Well, No. After the Tar Heels came back from a double-digit loss to beat No. 19 Kansas 87-74 in a Friday barnburner.We’ll dive into some takeaways, but first — take a bow, Caleb Wilson.North Carolina has something special brewing with Wilson, a five-star freshman. The 6-10 center left his mark all over the game. He dived on the floor to collect loose balls. He tore down boards. He was both a playmaker as well as a finisher. Wilson was absolutely fantastic. He slammed three dunks, sprayed more than two face-up jumpers, had seven rebounds, four assists and four steals on his way towards a 24 point, seven-rebound night.
North Carolina has an out-and-out dude. He plays with the tenacity, passion and dedication of a player who would do anything to stay in the game. He’s quickly developed into an emotional leader, who is making defense cool for the Tar Heels. His unselfishness changed the face of the roster. If your best player also happens to be your most-energy workerhorse as well as your best passer, then he is a shining example for other players. Wilson won’t be able to score as many buckets every night like he did on Friday, but his burgeoning talent and hyperactive defense along with his energy and hyperactive defense are appealing to both North Carolina and Wilson in the short term as they strive to become a contender for the ACC.
Evans was out of sorts when Kansas made a 15-6 first-half run to take control. UNC’s portal player was unable to get the ball out of his hand faster, couldn’t make 3-pointers and gave up straight-line drives. Evans was able to deliver 12 points, two net-shredding threes and three dimes in the second half. Evans’ zero turnover second half came after a first-half wobble due to Melvin Council Jr. putting pressure on the team.
What did Peterson feel after the bloodbath? Trimble was inside the Kansas jersey for 26 out of 28 minutes. Peterson didn’t seem to be phased when UNC’s senior player gave the five-star rookie a rude welcome to college basketball. He hit midranges despite the tough competition. He made three 3-pointers by tickling the twine. There was a tinge of fear even though UNC had extended their lead to 16 by the middle of the second half. That dude was still playing.
Trimble had a torrid defensive performance, yet Peterson scored 22 points with an efficient 8-for-14 shot. I’m sure a lot defenders feel that way after attempting to tackle Peterson.
Kansas’ offense suffered a period of decline when Peterson was forced to leave the game in the first half after two fouls. Tre White tried to be the takeover player (and failed). Kansas needs to do more to improve its defense if they want to be a serious contender. Melvin Council’s playmaking, point-of attack defense and quick drives gave KU a boost, but he has offensive limitations. North Carolina snuck under each of his ball screens. He couldn’t get them to pay (0-for-4 from deep). Kansas is a great team, and this result does not change that. If KU does not become a National Championship contender, then you can look back at the Darrion Williams Sweepstakes. This UNC Recipe is real. This was not a game like that. UNC should be able to replicate this winning formula for basketball games. Tar Heels’ offensive rebounding was excellent, with 16 offensive rebounds that were converted to six second-chance goals. UNC’s offensive rebounding rate of 44% was higher than any other game in the past year, when North Carolina didn’t even play North Carolina basketball.
This frontcourt is a slam dunk! Wilson and Veesaar, the two most expensive additions in this offseason’s free agency, are well worth their money. Veesaar could have had a few more rebounding (he had only four), but the four assists he made were huge. The two treys that he made at the top of the key were also huge. They helped Kansas loosen up their defense. Veesaar’s and Wilson’s marriage has a bright future thanks to their combination in size, speed, athleticism. passing, and skill. Their big-to large passing caused Kansas serious problems and is similar to Alex Condon’s and Tommy Haugh’s 1-2 punch, which gave Florida an entirely different gear. The combination works on defense as well. Trimble could be so aggressive in the offensive zone because Veesaar was on the backend. Kansas only made one layup, and a single dunk during the last 16 minutes of regulation. Veesaar combined with Wilson for only one block but the rim-deterrence was evident down the stretch. If the offensive rebounding becomes a UNC staple moving forward, then you can imagine this team competing against Duke and Louisville for ACC title because other strengths aren’t changing. All nine Tar Heels were capable of hitting a triple. Trimble and Veesaar represent three solid defenders in all three levels.
A top-five draft pick with offensive rebounders as well a defenders and shooters can be a powerful combination. UNC will need to find a consistent guard player if they want to reach the elite level.
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2025-11-08 04:20:52
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