The Sweet 16: Preview

Build Up: The question is, can anyone stop Tyler Hansbrough and UNC(34-2)? That's still to be seen. What can be said for certain is Washington St. is not Mount St. Marys or Arkansas, UNC's first two opponents. Washington State has been just as impressive as UNC if you consider the competition each has had to face. UNC demolished the likes of MSM and ARK by an average of 35 points, to nobodies surprise. Those two squads never had a chance against a superbly gifted basketball team like UNC. Washington St. on the other hand had to play two very tough teams in Winthrop who had won their conference three years straight and a Notre Dame team that was about as popular a pick to beat UNC as anyone out there. Washington St. dismantled Winthrop 71-40, a game which was tied at halftime. Even more impressive, Washington St. routed UND by 20 points, a statement game to say the least for the Cougars (26-8). The key for Washington St. was their smothering defense which shut down the high powered Irish offense all night. So can the Cougars have a repeat performance against UNC? They better hope so because if not they're in for a long night. Washington St., who is led by great guard play will have to match up against one of the most gifted guards in America in Ty Lawson. Tyler Hansbrough is going to get his. Washington State will need to make sure that "his" doesnt end up being 30 and 15. It should be a great battle.