Off the cuff: Not only did Hansbrough break the all-time record for most free throws against Georgia Tech, he has a better free throw percentage than any of the other players in the top 10.
CBS evidently thought the game against Georgia Tech would be a blowout as they sent their C-list announcing team of Gus Johnson and Greg Anthony. Both seem like nice guys but Johnson screams too much and Anthony seems to have points he wants to make regardless of the action on the court.
Anthony just doesn't seem to always pay attention. For instance, when Ellington was inexplicably called for traveling on a collision play near mid-court, Anthony said that was the right call because the defender got both feet down. Huh? What does that have to do with anything? He evidently though it was a charge on Ellington (which would have been a better call since Ellington was in the air with one foot barely touching the floor when contact was made). Johnson gets lost sometimes too, once saying that Hansbrough "hits both free throws" when he only shot one after a made basket and later, after a similar play where the player scored and was fouled, he said he was going to the line "to shoot free throws." Last time I checked, you only get one free throw after a made basket.
After Ellington was fouled hard on a fastbreak with 5:23 to play and layed on the court for a couple of anxious minutes, UNC radio commentator Eric Montross said "the starters don't need to be in the game with a 25-point lead and five minutes to play." I understand the sentiment but I'm not sure I agree. Carolina needs to finish games better and putting in subs to play Georgia Tech starters, and probably losing half that margin, doesn't instill confidence and leave a good feeling going into the last week of the regular season.
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Tyler Hansbrough broke the NCAA record for career made free throws and scored a game-high 28 points as North Carolina rebounded from an overtime loss to Maryland to stomp Georgia Tech 104-74 in Chapel Hill. (2/28)
Hansbrough, who sank his 907th free throw early in the second half to pass Dickie Hemric, got off to a quick start, scoring 13 points in the first 12 minutes of the game. But it was during the last few minutes of the first half that the Tar Heels broke open a close game.
Carolina led just 30-28 with less than seven minutes to play in the half when the Heels went on a 13-0 run to go up 43-28. During that stretch, UNC's Bobby Frasor scored five of his nine points with an open three-point shot and a driving finger-tip roll layup.
Ahead by 13 at the half, 46-33, the Tar Heels came out smoking in the second half and the game was never closer. Two minutes in, Wayne Ellington hit a high-arching jumper to give the Tar Heels at 21-point margin at 56-35.
Up 62-41, the Heels scored eight points during a frantic minute and a half. After two Hansbrough free throws, Ty Lawson threw two quick fast break assists to Danny Green and then Green stole the ball in backcourt and drilled a 10-foot jumper to make it 70-41.
It never got closer than 21 after that and it got as high at 32 on a Frasor steal and layup with three minutes to play. The Heels shot 61 percent in the second half to finish at 54 percent for the game.
Green scored 23 points, which are the most he's scored in an ACC game, while Deon Thompson and Ellington finished with 10. Lawson only scored four but he did dish out a career-high 11 assists.
Carolina, which held a 45-31 rebounding edge, improves to 25-3 overall and 11-3 in the conference while Georgia Tech, led by Lewis Clinch's 22 points, falls to 10-17 and 1-13 in the league.
The Tar Heels, who hold a one-game lead in the ACC, finish out the regular season with games against Virginia Tech away and Duke at home.
