As every year, analysts asked the question – which No. 1 seed would fall flat and be knocked out first?

While the conversation was going on, North Carolina was never part of it. And there was good reason why analysts didn’t include the Tar Heels.

The No. 1 team in the country has won by 10 or more points in each game this tournament. Add this to forward Tyler Hansbrough, the East Regional Most Outstanding Player, and it’s easy to see how UNC has been able to roll with ease into the Final Four.

Hansbrough, a national player of the year candidate, kept his consistency from the regular season going in UNC’s first four games, nearly averaging a double–double with 21 points an 9.5 rebounds per game.

Toss in Ty Lawson’s 15.8 points per game and Wayne Ellington’s 15.5 points per game and Roy Williams has to think his team is sitting pretty.

But in the end, Hansbrough will be the intangible that will put UNC over the top. Neither of the other Final Four teams arguably has a player with the intensity and pure ability of Hansbrough. If the rest of his team plays half as well as he does, pencil in UNC as your national champions.

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