Hansbrough breaks ACC scoring mark as Heels roll by Radford, 101-58

North Carolina

Hansbrough breaks ACC scoring mark as Heels roll by Radford, 101-58

By Jake Lloyd

Mar 20, 2009

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Greensboro, N.C. — In a four-year college career that’s gone about as well as he could have hoped — minus winning a national title — it was only right that Tyler Hansbrough clinched arguably his greatest individual accomplishment at the place that’s defined him.

The free-throw line.

No player in NCAA history has made more free throws, and now no player in the ACC’s 56-year history has scored more points.

That came to fruition during No. 1 seed North Carolina’s 101-58 win over Radford when Hansbrough stepped to the line with 15 minutes, 43 seconds remaining in the first half and went through his normal routine.

Everything was the same — the release, the arc and the final result — except for the thousands of cameras that flashed as Hansbrough scored his 2,770th career point.

After the ball dropped through the net, the large contingent of UNC fans inside the Greensboro Coliseum rose as one to give their beloved big man a standing ovation. They were very aware that he had just broken the career scoring record of Duke’s J.J. Redick.

And in the subtlest of ways, Hansbrough acknowledged the sky blue-clad supporters while routinely slapping Deon Thompson’s hand and then settling in to make his second attempt.

“I wanted to make my free throws, and I saw the crowd get up and started chanting,” Hansbrough said. “There was a moment (that I) kind of (kept) to myself … I was just thinking what an honor to break this record.

“I would have waited, but I didn’t want to break up my free-throw routine.”

The Tar Heels now play LSU Saturday in the second round at 5:45 p.m. on WRAL.

The record was typical Hansbrough — always business, all the time. And while his teammates would have loved to see him break the record at the Smith Center, the coliseum an hour’s drive from Chapel Hill wasn’t a bad substitute.

He did it, of course, in his own, unique way, causing long-time teammate Bobby Frasor to crack a joke.

“That’s typical Tyler Hansbrough there, living at the free-throw line, getting fouled and that’s the way he scores,” Frasor said afterward.

Appropriately enough, it was the type of game in which Hansbrough flourishes. Against a respectable Radford front line, he banged and jostled his way to 22 workmanlike points despite shooting just 5-for-16.

That’s because the 81.4-percent free-throw shooter made all 12 of his attempts, including the record-breaking one, to help give him 2,789 career points.

On that play, Hansbrough was fouled hard by Phillip Martin, who got a piece of both of Hansbrough’s arms as he attempted to go up for his usual half-hook shot in the lane.

It marked one of many times throughout the game when Hansbrough received the brunt of the contact from Radford defenders. After one particularly hard foul, he scowled as he waited for play to resume.

And his coach noticed how physical the lopsided game became.

“I think there were a couple of really hard fouls,” Roy Williams said. “You know Tyler. It’s been a physical game played against him every year — none more so than this year.

“I think he’s been playing at a more physical state than any player I’ve ever coached.”

It was a performance that he has repeated countless times over the past four years.

“Just watching him, how hard he works and how consistent he is, you know it’s tough to be as consistent as he is night in and night out,” said Wayne Ellington, who led the Tar Heels with 25 points.

“You basically know that he’s going to give you 20 (points) or maybe 10 (rebounds) every game.”

The Tar Heels won easily without ACC player of the year Ty Lawson, and they probably could have won without Hansbrough as well.

But without the fast-breaking Lawson, their top big man set the tone from the start — letting the Highlanders know that North Carolina might have to play more in the half court, but it would attack, attack, attack on both ends.

And, sure enough, the Tar Heels held a 54-22 advantage in points in the paint and held Radford’s top scorer Artsiom Parakhouski (16.3 ppg) to 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting.

“For us big guys, we just wanted to come out there from the start and set a tone defensively,” Hansbrough said.

But an otherwise forgettable blowout will be remembered for one moment early in the first half, one more made free throw by a guy who’s hit 953 of them — and, coincidentally, had the best NCAA Tournament performance at the free-throw line for a Tar Heel on the same day.

Hansbrough said he intends to give the game ball to the Carolina Basketball Museum, where it will share space with all the other mementos from the program’s storied history.

As for the moment, he’ll never forget it. He let out a long sigh after the game and exhaled. Another accomplishment was in the books. And, he and his teammates hope, a lot of basketball remains in Tyler Hansbrough’s accomplished career.

“It is great to get it over with,” Hansbrough said. “I’m just glad I don’t have to talk about it forever and have to think about and listen to everybody that’s got their little point tracker or whatever.

“I’m honored to get it. I’m ready to move forward.”

Most Recent Comments

RE: Hansbrough breaks ACC scoring mark as Heels roll by Radford, 101-58

Congrats Psyco T!!!! I love him!!!!

RE: Hansbrough breaks ACC scoring mark as Heels roll by Radford, 101-58

I hear certain people trying to discredit Hansbroughs accomplishments by saying he goes to the line alot, other players did not play four years, etc. Who cares!!! The record books will show that Hansbrough is the leading scorer in UNC & ACC history and I don't care if he did it in the paint, behind the arc, or at the line. The best player in ACC history is an opinion but the #1 scorer in ACC history is not at this time. For those individuals who hate Hansbrough, or Redick for that matter, get rid of the agendas because both did great things and the truth is, nobody cares what stupid/hater fans have to say. Later

RE: Hansbrough breaks ACC scoring mark as Heels roll by Radford, 101-58

Somewhere, J.J.'s crying...

Actually... I heard JJ called to congratulate him. Now that's class...

RE: Hansbrough breaks ACC scoring mark as Heels roll by Radford, 101-58

Ncguy is a moron. That "invisible circle of space" he refers to is between his ears. I thought that was obvious from his posts.

RE: Hansbrough breaks ACC scoring mark as Heels roll by Radford, 101-58

Hope your Deac can pull one out too. I hope Teague shows up and plays the type of game he is can.

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