by Lacy J. Banks, The Chicago Sun-Times , Chicago Sun Times

That's because Frasor is planning to attend the wedding of his cousin Jason Frasor, a Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher, at 5 p.m. at a south suburban country club. Overtime and a post-game reunion with friends would make the commute riskier.

But most people agree with Jason Frasor, who says the game should be pretty much decided ''in the first three or four minutes.'' North Carolina (10-0) is a much bigger and more experienced team that features six players averaging double-digit scoring. The Tar Heels are outscoring foes by close to 30 points per game.

As for coach Homer Drew's young, underdog Crusaders (3-6), they're rebuilding, with only one player averaging double-digit scoring. The team has been outscored by an average of 6.5 points.

''We hate rebuilding, but we are very encouraged with our young players,'' Drew said. ''They're getting better in practice, and our goal is to be at our best when it comes time to play [Horizon League] conference games. I hate to give up a year or two to rebuild. But teams like North Carolina, which has eight McDonald's All-Americans, they don't rebuild; they just reload.''

The game will be a homecoming for another Chicago native, Valpo sophomore guard Howard Little, who starred at Rich Central. But the main hometown focus will be on Frasor, the former Brother Rice star playing on the marquee team many expect to win the NCAA championship. Frasor is why Tar Heels coach Roy Williams accepted Drew's invitation to play in Chicago in the first place.

''I've always told our kids who are recruited outside the ACC area that I'll try to take them back to their home area,'' Williams said.

And once he takes them back home to play?

''We tell them first of all: 'Let's play basketball the way we want to play it. Don't let location of the game or relatives and friends in the stands change the way ... our team wants to play,''' Williams said. ''Then we tell everybody else to pitch in to make sure that [the hometown player] gets bragging rights.''

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