Tyler Hansbrough, the leading scorer in North Carolina basketball history, said it might “piss a lot of people off” but he’s rooting for Notre Dame in the NCAA tournament and would have no qualms pulling for Notre Dame against the Tar Heels.

Real family is thicker than basketball/alma mater family but it might have been nice had Hansbrough said he hated to do it or he would have conflicting feelings but he would have to cheer for his brother or something a tad gentler.

Granted Buck Williams who played at Maryland isn’t my brother but he invited me to sit behind the Maryland bench for a game against North Carolina. I cheered for North Carolina and I cheered for Buck. People must have thought I was schizophrenic but I hoped that Buck scored 40 and hauled in 20 rebounds … and that the Tar Heels won the game.

I frankly think it’s perfectly ok and understandable that Hansbrough would pull for his brother’s team though but if I were him, I would at least say that I hope the two teams don’t face each other because it would be difficult to watch.

Instead, Hansbrough said, “Notre Dame, I hope they win it all. I’m a UNC fan but my brother plays for Notre Dame so that’s who I’m going with this year.” When asked if he had any qualms rooting for Notre Dame if they come up against the Tar Heels, he said “No question I’m pulling for the Irish. It might piss a lot of people off but that’s the way it is.”