N. Carolina homes in on another East feast
Tar Heels eat up Cougars
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - And so the North Carolina victory tour through its home state continues, with the latest stop at Charlotte Bobcats Arena as coach Roy Williams's team rolled past Washington State, 68-47, in an NCAA East Regional semifinal last night.
The No. 1-seeded Tar Heels meet Louisville tomorrow night, with the winner moving to the Final Four in San Antonio next week.
It has been easy for the Tar Heels, who improved to 35-2, the most victories in school history. Their two games last week in Raleigh against Mount Saint Mary's and Arkansas were blowouts.
That advanced North Carolina to Charlotte, where the Tar Heels were 6-0 in NCAA Tournament action.
Williams and the Tar Heels were more than satisfied with their latest conquest, which did nothing to diminish their stature as favorites to win their second national championship in four years.
"We're ecstatic that we're still playing," said Williams. "We played really well during stretches tonight, especially on the defensive end. But to be fair, Washington State missed some shots they normally make."
Washington State shot 18 of 57 and 2 of 16 on 3-pointers.
Williams pointed out the improved play of forward Danny Green (15 points, 14 in the first half).
"Danny Green gave us a huge lift tonight," said Williams. "He had not been shooting well, but he picked it up when we had trouble scoring."
Green said it was a matter of perseverance. "I was just trying to get a rhythm going," said the 6-foot-5-inch junior. "And things just started going my way."
Washington State's strategy was clear from the start: Don't let Carolina get into run-and-shoot mode, which would elevate the tempo of the game.
The fourth-seeded Cougars (26-9), making their first Sweet 16 appearance, had used the same strategy in last week's second-round game against Notre Dame, taking an Irish team that averaged almost 80 points and holding it to almost half that in a 61-41 victory. The Cougars frustrated Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody, holding the Big East Player of the Year to 10 points, half his average.
Last night, it was Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough who received the Washington State treatment. The Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year - and likely national Player of the Year - was held to a pair of free throws in the first half by a clinging defense.
But Carolina has a much deeper talent pool than Notre Dame, and the Tar Heels simply went in other directions, with Green and guard Wayne Ellington, who had 9 of his 13 points, picking up the scoring load.
Although Washington State slowed the pace - and scored a season low in points - the Tar Heels quickly adapted, taking control with a 35-21 lead.
The Cougars' only chance depended on whether they could continue to contain Hansbrough and start hitting 3-pointers, not an easy task against a team that limited Washington State to five 3-point attempts in the first half, four of which missed.
As expected, Hansbrough, who finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, came out as more of an offensive force in the second half, scoring the Tar Heels' first 8 points, and North Carolina was off and running again.
