North Carolina Tar Heels Cruise Past Villanova Wildcats 83-69

Six seconds into the Final Four match-up between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Villanova Wildcats, All-American forward Tyler Hansborough was fouled on a drive to the bucket.

Hansborough, the ACC's all time leading scorer, has made more free throws than any player in NCAA Division One history. He missed both.

Villanova's Shane Clark promptly gave the Wildcats a 2-0 nothing lead on a nice put-back. This marked the first time that the Tar Heels had trailed in the last 79 minutes of the tournament. 

Was this a sign of things to come?  No, not really.

Playing in the Motor City, the Tar Heels seemed to be equipped with OnStar.

Wayne Ellington started his wonderful night with as high arching a shot as you'll ever see to tie the score at 2-2.  North Carolina was off and running from there.

All five starters average double-figures and were all on the board in the first seven minutes of the game for Roy Williams' talent laden squad.  A fierce, 16-4 run early in the half put the Wildcats in a hole that they would never be able to climb out of.

In front of a record crowd of over 72,000 fans at Ford Field in Detroit, MI the Tar Heels proved why they were preseason number one and the favorite entering the Final Four. 

ACC player of the year Ty Lawson is playing the best ball of his career.  Fresh of winning the Bob Cousy Award for the nations best point guard, Lawson was fantastic.

He led the Heels charge with 22 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals.

Ellington, on fire all night, was five of seven from behind the arc on his way to scoring 20 points and grabbing 9 boards.

Naismith Award runner-up Hansborough had another in a long list of double-doubles in his historic career.  He amassed 18 points to go with 11 rebounds and four steals, several times ripping away balls that were up for grabs.  This is a testament to the desire that has driven this great player the last four years. 

Sharp-shooter Danny Green continued his ultra-productive NCAA tournament.  Green, who netted 12 points in the contest, had three blocks and three rebounds proving his well discussed versatility.

North Carolina, known more for offensive firepower than their defensive prowess, has elevated it's play on both ends of the floor.

The Wildcats were bothered all night by the Tar Heels' length and quickness on defense.

Nova finished just 26 of 79 from the floor (32.9 percent) and even worse, 5 of 27 (18 percent) from three point land. 

Villanova star forward Dante Cunningham kept the Wildcats in the game, scoring all 12 of his points in the first half.  A half in which North Carolina built a 16 point lead at 43-27, only to see Nova cut it to 49-40 at the break on a late 9-2 run. 

Lawson, Ellington and Hansborough had a combined 38 points at half time.

In the second half, guards Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher were starting to make some plays and at the thirteen minute mark they had the Wildcats to within 10 points at 59-49. Nova would not get closer than that.

Reynolds finished with 17 points, five assists and four rebounds to end he and his teammates' magical run to the Final Four. Final score 83-69.

Behind fantastic shooting, 11 of 22 from down town, coach Roy Williams will be heading to his second national championship game of his brief, six year career as UNC's head man.  His forth trip to the title game overall. 

In the game, Hansborough passed Bill Bradly, Austin Carr, Juan Dixon and Lew Alcinder (Kareem Abdul-Jabar) on his way to becoming the fifth leading scorer in NCAA tournament history.  Only one accomplishment left now.