DETROIT — North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson can't swish jump shots in his sleep but does convert hundreds of shots while America is sleeping.

"My freshman year and last year I probably wasn't in the gym as much as I should have been," Lawson said. "So now sometimes I shoot at 2 o'clock in the morning -- I just have more dedication than I've had in the past."

Lawson's decision not to leave school early last year to enter the NBA draft, coupled with a determination to make himself a better all-around player, has paid off as he enters tonight's national championship game as one of the country's most talked-about players.

"He's the best point guard in the country," Michigan State point guard Kalin Lucas said.

Considering that Lawson seems to move across the floor like a flash of lightning, there is also room to debate whether he might be the country's fastest point guard.

"He is the engine of that team, and when he's not playing they aren't as good," said Michigan State guard Travis Walton.

Lawson said one of the main reasons he decided on North Carolina was coach Roy Williams' fondness for moving the ball up the court with speed. Lawson's quickness is a concern to the point that Lucas said Sunday it might be best to drop back two players, instead of one, to thwart the Lawson-led fast break.

"The one thing that we have to do is have six eyes on him at all times," Lucas said.

Through his one-man late night shooting practice, Lawson has dramatically improved his aim. His overall shooting percentage has climbed to over 54 percent and his three-point shooting efficiency has risen from 36 percent to 48 percent in the last year.

Walton said Lawson's strength is as noteworthy as his quickness, and his only thought on stopping him is "is you have to make his shots tough because if he gets an angle he's going to bulldoze in."

Lawson said he truly didn't get close to leaving last season, after coach Roy Williams and Lawson determined that he wasn't going to go high enough in the NBA draft. Now, another season of college basketball has made him a more polished player.

"I think he plays a lot tougher for 40 minutes (this season)," said North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough. "When he first came in as a freshman, I don't think he was the most hard-nosed guy out there, but he has worked harder and it's made him tougher."

Lawson believes he's a better all-around player this season. "I'm more of a leader, and I'm not turning over the ball as much," he said.

A jammed toe caused Lawson to miss two games of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and the opening game of the NCAA tournament, but since coming back to play through his injury he is averaging more than 20 points and seven assists in four tournament games. He has six turnovers in those four contests.

Lawson still isn't fully recovered, although it's not noticeable to those trying to subdue him.

"Still icing it," Lawson said. "I'm still getting in the pool, wrapping my toe, getting taped. (But) I feel a lot better. (Saturday) I actually felt like I was running to most of my speed. So I feel like I'm almost 100 percent."