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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, March 30, 2008

Hansbrough propels North Carolina, 83-73

 •  UCLA advances to Final Four

By Aaron Beard
Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Tyler Hansbrough

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tyler Hansbrough always found a way for North Carolina, whether it was carrying the Tar Heels when they lost their point guard or making a shot despite every defender knowing the ball would end up in his hands.

Now, with his relentless drive and unyielding will, Hansbrough has the Tar Heels back in the Final Four.

Hansbrough had 28 points and 13 rebounds last night to help the Tar Heels hold off Louisville 83-73 in the East Regional final. Playing in front of a partisan home-state crowd, they reached the national semifinals for the first time since winning the championship in 2005.

The Tar Heels (36-2) advanced to play the winner of today's Kansas-Davidson game next Saturday at San Antonio, setting up a potential matchup between Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams and the Jayhawks program he left behind when he returned to his alma mater in 2003.

On this night, however, the focus was squarely on the Atlantic Coast Conference's player of the year.

Battling in a physical contest inside, Hansbrough finished 12 for 17 from the floor in 38 minutes and was named regional MVP. That included a pair of clutch jumpers over the outstretched arms of 6-foot-11 center David Padgett as the Tar Heels desperately tried to hold their tenuous second-half lead in the final minutes.

"He does the same thing in practice every day," Williams said. "He is the most driven, focused player I've ever seen in my life. He wants to be the best player he can be and win.

"That's Tyler Hansbrough. That's Tyler Hansbrough at practice every day. That's Tyler Hansbrough on off days. That's who Tyler Hansbrough is."

Ty Lawson added 11 points — including a key 3-pointer with about 5 minutes left — for North Carolina, which blew a 12-point halftime lead, then broke away from a tie at 59 to earn their 17th trip to the Final Four.

Leading 73-66 with 2:27 to play, Hansbrough essentially closed the door on the third-seeded Cardinals (27-9) on the next possession. The 6-9 junior got the ball on the left wing with the shot clock winding down, then pump-faked to get Earl Clark up in the air and step in for another jumper over Padgett. The ball swished cleanly through while Hansbrough was knocked to the ground, pushing the lead to 75-66 with 1:33 left.

"You see the guy as a junior and he's getting his jersey retired and you're like, 'Why?' " said Terrence Williams, who had 14 points for Louisville. "Then you play against him and you say, 'That's why.' He'll go through the floor just to get a rebound. He's a great player."