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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — When you see Tyler Hansbrough off the basketball court, he looks like he would help your grandmother carry her groceries. He seems shy and quiet in interviews.

When he's on the court, however, "Psycho T" (nicknamed for his intensity) becomes arguably the most passionate and driven big man in college basketball.

The North Carolina forward from Poplar Bluff, Mo., became an All-American last season with athletic play and scoring ability in the post. Now he's the concern of the University of Dayton men's basketball team, here today facing the No. 2 Tar Heels, its second top-seven opponent in nine days.

"If you look at big guys in college basketball, he's one of the top two or three," said Dayton coach Brian Gregory. "One of the things that separates him from other players is just the intensity level that he plays at all the time. He's one of the few big guys that you see that plays hard every possession, offensively and defensively."

That passion has led to success. Hansbrough, now a 6-foot-9, 245-pound sophomore, was second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring last season (18.9 per game) and sixth in rebounding (7.8).

This season, he has scored in double-figures in 10 of North Carolina's 12 games, posting three double-doubles. Against Ohio State, one of the country's most-anticipated early matchups, Hansbrough had 21 points and 14 rebounds.

That's what "Psycho T" can do.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Today's game

Who: UD (10-2) at North Carolina (11-1)

When: 3 p.m.

TV: Fox Sports Ohio

Hansbrough this year

Opponent —— Reb — Pts

Sacred Heart —— 9 — 29

Winthrop ——— 10 — 20

Gardner-Webb — 7 — 18

Gonzaga ———- 9 —- 9

Tennessee ——- 9 — 27

Ohio State ——- 14 — 21

Kentucky ———- 3 —- 7

High Point ——— 5 — 24

UNC Asheville —- 7 — 15

Florida Atlantic — 3 — 20

Saint Louis ——- 13 — 15

Rutgers ———— 7 — 13

Averages —- 8.0 — 18.2