This past weekend, the Tar Heels slugged their way through the first regional hosted in Chapel Hill since 1983. Mike Fox's side scored a come-from-behind 15-7 victory over Maine, then secured 14-4 and 14-2 decisions over Winthrop to advance to Tuscaloosa. The Crimson tide opened with a 13-1 thumping of Jacksonville State before edging Troy, 4-3, and scoring a 14-5 beating in the Sunday rematch.

Andrew Miller (12-2, 2.26 ERA) will take the hill for the Heels in Friday's opener. The junior All-American notched his 300th strikeout for the program Saturday against Winthrop, adding to his program record. The 6-foot-6 southpaw makes his first start since the Detroit Tigers made him the sixth overall pick in Tuesday's first-year player draft. Miller will go against Alabama's undefeated lefthander: Wade LeBlanc (11-0, 2.62 ERA).

Among the players to watch on both sides are Carolina outfielder Jay Cox (.386, 13 HR, 55 RBI) and Alabama's Tommy Hunter, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound righthander that's as broad as a barn. Cox slammed four home runs in the regional to tie Benji Johnson for the team lead in round-trippers (and garner MVP honors), while Robert has earned eight victories for the Crimson TIde as the No. 2 starter.

Those who believe the Heels have what it takes to upset the Tide and return to their first College World Series since 1989 point to their three-headed pitching attack. Along with Miller, two other Carolina starters -- Daniel Bard (8-3, 3.47 ERA) and Robert Woodard (6-1, 3.48 ERA) -- have collected a slew of national honors in 2006.

The Tide aren't exactly short on pitching. Complementing ace starters LeBlanc and Robert is righthander David Robertson (4-3, 2.60 ERA, 10 saves), who provides a lights-out option in the bullpen.