Louisville coach Rick Pitino wasn’t kidding when he said he’s never seen a player play as hard as North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough.
“I’ve coached against Michael (Jordan) in his prime, (Charles) Barkley in his prime, Kareem when he left,” Pitino said after Hansbrough scored 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in North Carolina’s 83-73 victory in the East Regional final Saturday night. “Magic, all the great ones. Certainly he doesn’t have those abilities of those superstars. But just like shooting, rebounding and playing defense, passing, working hard is an acquired skill.
“Every NBA coach would love to have a player, not only because he works hard but he has a lot of talent. There’s an old saying about offensive rebounding, that you should treat every shot as a pass to you. It’s a very good saying, except most players can’t do that. He does that.”
Hansbrough, the near-consensus national player of the year, barely cracked a smile until he put on his East Regional championship T-shirt. He didn’t even perk up when he heard Pitino’s comments.
“That means a lot,” he said. “Coach Pitino, if you know basketball, he’s one of the great ones. His teams are always great. He’s seen a lot of players. It’s an honor to be considered in that category.”
Hansbrough was named the East Regional’s most outstanding player. Also making the all-regional team were North Carolina’s Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson and Louisville’s Jerry Smith and Earl Clark.
John Henderson, The Denver Post
BESTS
Regional snapshots
Brown means business.
Xavier sophomore forward Derrick Brown, left, started the Musketeers’ scoring against UCLA the right way, with two dunks, one driving the baseline.
Lovin’ Love.
The crowd in Phoenix chanted “one more year, one more year” as UCLA center Kevin Love did an interview with CBS after the game. Love, a 6-foot-10 freshman with NBA potential, was named the West Regional’s most outstanding player.
Heels on fast track.
Twice in the first half, North Carolina scored on fast-break layups after Louisville baskets. Both times, Wayne Ellington scored for the Tar Heels following Louisville layups.
Chris Dempsey and John Henderson
WORSTS
The worst of times
Josh Duncan’s first half.
The Xavier forward, who dominated the Sweet 16 game against West Virginia, was 1-for-4 for just two points with two fouls and two turnovers.
No encore.
UCLA forward James Keefe had the best game of his career against Western Kentucky, but couldn’t re-create the feat against Xavier. He finished with zero points, one rebound and two fouls.
Exit here.
David Padgett, Louisville’s leading scorer this season, was a nonfactor in the first half. His two fouls were more than his rebounds (one) and points (zero) combined.
Chris Dempsey and John Henderson
ON TAP
South Regional: Memphis vs. Texas
Key matchup.
Memphis’ Derrick Rose vs. Texas’ Justin Mason. Mason doesn’t play point guard, but he always draws the opponent’s top perimeter player. Mason (6-feet-2, 198 pounds) is sturdy and quick enough to hang with Rose (6-3, 205). Texas players and coaches say Mason’s best attribute is his mental and physical toughness. Missing about eight minutes in the second half against Michigan State because of a cut over his right eye, Rose still produced a career-best 27 points and five assists.
Up high.
Texas’ D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams combine for almost 36 points per game. They may need more than that to keep up with Memphis, which has a substantial size advantage at guard.
Down low.
Texas’ Dexter Pittman (6-10, 299) and Clint Chapman (6-10, 245) likely will be needed because Connor Atchley can’t bang with Memphis’ Joey Dorsey (6-9, 265).
Quote:
“We’ve been put in this situation the last few years; we played UCLA in Oakland (2006) and Texas A&M in San Antonio (2007). Like we always say amongst each other, the fans cannot be on the court. We can hear them, but they are not up there bouncing the ball or shooting the ball.” — Memphis guard Antonio Anderson, on the Tigers being the No. 1 seed in the South Regional but having to play Texas in Houston
The Post’s pick: Memphis
Midwest Regional: Kansas vs. Davidson
Key matchup.
Kansas’ Russell Robinson vs. Davidson’s Stephen Curry. How strong are Curry’s shoulders? Strong enough to carry the 10th-seeded Wildcats to the Final Four? Curry’s 103 points is the most for the first three NCAA Tournament games since Purdue’s Glen Robinson scored 106 in 1994. KU’s Mario Chalmers will likely be the first to chase Curry, but look for Robinson, another solid defender, to share that assignment because the Jayhawks can’t afford Chalmers in foul trouble.
Up high.
For the tournament, Curry is averaging 25.7 points — in the second half. But overlooked is how careful the Wildcats’ backcourt is with the ball. Against Wisconsin, Davidson committed just seven turnovers — none by point guard Jason Richards, who scored 11 points. KU scores by committee on the perimeter, with Chalmers, Robinson and backup Sherron Collins combining for 30 points per game.
Down low.
Davidson’s two starting post players stand just 6-8, but Thomas Sander and Andrew Lovedale are amazingly efficient, combining for 7-for-7 from the field against Wisconsin. In waltzing past Villanova, KU didn’t need much from 6-9 Darrell Arthur (7 points) or 6-11 Sasha Kaun (9 points) but they’re capable of big games.
Quote:
“Curry is unbelievable and he’s on a run.” — Kansas center Sasha Kaun
The Post’s pick: Kansas
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
NOTES
Rough crowd.
Three ultra- vocal UCLA fans taunted the Xavier band the entire game Saturday, and booed the band after every song it played during timeouts. Band members tried to ignore the loud heckling. But they gave in, doing their best to jab back.
Staying put.
Xavier’s Sean Miller is climbing up the list of hot head coaches. With jobs opening across the nation, he was asked about his future at the Cincinnati school. “I’ll be at Xavier,” Miller said.
A marquee matchup.
If top- seeded Kansas beats 10th seed Davidson for the Midwest Regional title today, North Carolina coach Roy Williams will face the team he coached for 15 years before jilting the Jayhawks for his alma mater in 2003.
They would meet Saturday in the semifinals of the Final Four in San Antonio. They have not faced each other since he left Kansas.
“I have the greatest love for a place I gave my heart, body and soul for 15 years,” Williams said. “I have no idea what my emotions are going to be. ”
Chris Dempsey and John Henderson
