The No. 1 Tar Heels are good. But when these two get going, they're great.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

On the team with everything, they are the last pieces of the championship puzzle.

North Carolina proved in the ACC tournament that it can win games while getting next to nothing from power forwards Deon Thompson and Alex Stepheson. But when the sophomores from California are playing like they did last weekend in the NCAA first- and second-round games in Raleigh, the Tar Heels can look virtually unbeatable.

"If they're going well, I don't see us having much, if any, weaknesses," swing man Danny Green said Wednesday, as No. 1 seed North Carolina prepared to play No. 4 Washington State tonight in the East Regional at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

The Arkansas Razorbacks would undoubtedly agree after the 6-foot-8 Thompson and 6-9 Stepheson combined to go 13 for 13 from the field in a 108-77 win last Sunday.

"It's kind of unheard of," Green said.

Particularly from a pair of guys who combined for just 20 points in three ACC tournament games. They played so passively against a physical Clemson team that coach Roy Williams benched them in favor of 6-5 Marcus Ginyard and the slender, 6-6 Green during the championship game.

Carolina cut down the nets anyway, but Williams told Thompson and Stepheson he needed more from them heading into the NCAA tournament. They responded with 27 points on a combined 11-of-14 shooting against Mount St. Mary's and 26 on their perfect afternoon against Arkansas.

"It's tournament time, win or go home, so it's the best time to bring it," Stepheson said.

"I kind of changed my mindset," Thompson said. "The challenge from coach definitely helped me, because he also let me know he had not lost confidence in me."

Stepheson and Thompson sat near each other in a crowded North Carolina locker room full of some of the best-known players in college basketball. There was Tyler Hansbrough, the leading candidate for National Player of the Year; Ty Lawson, considered by many to be the fastest player in the country; Wayne Ellington; one of the nation's best pure shooters; as well as Ginyard, arguably the best defender in the ACC.

Thompson has been the team's "other" starter and Stepheson his back-up. They are the broad-shouldered guys who are easy to overlook, or even mix up. Both are from Los Angeles area and played behind Brandan Wright last season. Neither strays far from the basket.

"I've been having the luxury just to come along at my own pace playing with Tyler, Ty and Wayne, with guys who just came in and were always so good," Thompson said. "I've had time to develop."

As well as round into shape. Thompson has lost nearly 30 pounds from last season, adding quickness to a game that already featured an array of offensive skills.

When the 240-pound Thompson is scoring, defenders can't double-team Hansbrough as easily, and the North Carolina offense is that much tougher to contain.

Stepheson is less polished offensively, but is considered the better defender and rebounder.

"We complement each other's games real well," Thompson said.

And potentially round out the Tar Heels.

"I think they handled (Williams' challenge) real well," Hansbrough said. "Hopefully, they'll keep playing well, because it really opens up a lot."

Maybe even a shot at the national title.

"We know it's time to start carrying part of the load, too," Thompson said.

Ed Miller, 446-2372, ed.miller@pilotonline.com