Zeller is UNC's backbone

NEWARK, N.J. -- North Carolina forward Tyler Zeller knows he's likely going to be pushed, pulled, swatted, scratched and bruised when his second-seeded team faces No. 4 seed Kentucky in the East Regional final today.

But he just shrugs.

"My body's used it," he said, grinning.

So much for that "injury-prone" label.

After two seasons of battling bad breaks, the 7-foot junior is not only healthy (albeit sore) - he's one of a key reasons the ever-improving Tar Heels (29-7) have a chance to reach the Final Four. Tip-off against the Wildcats (28-8) is scheduled for 4:55 p.m. (WRAL, WNCT) at the Prudential Center.

"He's the backbone of this team," Tar Heels sophomore guard Leslie McDonald said. "He takes the hits, he endures it, and he makes big plays. And that's been important."

Especially during the postseason, when Zeller has made his biggest plays of all. During the ACC tournament, he followed a game-winning layup against Miami with another last-second shot to force overtime (then an eventual win) against Clemson.

And in three NCAA games, he is averaging 27.3 points; his 82-point output is the most for a UNC player in three consecutive NCAA tournament games since Charlie Scott recorded 83 points in 1969.

"It's one of those things that I didn't think I could score than much in three consecutive games; I thought maybe one or two," Zeller said. "... I think my coaches sometimes have actually had more confidence in me than I've had in myself."

It's hard to imagine the modest first-team Academic All-America ever lacking any confidence in his abilities; after all, he was a McDonald's All-American, and UNC coach Roy Williams called him "one of the most confident [players] that I've ever seen" at Washington (Ind.) High, where he won two state titles.

But up until his senior high school season, when he averaged 33.1 points and 11 rebounds, Zeller said considered himself more of a role player than a standout.

That appeared to carry over when he reached Chapel Hill - especially after he missed 23 games as a freshman during UNC's national championship season in 2008-09 because of a broken left wrist, then 10 games last season because of a stress fracture in his right foot.

Out to prove that he was healthy - key, because UNC boasted only three players 6 feet 9 or taller - Zeller began the season solidly, scoring 20 points or more in twice in his first seven games. His turning point, though, came Dec. 4 against Kentucky, when he scored 27 points, including 12 of his team's final 16, to secure a 75-73 victory.

"It was a game we needed," Williams said, referring to the fact that the team was 4-3 at the time. "...And that was probably the foundation of his confidence."

Still, Zeller's growth spurt into a second-team All-ACC selection didn't come in any big wave, but in ripples.

Often caught too far away from the basket with the ball early-on, the decision to insert freshman point guard Kendall Marshall into the starting lineup in January had an immediate effect on Zeller. All of a sudden, he started getting the ball more consistently the spots where he wanted it, and his jump hook connected. And he built from there.

Tentative on the block early-on, Zeller then became more persistent in holding his ground against opposing big boys - something he'll be called upon to do again, against Kentucky forwards Terrence Jones and Josh Harrellson tonight.

"Zeller is a 7-footer so I have to just try to play big," said the 6-10 Harrellson, who has scored in double figures in five of his last six games. "Like keep my hands high without fouling, keep him away from the basket, make it hard catches, don't let him get easy looks. I am just going to have to contain him as best as I can."

If he can - especially with 6-10 Tar Heels John Henson on the other block.

Zeller said he has stayed healthy by resting his body on his off days. Still, on Saturday, he couldn't count the number of bruises he currently sports, although they're more like badges - because they contributed to victories.

"I'm used to it at this point and time, and that's my role," he said. "I get pretty sore, but I can take it."