Related Links: GameCenter North Carolina slams door on Tennessee March Mayhem Central Sweet 16 breakdown Complete March Mayhem coverage Elite Eight team reports and analyses Video: NCAA Tournament highlights Audio: UNC coach Bill Guthridge knew his team could play this well in the tournament Real | Windows Media Check out all the brackets Forum: Will North Carolina reach the Final Four?
	T O P   N E W S

As Haywood exited, the prevailing thought was that the Tar Heels season was sure to follow.

But after losing the player who had carried them to the Sweet 16, the Tar Heels decided to return the favor. With their big man on the bench, Carolina fought its way back from a seven-point deficit to defeat Tennessee 74-69 and advance to the Elite Eight.

"I gambled with Brendan in there," Carolina coach Bill Guthridge said, "and I did have a substitute coming in there. I was trying to do as much offense/defense (substitution) as I could but that backfired. The team bailed us out with tremendous plays."

Said Haywood: "I was basically just out there rooting my teammates. I was hoping they would do it so I could play on Sunday."

As the tallest cheerleader in Carolina history on the sideline shouted encouragement, the Tar Heels relied on their senior leader and turned up the pressure defensively. With the exception of a desperation 3-pointer in the waning moments and a game-ending layup, Tennessee was held to four points over the last 4:30 of the contest. What was a two-point lead upon Haywood's exit, mushroomed to a six-point deficit.

North Carolina switched from its man-to-man defense and packed everyone around the basket to offset Tennessee's newfound size advantage. The Vols were forced to take perimeter shots and failed to take advantage of Haywood's absence on either end.

"I thought we helped them make up a lot of ground by shooting the basketball so poorly, 38 percent, and I'm sure North Carolina had a lot to do with that," Tennessee coach Jerry Green said. "The last four-and-a-half minutes we forced shots, we didn't move against their zone. Their zone was very good."

While the Vols were struggling to put points up, Carolina's offense didn't lose much despite its leading scorer and most-dominating presence on the bench. Senior point guard Ed Cota took on most of the offensive burden.

"Once Haywood fouled out, I just told everybody they needed to step up," Cota said. "I didn't want this to be his last game. I knew we still had a chance to win this game.

"I was just out there trying to control the game. I was trying to get everybody involved and just trying to have patience out there. I knew my time was going to come. It got down to the wire and I made some big plays."

Cota scored six of his 11 points during the final three minutes. His jumper in the lane tied the game at 64 with 3:00 left. On the next trip Cota gave the Tar Heels their first lead since midway through the first half -- an advantage North Carolina wouldn't relinquish.

"He did a great job. He's a true point guard," Tennessee's C.J. Black said. "He's very hard to guard. He knows when to shoot and when to pass. He really knows when to set up the offense. He did a great job of penetrating and getting into the lane.

Brendan Haywood of North Carolina pops in two of his 11 points for the Tar Heels.(AP)

"You have to respect his 10-15 foot jumper. It's a nice little floater that gets over big men. He's just a real smart player. You have to have real good point guards like that to advance."

The victory over the Volunteers is just as improbable as North Carolina's run in the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels were able to overcome a talented Tennessee team without the services of their star player. Carolina lost four of its last six games heading into the Tournament but has run off three consecutive victories, including an upset of No. 1 seed Stanford.

"We were trying to set everything up," quipped Guthridge about his team's turnaround.

Who's to argue? The Tar Heels have beaten the odds by making it this far. And now it looks like they'll reach the Final Four with a matchup against underdog Tulsa looming on Sunday.

They've managed to flip the switch at the most opportune time.

And, they've outlasted Duke. Strange as it might seem, the North Carolina Tar Heels are the only ACC team left in the NCAA Tournament.

"We weren't going to be the team to let that tradition die," Carolina forward Jason Capel said. "Hopefully, we will go on to carry the banner for the ACC in the Final Four."

The improbable journey continues.