Nov 26, 2008 - 9:11 AM
1 shoutNorth Carolina (4-0) vs. No. 8 Notre Dame (3-0) 9:30 pm. EST
LAHAINA, Hawaii (Ticker) -- Health permitting, Tyler Hansbrough will look to lead top-ranked North Carolina to a third title in Maui.
Hansbrough's availability will once again be a game-time decision on Wednesday when the Tar Heels face No. 8 Notre Dame in the championship game of the Maui Invitational.
The reigning National Player of the Year, Hansbrough scored 16 points in 19 minutes in Tuesday's 98-69 win over Oregon in the semifinals.
He showed no signs of being slowed by the stress reaction in his right shin that caused him to miss two games for the first time in his collegiate career, or the ankle injury he suffered in a win over Santa Barbara on Friday that forced him to miss the opening round win over Chaminade.
Still, it is not a sure thing that he will be on the court for this one. Coach Roy Williams said the decision will be made during warmups.
The Tar Heels have had success here in the past, having won this tournament in 1999 and 2004.
They face their first real test of the season against Luke Harangody's Fighting Irish. Harangody scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 81-80 win over No. 7 Texas on Tuesday.
The reigning Big East Player of the Year, Harangody was nearly the goat, as he missed two free throws with 3.5 seconds left, but A.J. Abrams' desperation heave was off the mark.
From the Bleachers
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NOTRE DAME: 87
NORTH CAROLINA: 102
Final
Nov 27 12:02 AM -
NOTRE DAME: 36
NORTH CAROLINA: 46
Halftime
Nov 26 10:53 PM -
Notre Dame(8) 0, North Carolina(1) 0 1st Half - 19:55
RUWTbot
Added 59 roots (Ranked Teams)
Nov 26 10:10 PM -
