You fancy your team as the little engine that could, the valiant underdog that will defy precedent and prognostication. You will emulate the 2006 George Mason squad and put your school on the map, shock the basketball world, become the talk of the nation, secure a place in popular culture. You will be the subject of articles, books and songs. Ad revenues and endorsement deals will flow and all the pretty girls will think you are handsome.

This lovely dream, shared with your most loyal fans, adds spring to your every step as you travel to a hostile arena and take the court against a No.1 seed for the opening tap in your NCAA tournament opener.

Then the game begins, and the dream fades like a star chased from sight by the rising sun.

Early on, that very common NCAA scenario unfolded for Eastern Kentucky University against a North Carolina squad that was too deep, too big, too talented, too seasoned, too well-coached for the No.16 seed to handle. The Tar Heels ruled, cruising remorselessly to a 39-12 advantage at the 8:46 mark of the first half. Eastern Kentucky's players were as winded as coach Jeff Neubauer had seen them in a game this season. "It's amazing how fast they are," he said of North Carolina. "They just fly the ball at you."

But just when the Colonels appeared on the verge of being run out of Joel Coliseum, they found the stride that lifted them to a 21-12 record and a championship season in the Ohio Valley Conference.

"I think we just thought it was going to be too easy and we didn't maintain our intensity," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "But you have to give them credit because they did some nice things."

With a small band of fans screaming “EKU! EKU!” the Colonels went on a 23-8 tear to close the first half. Helped by a 1-3-1 zone defense, and abetted by uneven play from UNC reserves such as Danny Green, Bobby Frasor and Wes Miller, Eastern Kentucky got second chance baskets, forced turnovers and hustled for loose balls to pull within 47-35 at halftime. That despite allowing the Tar Heels to make two-thirds of their shots and to control the boards, 20-9.

Then EKU opened the second half with a 9-1 flourish, pulling within 48-44 with 16:03 left on a layup by sophomore guard Mike Rose.

The dream beckoned, the prospect of a monumental upset tantalizingly close. “We’re making history!” cried the maroon-clad EKU fans, who for a time made far more noise than the stunned Carolina contingent that packed the arena.

But the Tar Heels nurture their own motivating dreams, and the sudden threat was decisively quashed immediately following a media timeout at the 15:54 mark. Asked if the Heels were unsettled at that point, Hansbrough said, "I think it was more one of those things, we have to stay poised and stay within ourselves."

Settled by the play of point guard Ty Lawson and wing Marcus Ginyard, UNC went to its strengths, especially by pouring the ball inside to Hansbrough, wearing a new, tighter, more comfortable mask to protect his fractured nose. The Colonels collapsed around the 6-9, 245-pound All-American, but could not prevent him from grabbing several key offensive rebounds and scoring a quick seven points as the Heels rebuilt a 60-48 lead with 10:47 remaining.

EKU would never close within 10 points again as heavily favored North Carolina pulled away to an 86-65 victory. The 29-6 Tar Heels, led by 21 points from Hansbrough, next face No.9 seed Michigan State on Saturday.

Every starter scored in double figures as the Heels made 64.9 percent of their shots and held an overwhelming 38-16 margin on the boards.

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Williams was on the sidelines despite the death last night of his older sister, Frances Baker. She had been confined to an assisted living facility in Charlotte suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He did not inform his team of her death until after the victory over Eastern Kentucky.

The coach said Baker, 60, last had a clear mind while watching him coach when North Carolina won the 2005 NCAA title. "Alzheimer's is tough," he said. "If you want to choose something, don't choose that."

Williams expected funeral services would be held Sunday or Monday, following the second round of the NCAAs. He did take comfort from a niece's phone call, in which she assured him his sister "had her mind back now and she would be able to watch the game, so that was nice."