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Georgetown, North Carolina to vie for Final Four berth

Mar 25, 2007 - 3:09 PM No. 2 Georgetown (27-6) at No. 1 No. Carolina (31-6) 5:05 pm EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The deciding factor in the East Region final of the NCAA Tournament likely will be a result of what the teams do not do well.

Top-seeded North Carolina squares off with second-seeded Georgetown on Sunday for the right to go to the Final Four.

Looking for an edge between the two teams? Look no further than underneath the basket for that are will probably determine which team advances to play top-seeded Ohio State in the Final Four next Saturday.

"It means that is going to be one physical tough game," Hoyas forward Jeff Green said. "You can't predict what is going to happen. It's going to be a tough matchup and it's going to come down to the wire. It's going to come down to who makes that last hustle play and gets that last rebound."

With 3-point shooting a season-long weakness for both squads, there will be an added emphasis on inside play - and the matchups are tantalizing.

Sophomore center Tyler Hansbrough, the team's leading scorer during the regular season, is the focal point of North Carolina's offense. He poured in 33 points in a second-round win over Michigan State but was limited to a season-low five in the Tar Heels' 74-64 victory over Southern California in the regional semifinal.

Freshman Brandan Wright, a 6-9 freshman, capably filled the void, scored 21 points, including 11 points in the final 12:18 as North Carolina (31-5) closed the game with a 41-15 spurt.

The problem for the Tar Heels is that Georgetown is equipped to deal with their inside muscle as well - if not better - than any opponent they've faced this season.

Big East Player of the Year Jeff Green, a 6-9 junior, and 7-2 center Roy Hibbert form a fearsome 1-2 punch for the Hoyas, who have won 18 of their last 19 contests.

Green was the hero of Friday's 66-65 victory over Vanderbilt, hitting the game-winning jumper with 2.5 seconds left despite two defenders draped all over him.

And Hibbert, oft-maligned for inconsistent play, has been anything but, registering three double-doubles in the tournament.

"I know he's a long player and he does a lot of different things, I have to be prepared," Hansbrough said of Hibbert. "He's a really good big man. It is going to be a challenge for me.

"I enjoy things like that but I'll be prepared for it. It is sometimes my style. I just like playing the game, and if it gets physical, so be it. I'm comfortable either way."

The Tar Heels have labored with their outside shooting, hitting just 32.5 percent (14-of-43) from 3-point range in the three tournament games. The Hoyas are a bit better at 37 percent (19-of-51), although they were 8-of-19 from the arc against Vandy.