Both North Carolina’s best asset and most glaring liability played prominent roles on Friday night against Villanova. In the end, the Tar Heels ability to shoot from the perimeter outweighed their inability to rebound, and UNC escaped with an 78-71 victory in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

UNC coach Roy Williams made the mid-season switch to a smaller, four-guard starting lineup because he believed it would give his team its best chance to be successful. But he also understood that the lineup presented risks – especially against teams with size, and ones that rebound well.

The eighth-seeded Tar Heels (25-10) ability to shoot saved them on Friday inside the Sprint Center, after they surrendered a 20-point first-half lead. But their inability to rebound effectively nearly doomed them

North Carolina coach Roy Williams will need his small lineup to play big against Villanova. ROY WILLIAMS

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina will begin play on Friday in the NCAA tournament in Kansas City. The Tar Heels, seeded eighth in the South Region, will play against No. 9 Villanova. The winner would likely play against Kansas, the region’s top seed, on Sunday.