“Tyler Hansbrough has always been known for his points and rebounds, but on Thanksgiving Day in Maui, North Carolina’s All-American forward came through with a timely assist.

After winning this week’s Maui Invitational, the top-ranked Tar Heels were set to begin a long trek back to Chapel Hill, N.C., when their travel plans hit a snag. As American Airlines Flight No. 6 backed away from the gate, a passenger in seat 25C was discovered unconscious.

When attempts to wake him failed, a flight attendant yelled for assistance from some “big, strong basketball players.” Within seconds, Hansbrough had sprung from his seat six rows up and rushed to the man’s side.

Hansbrough, teammate Deon Thompson and video coordinator Eric Hoots then lifted 45-year-old Melvin Ridley into the air. Holding him chest-high, they carried him to the galley, where paramedics rendered aid for nearly 30 minutes.

Once Ridley became responsive, he was removed from the plane and transported to a nearby hospital.

“It was a scary situation,” North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams said, “but I was proud to see how our guys responded. I’m sure there are some people who saw that and thought, ‘Those are some really good kids on the North Carolina basketball team.’”

Lester Banks, Ridley’s cousin, said Ridley was diabetic and that he had a history of heart problems. Banks said Friday morning that doctors in Maui ran a battery of tests on Ridley and determined that he had a seizure. He was scheduled to be released later today and has been cleared to take the next flight home, Banks said. Ridley lives in Silsbee, Texas.

“It’s a blessing that all of this happened before the plane left the ground,” Banks said. “If this had happened up in the air … who knows how it would’ve turned out.

“I wasn’t able to tell those players how much I appreciated their help. We’re going to do everything we can to get in touch with them and to let them know how much (their actions) meant to us. They were class acts.””

Let’s see you top that Duke!

Post from: EveryJoe

Is there anything Tyler Hansbrough and the Tar Heels can’t do?

Number one North Carolina verses eighth ranked Notre Dame in the finals of the Maui Invitational tonight.

This game features not one, but two Preseason All-Americans. North Carolina’s Tyler “Don’t Call Me Joe Wolf” Hansbrough and Notre Dame’s Luke “Don’t Call Me Joe Wolf Either” Harangody.

The Tar Heels are seeking their third title on the island. Notre Dame will try to give it’s fans a reason to forget that the football team is a 30 point underdog against USC this weekend.

North Carolina got to the finals by blowing out Pacific-10 “power” Oregon 98-69. Hansbrough score 16 in just his second game of the season.

Blah, blah, blah. North Carolina being North Carolina.

But did you see how those Fighting Irish got there?

Harangody scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a close 81-80 win against sixth-ranked Texas last night.

This may actually be a competitive game.

Game time is 7 p.m. Pacific Time. (I’m tired of everyone always using Eastern Time first).

Post from: EveryJoe

Game of the Week: North Carolina vs. Notre Dame in Maui Final

Teams participating include Alabama, Chaminade (host), Indiana, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Oregon, Saint Joseph’s, Texas.

ESPN2 is currently showing the Texas vs. St. Joseph’s game, and will have Indiana vs. Notre Dame in about an hour.

Later today North Carolina plays Chaminade and Oregon plays Alabama.

Here’s the remaining schedule.

Nov. 25 Semifinal No. 1 (ESPN, 7 ET)
Semifinal No. 2 (ESPN, 9:30 ET)

Nov. 26 Championship Game (ESPN, 10 ET)
Consolation Game (ESPN2, 4:30 ET)

Post from: EveryJoe

Maui Invitational Starts Today

And we all thought Favre was starved for some flash.

This year’s Maui Invitational features three of the top teams in the country.

Don’t take this the wrong way, but if Chaminade upsets the Tar Heels, credit is mine.

But for all this poppycock, there does come a sensible explanation…

Notre Dame over UNC in the final of the Maui Invitational.

Little value will should be placed on this early tourney set in a hot, sticky, high school like gym.

But because of the admiration for the Heels, the tourney will be over analyzed, whatever the outcome.

So if UNC wins, expect the Tar Heel loving frenziness to grow, but if not, still watch the media overtly smooch some UNC butt.

I’m still working on that sensible explanation.

Post from: EveryJoe

Chaminade over UNC…?