North Carolina has the talent. That’s never been the issue. Whether it was mature enough to handle the pressures of the tournament was another story. Well, if the balanced scoring in a blowout win over LIU was any indicator, a deep run may be in the making. Take the Tar Heels (-31⁄2), who have only one loss since Feb. 9, playing in Charlotte, over Washington.

THE POST LINE: ALL THE ODDS

COMPLETE NCAA COVERAGE

VCU is on the verge of becoming the story of the tournament. Criticized for their invitation to the Big Dance, the Rams have proven their worth in impressive wins over USC and Georgetown this week. Playing with the confidence to beat anyone, expect VCU (+9) to give Purdue a strong test, with perimeter shooters that allow it to stay close in any game.

Record: 14-2-1