Elite Match-Up: Blake Griffin Vs. Tyler Hansborough Should Be a Classic

(Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)

There have been many classic match-ups over the years in NCAA Tournament and when All-American's Blake Griffin of Oklahoma and North Carolina's Tyler Hansborough do battle today none could be better. 

Hansborough is as decorated a college player as you will ever see.  The 2008 player of the year and four time All-American selection, will end his career as the highest scoring player in Atlantic Coast Conference history. 

The Sooners' Griffin is without doubt the best player in college basketball.  Unanimous first team All-American in 2009 and Big 12 Conference player of the year, Griffin is the front runner for this season Naismith Award. Should Griffin choose to declare, prominent National Basketball Association (NBA) draft expert Chad Ford of ESPN rated Griffin as the No. 1 prospect for the 2009 NBA Draft.

Oklahoma is not exactly a one man show, but Griffin is the key and the rest of his team is not nearly as talented as the Tar Heels are. 

ACC Player of the Year guard Ty Lawson is close to 100% and Wayne Ellington is a sure bet to score in double figures.  Swing-man Danny Green is always capable of a huge game as well.

Sooners guard Tony Crocker, who had been in a funk the last few games, busted out with 14 points against the Syracuse Orangemen in the round of 16.  Crocker and freshman back-court mate Willie Warren will need to hit their shots to open the floor for Griffin and OU's inside game. 

Tar Heels coach Roy Williams has the better, more athletic players and will look to make this an up-tempo game. Coach Williams' theory is that with more possessions the more talented team will prevail the majority of the time.

Oklahoma will need to slow the pace by running an efficient half-court offense and mixing it up on defense. The Sooners and young coach Jeff Capel had an excellent game plan against Cuse, often changing their defense from man to zone and back again.

My prediction is the Griffin will place an exclamation point on his college career with a monster game, but his team will fall short in the end.  UNC just has to much talent. 

North Carolina  86    -    Oklahoma 74

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