CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? Tyler Hansbrough says it with a straight face, so you know he’s serious.

He returned to North Carolina for his sophomore season instead of bolting for the NBA because he said he wanted to get better. At first glance, that seems impossible.

North Carolina’s media guide proclaims him the most decorated freshman basketball player in school history. He was named national freshman of the year by just about every reputable publication that bestows such an honor and was the first freshman to earn unanimous first-team All-ACC honors.

Coach Roy Williams has said Hansbrough was as devoted to taking care of his body as any player he has coached. So what was left for Hansbrough to do in the gym, beginning one week after George Mason eliminated North Carolina from the second round of the NCAA Tournament?

“I was working on my jump shot,” he said. “I said, if I develop a jumper, I wouldn’t have to grind inside and do the same thing every time.”

Teammate Wes Miller of Charlotte said it was difficult for opponents to guard Hansbrough one-on-one last season, when the 6-foot-9 center from Poplar Bluff, Mo., averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Now that Hansbrough has developed a mid-range jump shot, Miller said defenses will have no choice but to double-team him and leave somebody else open.

Another reason for Hansbrough to return to school was maturity. Last season, he was famous for soft-spoken, brief answers to reporters’ questions. But this week he answered with insight and depth that would have been impossible a year ago.

His favorite games from last season were at Duke and Miami. He is impressed when he sees his photo on the cover of preseason basketball magazines but doesn’t like to hear that he’s the best center in college basketball.

“There’s a lot of things I can work on, and once you start listening to things like that, you get satisfied, and I think that’s when you get worse,” Hansbrough said.

Hansbrough already was dubbed “Psycho-T” last season because of his maniacal devotion to the weight room, but strength coach Jonas Sahratian found plenty of work for him in the offseason.

Though Hansbrough was one of the strongest players in the ACC, he needed to get quicker. Sahratian had Hansbrough do slide drills and ladder drills to improve his lateral quickness.

Olympic movements such as power cleans and snatches were the focus of Hansbrough’s weight training because they improve acceleration and explosiveness. Hansbrough, as usual, was the perfect trainee, eating steak, chicken and eggs, slurping protein shakes after workouts and getting at least eight hours of sleep each night.

“I guarantee you, he’s more explosive this year,” Sahratian said.

Williams wants Hansbrough to spend the bulk of his time in the post. But he should be more difficult to guard because he has developed his jump shot. “It’s improved,” Hansbrough said. “I’m not a straight shooter, Larry Bird or anything like that. I’m a big post player that can shoot a little bit.”