How "Sweet" it is...

The expression "the gloves came off" is now "the mask came off". And when it did, it spelled doom for Michigan State. Tyler Hansbrough, despite the still recovering broken nose, beat the Spartans at their own rough and tumble game Saturday night in Winston-Salem. His 33 points and 9 rebounds pushed the Heels to an 81-67 victory and into the Sweet 16.

Psycho T did have some help. Ty Lawson was spectacular. Feeding Hansbrough off dribble penetration, taking it to the rack himself or knocking down a three. Reyshawn Terry, whose status was up in the air due to illness even up until tipoff, was barely a blip on the radar until exploding late in the 2nd half to hammer the final nails in Michigan State's coffin.

Have to single out the defensive job Marcus Ginyard did on MSU's Drew Neitzel. Ginyard, Wes Miller and Lawson all took turns guarding him. Sure Neitzel shot lights out most of the way, en route to a 26 point night. He was nothing short of spectacular. But midway through the second half, Ginyard took the ball from him, it went back down the floor and Lawson drilled a three. The beginning of the end. Neitzel was worn down, the Heels superior depth finally doing him in.

The Heels are headed to the Meadowlands in New Jersey. How "Sweet" it is.

Jim C.