kansas on Saturday night in San Antonio. "It's a goal we set out. Obviously, we beat some good teams to get here and we feel like we're playing really well. We want to keep on moving."
Few players have embodied that approach better than the 6-foot-9 junior. He has spent seemingly the entire year earning a personal accolade for every victory the Tar Heels (36-2) managed in what has become the winningest season in the storied program's history.
He was a unanimous All-America choice by The Associated Press this week.
Tyler Hansbrough, averaging 22.8 points and 10.3 rebounds, will be just the eighth Tar Heel to have his jersey retired. In last weekend's win over Louisville, he scored 28 points to move past Sam Perkins for second on the school's career scoring list with 2,151 points, trailing only Phil Ford (2,290) for a record he'll easily set if he returns next year.
"I didn't make Tyler that hard worker. I've just been a guy who benefited from it," coach Roy Williams said. "That boy is self-driven and self-motivated."
He's done it with an unyielding will that has him chase every rebound and loose ball while scoring despite constant contact. It's an approach that as a freshman earned him the nickname "Psycho T" - he screamed to motivate himself to keep going during a grueling conditioning drill. Aron Baynes, Washington State's Australian forward, called him a "thrashing croc in the paint" before the team's matchup in the round of 16 last week.
But Hansbrough has also shown an expansive shooting range. His jumper has proved reliable while creeping out past 15 feet, whether it was his last-second shot to beat Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament semifinals or the two clutch shots he hit over Louisville center David Padgett to help the Tar Heels hold their slim second-half lead in the East Regional championship.
NBA wrap: Kobe Bryant makes history from Carmelo Anthony, and little from anyone else: Reserve Arron Afflalo scored 18 for the Nuggets. At Indianapolis, Tyler Hansbrough scored 13 points in his pro debut as Indiana downed Washington. The first-round draft pick from North Carolina missed>
Kobe reaches 24,000 points, leads Lakers past Griz little from anyone else: Reserve Arron Afflalo scored 18 for the Nuggets. Pacers 102, Wizards 86 At Indianapolis, Tyler Hansbrough scored 13 points in his pro debut as Indiana downed Washington. The first-round draft pick from North Carolina missed the>
NBA notebook - Oct. 6 Desmond Mason on waivers. Mason averaged 2.6 points and 2.6 rebounds this season. . . . Indiana Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough made his pro debut against the Washington Wizards after missing the preseason and four regular-season games with a right shin>
NBA roundup: Friday's action on the courts 18 and Miami dealt Denver its first loss of the season. - Pacers 102 Wizards 86 At Indianapolis, Tyler Hansbrough scored 13 points in his pro debut as Indiana beat Washington. - 76ers 97 Nets 94 At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 16 points, including>
Granger, Hansbrough Lead Pacers In Rout Of Wizards Indiana has won two in a row after losing its first three to start the season. First-round pick Tyler Hansbrough made his NBA debut and ended with 13 points and five rebounds in nearly 14 minutes of action. The North Carolina product suffered a right>
Granger, Hansbrough Lead Pacers In Rout Of Wizards Indiana has won two in a row after losing its first three to start the season. First-round pick Tyler Hansbrough made his NBA debut and ended with 13 points and five rebounds in nearly 14 minutes of action. The North Carolina product suffered a right>
Granger, Hansbrough Lead Pacers In Rout Of Wizards Indiana has won two in a row after losing its first three to start the season. First-round pick Tyler Hansbrough made his NBA debut and ended with 13 points and five rebounds in nearly 14 minutes of action. The North Carolina product suffered a right>
Hansbrough sparks Pacers Indiana�s Tyler Hansbrough, left, is defended by Washington�s Caron Butler during the Pacers� win. Roy Hibbert celebrates during the Pacers� win over Washington in Indianapolis on Friday. INDIANAPOLIS ? Tyler Hansbrough took>
NBA Roundup: James, Yankees give Garden fans something to cheer about past short-handed New Jersey. The Nets were without six players due to injury. n Pacers 102, Wizards 86: Tyler Hansbrough scored 13 points in his debut for Indiana. The first-round draft pick from North Carolina missed the preseason and the first four>
NBA roundup: Friday's action on the courts 18 and Miami dealt Denver its first loss of the season. - Pacers 102 Wizards 86 At Indianapolis, Tyler Hansbrough scored 13 points in his pro debut as Indiana beat Washington. - 76ers 97 Nets 94 At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 16 points, including>
