NCAA East breakdown: Does experience give Tar Heels the edge?

Freshmen have certainly found a way to leave their mark on the NCAA Touament in recent years.

Last year, of course, Duke rode the contributions of three one-and-done players — Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow — to the program’s fifth national title.

In that same season, Kentucky, propelled by a rotation comprised largely of freshman — four of which entered the NBA draft — won 38 straight games before a perfect season crashed in the Final Four.

But in this year’s East Region, which is dotted with traditional powers, the programs in contention have found success this season on the backs of a number of talented upperclassmen leaders.

North Carolina, which struggled through a period of early NBA departures earlier in the decade, has found balance with an experienced trio of Marcus Paige (senior), Brice Johnson (senior) and Keedy Meeks (junior).

Indiana has the leadership of senior guard Yogi Ferrell and the versatility of junior guard Troy Williams, to thank for what has been a special season in Bloomington.

Heck, even one-and-done factory Kentucky has been boosted heavily in the frontcourt by a senior, Alex Poythress.

It has often been the case that the most coveted freshman are landed by the big-name schools. But in a bracket full of traditional powers this year, it will be the old guys who lead the way to the promised land.

Favorite: North Carolina

The Tar Heels are a top seed in the NCAA Touament for the 15th time. This is an experienced group, led by talented senior guard Marcus Paige and 6-foot-10 classmate Brice Johnson, a walking double-double. The Tar Heels won their final five games — and seven of their last eight — including a victory over Virginia in the ACC Touament championship game Saturday. The path through the East won’t be easy for them, but the Tar Heels have sharpened Final Four tools.

Sleeper: Indiana

Yes, the Hoosiers were stued in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Touament on a buzzer-beating game-wier by Michigan, but they have been among the country’s most consistent teams after a rough start to their season. And who doesn’t want to see a second-round matchup with fourth-seeded Kentucky?

Upset alert

Stephen F. Austin over West Virginia. Experience counts for a lot in the NCAA Touament, and the Lumberjacks have plenty of it. They have been to the touament three consecutive times, advancing to the round of 32 two years ago.

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Bracket breakdown

Simply put, the East is a beast. Stacked with traditional power programs in Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana and Wisconsin, this bracket has no shortage of star power. The top five seeds in this bracket have combined for 18 national championships. That means this bracket’s Final Four team will have eaed the trip.

53

Stephen F. Austin victories in 59 Southland Conference games since Brad Underwood took over the program as coach in 2013.

65

Victories for North Carolina coach Roy Williams in 25 appearances in the NCAA Touament

Fab Five

Brice Johnson, North Carolina, F. 16.0 PPG, 10.6 RPG

Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin, F, 17.5 ppg, 6.9 reb.

Tyler Ullis, Kentucky, G, 16.8 ppg., 5.5 ast.

Yogi Ferrell, Indiana, G, 17.1 ppg., 5.5 ast.

Kris Du, Providence, G, 16.6 ppg., 5.5 reb.