North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough, who could be taken as early as 11th in the NBA draft Thursday night, said he debated whether to accept the invitation to sit in the Green Room at Madison Square Garden.

"But it's always been a dream of mine to be there and shake Mr. Stern's hand,” Hansbrough said during a phone interview Tuesday.

DETROIT — Before Saturday's game, coach Roy Williams showed North Carolina tape of an incredible, diving hustle play on a loose ball made by Villanova forward Dwayne Anderson against UCLA.

Williams told the Tar Heels that they needed to make those kind of plays to win in the Final Four. The unlikely source of some of those plays in an 83-69 NCAA semifinal defeat of Villanova on Saturday night was senior guard Bobby Frasor.

GREENSBORO — Senior Bobby Frasor, who started both ACC tournament games in Ty Lawson's place, is staring UNC's first round game against Radford.

Lawson, who is in uniform and went through some light shooting drills during warmups, has been sidelined with a jammed right big toe since March 8, when he played 36 minutes against Duke. The injury occurred on March 6.

Asked if Lawson was definitely out for the game, a team spokesman said at the 16-minute timeout in the first half: "It's not 100 percent, same as yesterday."

ATLANTA — There's no doubt North Carolina will miss ACC Player of the Year Ty Lawson if he has to sit out today's quarterfinal match-up with Florida State.

But it could also give Tar Heel fans an opportunity to appreciate its past, and anticipate its future.

The past is senior Bobby Frasor, the oft-injured shooting guard who started his career as UNC's ballhandler. As a freshman in 2005-06, he surprised many with his steady stats (6.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 136 assists), and didn't give up his starting job for good until he had to sit out with a foot injury his sophomore season.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland coach Gary Williams recorded his 19th victory over a top-5 opponent via Saturday’s 88-85 overtime victory against No. 3 UNC.

Five have come against Roy Williams — two at Kansas, three at North Carolina. According to Patrick Stevens’ Washington Times blog, that means Ol’ Roy has almost caught Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has lost to Gary-coached Maryland when the Blue Devils were ranked in the top 5.

More notes:

DURHAM — It wasn’t surprising how many times the players slipped during North Carolina's 101-87 victory over Duke on Wednesday night, considering how hot it was at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The balmy daytime temperatures, combined with the tight confines and yelling fans led to some wet conditions on the court.

"We could wring our jerseys out … there was so much water," said reserve guard Bobby Frasor, whose team has now won eight straight games. "It was hot and balmy, but a fun place to play."

CHAPEL HILL — There's little doubt that North Carolina big man Tyler Hansbrough will set the school record for career points Thursday night. After all, he needs only nine to pass Phil Ford, currently atop the list at 2,290, and the senior has only posted six single-digit games in his career.

But how will he do it?

Shooting guard Wayne Ellington figures it will occur on a layup. Forward Danny Green predicts a three-point play.

LAHAINA, Hawaii — North Carolina coach Roy Williams praised guard Bobby Frasor's defense after the Tar Heels blew out Chaminade on Monday night.

But one of the loudest roars of the first-round Maui Invitational came because of the his offense.

With 6:28 left, Frasor — who was 2-for-18 shooting this season at that point — finally swished a three-pointer.

LAHAINA, Hawaii — Thoughts on the Maui Invitational, hours before UNC's opening game:

• If Tyler Hansbrough doesn't play against Chaminade tonight (this afternoon here), and he probably won't, it's not because of his "tweaked" ankle, sustained in yesterday's practice.

LAHAINA, Hawaii — Just down the beach from North Carolina’s team hotel rises “Black Rock,” a 40-foot ledge of hardened ebony lava that draws plenty of recreational cliff divers, particularly at sunset.

Considering Tyler Hansbrough and Bobby Frasor’s history of taking plunges — remember the pictures from last summer, showing them diving from the second floor of a frat house into an above ground pool? — of course they won’t be able to resist.