North Carolina (24-8) and VCU (27-7) meet in what oddsmakers view as one of the most competitive first-round games. UNC stands as a slight 2.5-point favorite, signaling near coin-flip expectations despite the seeding gap. The Tar Heels bring high-end offensive talent and size, led by Henri Veesaar a nd Seth Trimble, but questions remain about defensive consistency, particularly against dribble penetration. That’s a dangerous matchup against a VCU team fresh off winning the Atlantic 10 Tournament, riding momentum and built around aggressive guard play that excels at attacking the paint and creating pressure. ...read more read less