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Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina led a preseason All-America team of underclassmen. The 6-foot-9 sophomore forward was the top vote-getter Tuesday on the team chosen by the same panel that selects the Associated Press' weekly college basketball poll. Joining Hansbrough were juniors Joakim Noah of Florida, Ronald Steele of Alabama and Glen Davis of LSU and sophomore Brandon Rush of Kansas. The 2006-07 team was decidedly different from the season before when four seniors and a junior were picked for the preseason honors. Hansbrough was named on 65 of the 72 ballots, one more than Noah. Steele received 55 votes,...

OMAHA, Neb. Jun 21, 2006 (AP)— Jay Cox homered twice and made a great catch in the ninth inning to help North Carolina move to the College World Series championship round with a 6-5 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday night. The Tar Heels (53-13) won Bracket 1 and will play either Rice or Oregon State in the best-of-three final beginning Saturday. Those two teams met later Wednesday, with Rice needing one victory to win Bracket 1. Oregon State would have to beat the Owls twice to reach the final.

As expected, Tyler Hansbrough turned the competition for the Atlantic Coast Conference's Rookie of the Year into a one-man race. The North Carolina center received all 108 votes for the award announced Tuesday, a day after he became the first freshman in ACC history to earn unanimous first-team all-conference honors. "That part is mind-boggling, beyond your wildest dreams," Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said. "I thought Tyler would be a major force for us. In my mind, he would be a starter from day 1, and he would be extremely important from Day 1." It worked out exactly that way,...

© 2006 The Associated Press DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina's precocious freshmen earned another victory on the road, in perhaps the toughest setting. They ruined Senior Night at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Tyler Hansbrough scored 27 points, fellow rookie Danny Green came up with the key defensive stop and the 13th-ranked Tar Heels held off No. 1 Duke 83-76 Saturday night in the final home game for J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina still forbids incoming freshmen basketball players from doing interviews until after their first game. That was Dean Smith's rule, and Roy Williams wouldn't dream of going against the man he still calls ``Coach.'' So when reporters assembled for media day Thursday, only five players were available: David Noel, Reyshawn Terry, Quentin Thomas, Byron Sanders and Wes Miller. The quintet combined for exactly one start last season during North Carolina's run to the NCAA championship, and Noel was the top scorer at less than four points a game. Repeating that title? Williams just hopes...

GAME: North Carolina (32-4) vs. Illinois (37-1). ROUND: National championship. TIME: Monday, 9:21 p.m. EST. SITE: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis.

Good Luck to the Tarheels!

Andy: As Expected By Andy Britt - Inside Carolina Date: Mar 29, 2005 CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina has made it to the Final Four, but will anything short of cutting down the nets Monday night satisfy its demanding fan base? Even more indicative of the overwhelming expectations put on the Tar Heels is the apparent consensus belief that UNC may still be underachieving. Most feel Carolina (31-4) has yet to play its best game in the NCAA Tournament, despite blowouts against Oakland and Iowa State in the first and second rounds. Considering the stunning regional final performances turned...

Top-seeded North Carolina narrowly slips past Villanova SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- North Carolina won without Raymond Felton -- barely. After the star point guard fouled out, the top-seeded Tar Heels did just enough down the stretch to hold off Villanova 67-66 Friday night, advancing to the regional finals for the first time since 2000. The Wildcats missed a chance to tie it in the final seconds when Allan Ray was called for traveling on a drive. He made the shot as he was slapped across the arm, but referee Tom O'Neill already had blown his whistle for the violation. Villanova (24-8)...

UNC WILL WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!