The fourth-seeded North Carolina men’s basketball team, 24-11 overall and 11-7 in ACC play, gets its 2015 NCAA Tournament campaign underway Thursday night at 7:20 p.m. in the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The opponent? The No. 13 seeds and Ivy League champions, the Harvard Crimson.

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Expectations are always high for the Tar Heels this time of year. But what’s the secret to NCAA Tournament success?

The Tar Heels will be hoping for a deep push in the NCAA Tournament (Todd Melet)

The Tar Heels will be hoping for a deep push in the NCAA Tournament (Todd Melet)

UNC head coach Roy Williams has been to seven Final Fours and says it’s a mixture of skill and mentality.

“First of all, talent. The one thing we understand is how significant and important it is. We try to be ready to play the first day. We’ve always tried to get our kids to understand the next game and not to be looking down the road. I think we really do focus on the first opponent and do that all the way through it,” Coach Williams says.

So does this year’s Carolina squad have the makings of a Final Four group? Coach Williams says recent developments have him optimistic.

“I think two things get me a little excited. One, I think we’re getting a little healthier, which always makes it easier. The other thing, I think we gained something from the ACC Tournament. I think at times, we played very well. We showed some toughness, played four games in four days and were fresh in the fourth game because we wanted to be fresh mentally,” Coach Williams says.

But there are a couple fallibilities that could keep the Tar Heels from their ultimate quest for Indianapolis.

“That’s been the story all year long. We’ve got to cut down on the turnovers, stop making the silly fouls and make sure we do a much better job on the backboards. Some of the games this year we’ve been great rebounding. Silly fouls and the turnovers are what we have to improve on all the time,” Coach Williams says.

A healthy Marcus Paige is vital for UNC's postseason success (Todd Melet)

A healthy Marcus Paige is vital for UNC’s postseason success (Todd Melet)

Tommy Amaker’s Harvard Crimson program, 22-7 overall and 11-3 in league action, is getting well adjusted to life in March Madness. For the fourth straight season, Harvard will represent the Ivy League in the bracket.

Coach Amaker says his players are hoping to acquit themselves well against a program they have a great deal of respect for.

“We’re healthy, excited and are very hopeful for our kids to embrace the moment against a program and a team that’s historic and storied. We certainly have an amazing amount of respect and admiration for UNC and their historic program. What an opportunity for us and amazing moment for us to represent our school and our conference,” Coach Amaker says.

The feeling is mutual. Coach Williams says his relationship with Coach Amaker spans back a few decades.

“I really enjoy and like Tommy Amaker. I competed against him when he was at Duke. I was an assistant here [UNC]. I talk to Tommy on the road all the time. I think he’s a marvelous person and has done a really nice job there. Our team will be focused on Harvard. We won’t be looking past them,” Coach Williams says.

Interestingly, Harvard leads the all-time series with Carolina 2-0, but not much stock should be placed in that head-to-head. After all, the two schools haven’t met on the hardwood since 1926.

JP Tokoto assaults the rim (Todd Melet)

JP Tokoto assaults the rim (Todd Melet)

One of the X-factors for the Tar Heels is generally rangy, athletic junior forward J.P. Tokoto, who can lock in defensively and provide electrifying offensive fireworks.

Tokoto says attention to detail and focus will determine UNC’s tournament destiny.

“It’s win or go home. Our level of intensity and level we play at is going to be huge for us. It’s going to be a determining factor of whether we’re going to stay in the tournament and be able to play or be sent home early,” Tokoto says.

That’s the Big Dance – equal parts tragedy and ecstasy. It’s what makes it such compelling theatre. The Tar Heels hope to have an extended stay on the game’s grandest stage.