RALEIGH - When starting lineups are introduced at today's 5:15 p.m. NCAA Tournament game in the RBC Center, Arkansas will trot out 6-foot-10 seniors Darian Townes and Vincent Hunter.

Waiting to peel off their warmups will be two more tall senior reserves -- bearded 7-footer Steven Hill and 6-8 Charles Thomas.

The Hogs are hoping their height, might and experience will help them neutralize North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough and the Tar Heels' prowess in the paint.

It was about this time last March that Georgetown, with 7-2 Roy Hibbert, utilized its size to defuse UNC inside, forced the Heels to take outside shots, and knocked them out of the tournament.

Most nights that doesn't happen. Most nights Hansbrough and the top-seeded Heels are sovereign in the lane. But while some opponents flinch, Arkansas is more apt to flex its biceps.

"Tyler has faced quite a bit of this, but not four or five with big-time size," Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "I don't know if he has been guarded by that many. They have 6-10 guys who are long. He is going to have to make quicker decisions about throwing the ball back out."

Hansbrough, his arms scratched from a season of bumping and grinding, acknowledged the challenge Arkansas' big men might present, but with no trace of trepidation.

"Hill is a good shot blocker, and they have good defensive players," the National Player of the Year said, then added, "We've got to be ready to play."

Hansbrough is always ready. In Friday's 113-74 rout of Mount St. Mary's, sophomore forward Deon Thompson also regained his aim and game, scoring 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Reserve Alex Stepheson played big as well with 12 points and eight boards, supportive production UNC could use again tonight.

The Hogs, in an NCAA second-round game for the first time since 1999, are more amped up after bouncing Indiana 86-72 Friday.

"We will throw a lot of bodies at [Hansbrough], be physical and try not to foul him,'' Hill said of Arkansas' defensive plot. "[Of course], he has been double-teamed and triple-teamed all year."

Townes said a key is to keep Hansbrough off the offensive glass, match his intensity, "play harder than him" -- which is hard to do.

"I'm excited to see him [Townes] and Tyler go at it," said 6-6 forward Sonny Weems, who dropped 31 points on Indiana. "Darian shows up. I expect him to play his best game."

Townes, who weighs 251 pounds, averages 12.1 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Thomas contributes 9.2 points, and Hill, the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season, has a team-high 74 blocks. Hunter isn't a big scoring threat (2.9) but augments the defense with his reach and athleticism, another Arkansas staple.

The Hogs, like the Heels, like to run, and they try to disrupt opponents' rhythm with a mixture of defenses: man, zone, attacking and soft presses.

They know all about Carolina's talent and tendencies without even getting a scouting report.

"Everytime you turn the TV on, they're on ESPN," said Weems, hoping his Hogs play big tonight, big enough to earn time on SportsCenter.