Sports

2009 NCAA Tournament: Down to Four

 

Tipping off at 8:47 p.m. EDT, Villanova will look to put a lid on North Carolina's 90-point a game offense, something Oklahoma and Blake Griffin did. But it will also have to make shots and put its own points on the board, something the Sooners did not do.

Tyler Hansbrough, who contributes 21 points a game, is only one weapon in North Carolina's arsenal. In addition to the 2008 national player of the year, Ty Lawson, Danny Green and Wayne Ellington will look to set the tone. Those four players together average more than 65 points a game.

On the Wildcats side, senior Dante Cunningham, who grew up playing with Lawson, averages 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds, to lead the team in both categories. Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher pitch in an average of 15 and 10 points, respectively. Senior Dwayne Anderson and Junior Reggie Redding offer modest rebounding support, with a combined 11 per game.

Villanova hasn't been to the Final Four since it won the title in 1985. By contrast, North Carolina, a 7.5-point favorite for the game, has been to 17 Final Fours previously and won its last title in 2005.

While North Carolina clearly has experience on its side, its last trip to the Final Four wasn't a good one. Last year, the Tar Heels were stopped in a rout by eventual national champion Kansas.

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