Live Blog: Next Stop for UNC is Elite 8

9:27p.m. Dominant!  Got it right this time.  Heels win it by 21, 68-47, very impressive performance especially defensively.  Next up Louisville or Tennessee, but it might not matter if the Heels keep playing at this level.  Good night and drive home safely!

9:24p.m. They are clearing the bench.  This one came much easier than 2005.  It was the round of 16 where Villanova felt like they had one stolen from them in a one-point loss to the Heels. 

9:22p.m. Big time Onions!  I love Bill Rafferty, the man is pure entertainment.  WVU ties Xavier w/12 seconds left but unable to finish the three point play.  Headed to OT, while UNC is headed to the Sweet 16. 

9:15p.m. WSU had a good defense game plan early, but never had any juice offensively to take advantage of UNC's slow start on offense.  North Carolina has been flat out dominate in their first three games of this tournament.  I thought Florida was really dominate last year, but this has been more impressive. 

9:10p.m. Despite a rough start Hansbrough now has 14 for the game.  Great block defensively on Cowgil then runs the floor and finishes in traffic.  Its said a lot about him but so true Tyler Hansbrough doesn't take a possession off. 

9:04p.m. WSU did a nice job early on Hansbrough and Ellington struggled ealry, yet they were down.  Why?  Danny Green was fantastic off the bench and Deon Thompson was solid finishing when the opportunity arose.  Then Ellington got going and Lawson hit a big one before half.  Second half has seen Hansbrough get going plus more Lawson, Green, and Ellington and the bonus of Stephenson.  Just too much talent for WSU to compete. 

8:57p.m. Is it too early for the FAB 5?  55-32 w/9:54 left, its all Tar Heels.

8:52p.m. Wow, Stephenson scores too!  Impressive game by the #1 overall seed now up 19 with an and one opportunity for the big man from CA. 

8:49p.m. Stephenson is very actively defensively in the second half.  If he and Thompson continue to play at this level, the Tar Heels will be really, really, tough to beat. 

 8:44p.m. 14:41 Heels up 41-26 and Psycho T has  6pts in the half.  Jay Bilas (CBS) keeps mentioning how well the Heels are defending not giving WSU anything easy.  It has been the catalyst in the game so far as UNC appears to be headed to the Elite 8. 

8:38p.m.  Hansbrough's first FG @ 17:46 and then his second at 17:17ish.  Heels up by 16. 

8:35p.m. What's up with the delay?  Is it the Super Bowl halftime show in Charlotte? 

8:15p.m. Ty Lawson hits a baseline 3 at the buzzer and the Heels lead 35-21 over WSU. 

8:10p.m. Hansbrough on the board at 1:17 after he hits a pair of free throws, Heels up 30-20 @1:17.

8:04p.m. WSU's leading scorer Derek Low finally is on the board with a 3, but Ellington answers and the Heels have opened it up to 27-18 with 2:42.  Hansbrough scoreless, but Danny Green has 10 off the bench. 

 8:01p.m. 5:27 Deon Thompson out with his second foul.  He has been effective offensively, let's see if Stephenson can pick up the slack or if Hansbrough can get it going.  He's 0-4 and missed 2 FTs and has 3 TOs. 

7:59p.m. Timeout Tony Bennett as the Heels open the lead to 19-14 their largest with 5:42 to go in the first half.  The WSU coach is determined to keep the Tar Heels from getting into any flow offensively.  Positive to see Ellington finally knock down a jumper. 

 7:56p.m. Besides Green and Thompson the rest of the Heels are just 1-11.

7:53 p.m. Deon Thompson is shooting with confidence, hits a nice turn around with the kiss of the glass.  UNC 17-14 w/7:17 in the half.  The game is definitely playing to  Washington State's tempo to this point. 

 7:49p.m. Danny Green has come off the bench and scored 7 of the teams 15pts.  Heels up 15-12 @9:10.

7:44p.m. 10-10 @11:56 and Tyler Hansbrough is on the bench scoreless.  The Heels rebounding has saved them so far as they continue to struggle shooting just 4-13, 30%.  8-4 Edge Heels in rebounding though.

 7:39p.m. Roy Williams going to his bench for the first time, Stephenson for Thompson, Green for Ellington. 

7:35p.m. At the first tv timeout Washington State has to be happy with the score being just 6-4 @15:57 mark.  However the Heels have been getting quality shots just not making them.  Hansbrough has missed 3 from point blank range, give Baynes length some credit. 

7:32p.m.  Washington State is a poor rebounding team and its shown early, but fortunatley for them the Heels are cold early.  6-4 UNC w/Deon Thompson with 4 of the 6. 

 7:27p.m. I made it in time from the studio to the house without getting a ticket.  First impression where are all the fans who bough tickets behind the Washington State bench?

 6:00p.m. I had to pass on Barry Manilow tickets to do this blog tonight.  Somehow we had lots of extras around the office. 

5:02p.m. About 2 1/2 hours until tip-off.  ESPN.COM's Pat Forde last hour says he thinks the Tar Heels are San Antonio bound and has picked them to win it all. 

 2:58p.m. About to start The Insiders we will be talking lots of UNC/Wash State.  ESPN.COM's Pat Forde will be joining us talking about the game and the other matchups.  Plus our ACC Insider here at 99.9FM The Fan, Dave Nathan will be joining us live from Charlotte @520p.m.  Also talking with Canes Defenseman Brett Hedican at 320p.m. and Torry Holt of the Rams @ 5p.m.