• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hansbrough to play despite broken nose for North Carolina

Mar 9, 2007 - 2:11 PM Florida St (20-11) at No. 8 North Carolina (25-6) 12:00 pm EST

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Tyler Hansbrough's broken nose may serve as a rallying cry for North Carolina.

The eighth-ranked Tar Heels open the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament as the top seed for the 21st time in school history in Friday's quarterfinal encounter with Florida State.

Hansbrough was a unanimous first team All-ACC selection for the second consecutive campaign after averaging 18.8 points. He will likely wear a protective mask over his nose, which was broken by Duke's Gerald Henderson late in North Carolina's 86-72 win on Sunday.

Brandan Wright is the team's second-leading scorer (14.4 ppg) and became the third straight Tar Heel player to be named the conference Rookie of the Year. Hansbrough won the honor last season and Marvin Williams captured the award in 2005.

North Carolina was 11-5 against ACC foes this season and won the tiebreaker with Virginia for the tournament's top seed. The Tar Heels are 36-11 as the No. 1 seed are are looking for their first tournament crown since 1998.

Florida State is showing signs of life after dropping five consecutive games from February 7-21. The Seminoles have won their last three contests, including Thursday's 67-66 victory over Clemson.

First-team all-conference choice Al Thornton, the league's top scorer, hit the go-ahead free throw with 1.5 seconds remaining and finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds for Florida State.

The Seminoles are 6-15 all-time in tournament play and look for just their fourth triumph in 20 encounters against the Tar Heels. North Carolina won this season's lone matchup, 84-58, on January 7.

The winner faces either Boston College or Miami on Saturday.