Heels’ Hansbrough again puts hurt on Hokies

ATLANTA - If not for Tyler Hansbrough, Virginia Tech might well be poised to celebrate a second consecutive invitation to the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Because of Hansbrough, the Hokies appear headed to the NIT for the second year in a row. A year ago tomorrow, the All-American's baseline jumper with 0.8 seconds left lifted North Carolina to a 68-66 victory over Tech in the ACC tournament semifinals at Charlotte, N.C.

Hansbrough tormented Tech again yesterday, though in less dramatic fashion. On a day when UNC point guard Ty Lawson, who succeeded him as ACC player of the year, stayed on the bench with an injured toe, Hansbrough delivered again.

He scored eight of his game-high 28 points in the final 6:11 - including the go-ahead basket with 36 seconds left - to help the top-seeded Tar Heels rally past the eighth-seeded Hokies 79-76 in an ACC quarterfinal at the Georgia Dome.

"Down the stretch, I think we were trying to get the ball inside, so I just happened to be open, and luckily, the ball went through the rim," said Hansbrough, a four-time member of the all-ACC first team.

The 6-9, 250-pound senior also had eight rebounds, two assists and two steals, and he contributed in other ways, too. In perhaps the game's pivotal sequence, Hansbrough tied up J.T. Thompson with 5.2 seconds remaining on a play that had the Hokies screaming for a foul.

Instead, official Karl Hess called a jump ball, prompting Tech coach Seth Greenberg to slam his suit jacket to the court in disbelief. Possession went to No. 1-ranked Carolina. The Hokies had no choice but to foul, and Hansbrough's two free throws made it 79-76.

Then, on the game's final play, he leaped to challenge A.D. Vassallo's 3-point attempt from the left wing. It missed, and the nation's top-ranked team escaped - thanks in large part to Hansbrough's refuse-to-lose mentality.

"He's got a great competitive spirit," Greenberg said.

Tech's players will grant Hansbrough that. After the game, however, they made it clear that they believe ACC referees allow Hansbrough to play by his own set of rules.

Yesterday, Hansbrough was called for only one foul, and it came in the open court with 16.6 seconds to play. One of the Hokies who guarded Hansbrough, 6-7 sophomore Jeff Allen, fouled out, and another, 6-6 sophomore J.T. Thompson, had three personals. Senior center Cheick Diakite had two.

"He's very aggressive," Tech guard Malcolm Delaney said of Hansbrough. "Jeff couldn't play aggressive. When Jeff played aggressive, he got fouls. When J.T. played aggressive, J.T. got fouls. When Cheick played aggressive, Cheick got fouls."

For Hansbrough, the 28 points were the most he's scored in an ACC tournament game. His previous high?

The 26 he had against Virginia Tech last year. If the Hokies are happy they'll never have to face Hansbrough again, who can blame them?

Contact Jeff White at (804) 649-6838 or .