Who are the main men? Tyler Hansbrough will be an ACC Player of the Year candidate again; Tywon Lawson should ascend to big dog status like many former Roy Williams' point guards; and Wayne Ellington could emerge into a big time scorer in this league.
What are the team's strengths? Even though the Heels lost starters Reyshawn Terry and Brandan Wright, they still are deeper than everyone else in the conference. They are also a scoring machine who will run all day and tire you out. They are also excellent rebounding, shoot a high percentage and are usually good at protecting the ball. Plus Tyler Hansbrough demands that other teams must adjust their entire game plans.
When will we see them struggle? UNC struggled in close games all last year because (a) they lost their poise down the stretch and (b) couldn't figure out who was The Man. Who knows if that will haunt them again this year. They are also extremely streaky from the perimeter.
Why should anyone care about North Carolina? This could be your 2007-2008 National Champion.
How stable is the program? Very. Roy Williams has not only won his title, but has his fingerprints on pretty much everything in the program. As long as he's chugging along, Carolina will be fine.
Where will they finish in the ACC? Anything less than 1st is disappointment. Of course, it was the same last year and the Heels nearly finished in 5th place.
Name you didn't know, but will: Deon Thompson. Thompson showed signs of effectiveness in spot duty last year. It's hard to shine when you back up Psycho T and Wright. Thompson has lost a lot of weight since arriving at Chapel Hill and was a stud on the USA's 19 and under team this summer.
Niagara's Fisher presents problem for Appalachian shooter -- 39 percent overall and 33 percent from 3-point range -- but he ranks with North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough in getting to the free-thrown line as often (268 times) as any player in the country. Fisher said that he's more concerned about>
Right now Memphis' Rose's life has a special sweet smell weeks, Rose was sort of a rumor. The kid you heard about but rarely saw on national broadcasts. Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina was the player of the year. Michael Beasley of Kansas State was the player NBA scouts were salivating over. On Saturday>
At last, NCAA title puts Self first not the brightest, but that there were too many to manage. UCLA had Kevin Love, North Carolina had Tyler Hansbrough, Memphis had Chris Douglas-Roberts. Yup, the other Final Four participants all had a first-team All-American. The Jayhawks had no one on>
Dazed and Confused UNC was denied the national championship that it thought possible. Only one senior, Quentin Thomas, will be lost. Tyler Hansbrough, Ellington and Lawson could leave for the NBA. Three top-notch recruits will join the program next year. 'I don't know of>
Tar Heels are silent on future in NBA Hansbrough, Lawson and Ellington say no decisions are made JOURNAL REPORTER CHAPEL HILL Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington are still undecided about what to do with the rest of>
Clemson's Purnell says he won't take LSU coaching job pain free for the 2008-09 season.' ? Coach Rick Stansbury of Mississippi State said that sophomore guard Ben Hansbrough will transfer after the spring semester. 'Ben is a good kid and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors,' Stansbury>
College-Basketball Notebook about NBA Draft JOURNAL WIRE REPORT ? Coach Roy Williams of North Carolina says he has met with Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington about the possibility of their entering the NBA Draft. In an interview on the school's Web site posted>
Hansbrough will return to UNC; Ellington, Lawson to enter NBA draft Journal File Photo Updated: 04/25/2008 05:08 pm Tyler Hansbrough will return to North Carolina for his senior basketball season next year but Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson are headed to the NBA Draft. Ellington and Lawson will not>
Tar Heel star will remain in school Hansbrough to return; Ellington, Lawson will file for the NBA Draft JOURNAL REPORTER Tyler Hansbrough will finish his North Carolina basketball career next season as a senior but Ty Lawson and>
End of Tape: Davis, North Carolina's trainer, is stepping down after 31 seasons on Lawson's ankle so he could return on March 1. Two seasons ago, Davis had to take center Tyler Hansbrough into the trainer's room to stop the bleeding from a broken nose suffered at the end of a game against Duke. In the 1992 season, Davis had to close>
