Wayne Ellington News

Four-time All-America Tyler Hansbrough is gone, as are Ty Lawson, last season's ACC Player of the Year, and Wayne Ellington, the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player last spring.

The defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels open the 2009-10 campaign against the Florida International Golden Panthers and new head coach Isiah Thomas in a Coaches vs.

The first coming of Larry Drew II hardly stirred any Roman Colosseum dust. He was a bit player on the largest stage, a point-guard understudy to the maddeningly unique Ty Lawson.

The jerseys of Donald Williams and Wayne Ellington will be added to the rafters.

Each week I'll talk about the sport I love, college basketball: &#8226 What does it say when North Carolina loses key players like Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson and Danny Green and still gets picked co-favorite in the ACC by the media.

MARCH 16: Trevor Booker #35 of the Clemson Tigers reacts in the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the final of the 2008 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Bobcats Arena on March 16, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

For the past four years, Roy Williams had the security of knowing Tyler Hansbrough would be there to take a big shot or grab the rebound that would start North Carolina's transition attack.

" The last time Marcus Ginyard suited up in a North Carolina uniform, the senior wing was a hobbled and heavy shell of himself against Boston College last January.

Speculation about North Carolina reserves Ed Davis and Larry Drew II began as soon as the Tar Heels cut down the nets as champions of the NCAA tournament at Ford Field in Detroit.

Dreams usually end in fairly tales when the clock strikes midnight. In college basketball, they begin.

Roy Williams can't escape Dean Smith's presence. The legend's name is on the building.

As a reminder, incoming freshmen have been excluded from this series. - Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Big Ten, Part One , Part Two , Part Three - Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Big 12, Part One , Part Two , Part Three - Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Pac-10 Part One , Part Two - Top NBA Draft Prospects in the SEC Part One , Part Two , Part Three , ...

North Carolina lost a lot of talent from the team that won last season's national championship, from a four-year star who was the program's all-time leading scorer and rebounder to a couple of underclassmen-turned-NBA rookies.

One Fantastic Ride, the behind-the-scenes portrait of the unforgettable journey to the 2009 basketball national championship has finally become available for Tar Heel fans.

Carolina returns eight lettermen to defend its 2009 NCAA championship. Oct. 11, 2009 by Steve Kirschner, Associate Athletic Director for Communications Carolina Basketball blends a little bit of new and old as the Tar Heels play their 100th season, this time as the defending national champions.

In anticipation of the publication of "One Fantastic Ride" on October 16, UNC Press is pleased to give Inside Carolina readers an exclusive sneak peek into the book.

Clemson will have a solid gauge on this year when Oliver Purnell and the Tigers travel to California for the 76 Classic.

North Carolina transfer Alex Stepheson insists he never got caught up in what might have been as he watched his former team win the national championship.

Marcus Ginyard is healthy again, and he's working on a new dimension to his game.

" The former greats of Tar Heel lore descended upon the Smith Center on Friday night as North Carolina tipped off its centennial season of basketball in star-studded fashion with the school's Pro Alumni Game.