Bracket Projection: UNC

The North Carolina Tar Heels saw four of their big stars get chosen in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft. And for a while, it looked like the Heels, as much a part of the annual March Madness as pom-poms and office pools, might be in danger of missing the tournament. But Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams boldly trashed a conventional starting five, brought small ball to Chapel Hill and the revamped starting lineup of four guards and one big man turned things around. North Carolina enters March Madness with much of its swagger. Can the Tar Heels make a run?

ESPN Insider has your answers, as Joe Lunardi has enlisted a team of Bracketologists to compile advanced metrics, key scouting intel and best- and worst-case tournament scenarios for all 68 teams, in order to help you make smart picks in your bracket. Plus, as Lunardi fills out his bracket, he'll give you his prediction on how each team will fare.

Lunardi's Logic

North Carolina might not lock you down defensively, but they can light you up in the open floor. I see a real speed and skill advantage for the Tar Heels against Villanova, giving CBS its preferred third-round match up against Kansas. Problem is the Jayhawks do defend, and the Tar Heels are going to see their up-and-down season end appropriately: one up, one down.

TOURNEY PROFILE

Best wins: Mississippi State, UNLV, NC State, Virginia

Worst losses: at Texas, Miami by 26 points

To read the complete tournament guide preview for the UNC Tar Heels, including if their method of small ball will work, plus to gain access to all of ESPN Insider's NCAA tournament coverage, sign up today.

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