Gonzaga Will Heel North Carolina

North Carolina has been established as the tournament favorite by the odds makers. But before we blaze a path for them into the Final Four (or even the Elite Eight), perhaps we should take a quick trip down memory lane.

The Tar Heels and the Bulldogs have a fairly interesting history together. One that people are drawing on when looking at Friday's game.

But memories can be a funny thing.

It seems like nearly every basketball fan in the world remembers Josh Heytvelt dominating Tyler Hansbrough in the 2006 preseason NIT. That's one of the top storylines heading into Gonzaga and North Carolina's Sweet 16 showdown. That story is a nice yarn, and certainly makes for some pretty decent copy. And hell, there are even some grains of truth in it. But the perception certainly isn't 100 percent reality.

Yes, Heytvelt did have a great game that night. A true breakout game on a national stage.

The then-sophomore scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four blocks. He was a force in Gonzaga's 82-74 win over No. 2 North Carolina. Hansbrough did struggle with only nine points and nine rebounds. But you have to give David Pendergraft and Abdullahi Kuso, who both graduated in 2007, some credit for that effort, too.

So to call it domination or at least imply any predictive value is a stretch. Heytvelt was awesome, but he wasn't the defensive stopper people seem to remember.

Besides, the two players have traveled different paths since that night. Hansbrough has gone on to all-world status, and has become the leading scorer in ACC history. Heytvelt has fought through an arrest, a stress fracture and has recently started to get back to the lofty heights he set back in November of 2006.

But what does that matter now? If you were hanging on Heytvelt's domination while filling out your office bracket, that might have been misguided. But don't worry, you may still survive.

Gonzaga can still surprise everyone.

While the hyped Heytvelt and Hansbrough duel will provide some excitement on Friday, there are some other myths surrounding the game that need to be stripped away. Once you do, Gonzaga's chances seem better.

Many critics of Gonzaga still view the Bulldogs as this weepy team from the Pacific Northwest that can't seem to win the big one. Demetri Goodson erased that notion with his mad dash and basket against Western Kentucky. And if you don't think that one basket can change the fortunes of a program, then Tyus Edney would like to have a word with you.

But Gonzaga doesn't play defense, playing as soft as a paper bag wilted in a Washington rain storm, right? Wrong. Gonzaga is holding opponents to only 37 percent shooting, one of the best marks in the country. You don't roll off 11 consecutive wins without playing a little bit of defense. Gonzaga is a better defensive team than you think.

But this is Carolina, right? They are invincible. Well, not really.

NCAA Tournament Action

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Wayne Ellington #22 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives against Garrett Temple #14 of the Louisiana State University Tigers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wayne Ellington;Garrett Temple

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: A Washington Huskies cheerleader performs during a break in the action against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Manny Harris #3 of the Michigan Wolverines jumps to the basket for a lay up against Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Harris

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Zack Novan #0 and Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for the loose ball with Blake Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Gibson;Zack Novak;Blake Griffin

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Willie Warren #13 of the Oklahoma Sooners makes contact as he goes to the basket with Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first hafl during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willie Warren

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners goes up for the short jump shot against DeShawn Sims #34 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Taylor Griffin;DeShawn Sims

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: JaJuan Johnson #25 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a shot over Jon Brockman #40 of the Washington Huskies in the second half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** JaJuan Johnson;Jon Brockman

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners and Zack Novak #0 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for position to the loose ball in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Novak;Taylor Griffin

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Head Coach Jeff Capel of the Michigan Wolverines yells from the sideline during their game against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Capel

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: Lewis Jackson #23 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a layup as Quincy Pondexter #20 of the Washington Huskies looks on during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lewis Jackson;Quincy Pondexter

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North Carolina's Ty Lawson will likely be less than 100 percent with a lingering turf toe-like condition. ESPN's talking heads like to say that 80 percent of Lawson is better than most point guards. And that's true. Just maybe not as true when going up against Jeremy Pargo. Lost in Heytvelt's performance two years ago, was Pargo reaching double figures.

Or Matthew Bouldin who scored 14 points and was outstanding as a freshman. Bouldin did a little bit of everything against Western Kentucky with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists. He's been unbelievable for Gonzaga.

Add Goodson, and Gonzaga certainly matches up very well with North Carolina. While Heytvelt vs. Hansbrough is the marquee matchup, this game will be decided by the guards. And this certainly shapes up as one that will come down to the wire. After watching Saturday's miracle, the Bulldogs seem to have something on their side.

The reality? Gonzaga will win this game, though if you're looking at Heytvelt and Hansbrough for reasons why, you might be looking in the wrong spot.