Tyler Hansbrough -Hansbrough does it all in Las Vegas

Used to banging down low in the paint, Tyler Hansbrough found himself sliding around the 3-point line Saturday, 20 feet from where he normally goes to work.

This was something new - Tyler Hansbrough hasn't had to guard many 3-point shooters in his UNC career.

But such was the challenge that BYU's Jonathan Tavernari presented. The 6-foot-6-inch sophomore from Brazil is listed as a forward but spent most of the game firing longballs against the North Carolina Tar Heels, with Tyler Hansbrough assigned to cover him.

"We knew he was a good shooter," Tyler Hansbrough said. "From the first half, we tried to jump on him. He hit some tough shots."

Tavernari finished with 18 points - all on 3-pointers. He went the last 16 minutes of the game without a point as the North Carolina Tar Heels wore him down by rotating defenders.

"It was kind of a challenge for Tyler, but I think Tyler did a good job on him," said Danny Green, who also spent time guarding Tavernari. "There's not much you can do about someone that's hot, especially when they're hitting jump shots with a hand in their face."

Meanwhile, Tyler Hansbrough was filing a typical performance, scoring 21 points and going 9-for-9 from the line.

Tyler Hansbrough even came up with a surprise defensive play as he snatched the ball from BYU's Trent Plaisted - who starred for the Cougars with 24 points and 17 rebounds -with a minute left in the game.

His championship-game performance was a strong follow-up to the semifinal game against Old Dominion, where Tyler Hansbrough exploded for 27 points.

He faced a unique challenge in that game, as well, albeit of a much different type.

Old Dominion put 7-foot-3-inch center Sam Harris on Tyler Hansbrough for much of the game, and when Tyler Hansbrough got the ball in the post, Harris would drape over him like a tree.

That didn't stop Tyler Hansbrough from powering around and through Harris, using a variety of spin moves and pump fakes.

"To be honest with you, I kind of like it because that means that I get to move outside sometimes and try to go around guys," Tyler Hansbrough said. "I was comfortable with it; he does have longer reach, but I still felt like I was going up pretty good."

Tyler Hansbrough drew three fouls on Harris in the first half, and the ODU center finished with only five points and four rebounds.

Tyler Hansbrough earned most valuable player honors for the Las Vegas Invitational, but his effort during the weekend was an affirmation for Williams that the forward - as well as point guard Ty Lawson - is working hard to continue the upward momentum.

"I've said all along that those two guys consistently through the preseason probably got better in five weeks of preseason work than anybody else," Williams said.

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>