Bodog Beat

Nobody is expecting the Radford Highlanders to beat the North Carolina Tar Heels (26-point favorites) but they may put up a fight. (AI Wire Images)

Tyler Hansbrough is the defending Naismith Award winner, the soon-to-be leading career scorer in ACC history and the most recognizable face in all of college basketball. Radford center Artsiom Parakhouski is virtually unknown outside his own campus.

But Parakhouski, a 6-foot-11 junior from Belarus, is averaging a double-double, something that has eluded Hansbrough this season. Radford’s chances of staying competitive depend on how Parakhouski fares in his matchup with Hansbrough.

The Highlanders have won 17 of their past 19 games, earning a tournament spot thanks to their solid defense. If a major-conference foe prefers to grind it out, Radford could make it interesting for a while because of its size.

Ty Lawson’s troublesome toe could keep the speedy point guard sidelined for the opener. Get your NCAA basketball betting in the Bodog Sportsbook.