Midway through the season, North Carolina is still searching for that go-to closing lineup - the five guys Hubert Davis can trust when the game’s on the line. But if last Saturday’s gritty road win over Virginia is any indication, the Tar Heels may be inching closer to some answers.
Davis made a bold call late in that one, sitting starting center Henri Veesaar for the final 5:25. That’s not a small decision - Veesaar’s size and shooting touch have been key pieces of the puzzle.
But the move worked. Carolina closed strong, and Davis showed he’s willing to mix things up if it means securing a win.
The reality is, there may not be one “best” closing five for this team. Instead, UNC might be leaning toward a matchup-based approach - tailoring its late-game rotations to exploit specific opponents. And based on what we’ve seen so far, there are a couple of configurations that make a lot of sense depending on who’s on the other side.
Against traditional bigs? Go big.
If the Tar Heels are facing a team with a classic center - someone who lives in the paint and controls the glass - then rolling out a bigger lineup is the way to go. That group looks like this:
- PG: Derek Dixon
- SG: Seth Trimble
- SF: Jarin Stevenson
- PF: Caleb Wilson
- C: Henri Veesaar
This lineup gives Carolina size across the board, with enough defensive length to protect the rim and secure rebounds. Offensively, it’s a group that can stretch the floor.
Veesaar and Stevenson both have the range to pull opposing bigs out of the paint, which opens up driving lanes for Trimble and Wilson. And when those mismatches come - and they will - this group has the tools to take advantage without getting bogged down by help-side rotations.
Against switch-heavy teams? Get versatile.
Now, if the opponent is built around a point forward - someone like Thijs De Ridder who can initiate offense from the four - then Carolina needs more mobility and switchability. In that case, the lineup likely shifts to:
- PG: Derek Dixon
- SG: Jonathan Powell
- SF: Seth Trimble
- PF: Caleb Wilson
- C: Jarin Stevenson
This group sacrifices a bit of size but gains defensive versatility. Powell, even though his minutes have dipped recently, brings the kind of perimeter defense and rebounding that fits this scheme.
He’s a better on-ball defender than Luka Bogavac and more capable of holding his own when switched onto bigger players. That’s crucial in late-game situations when one blown switch can swing a game.
Offensively, Powell also adds more shooting. He’s one of Carolina’s more reliable catch-and-shoot threats, which helps space the floor and keeps defenders honest. Luka, for all his energy and effort, was largely a non-factor late against Virginia - parked in the corner, not getting touches, and struggling on the defensive end.
With Powell in that spot, the Tar Heels can switch more freely without constantly needing to help down, which often leads to open threes and broken rotations. It’s a subtle shift, but one that could have a big impact in crunch time.
The bottom line? Flexibility is key.
Sure, fans would love to see UNC put games away early and avoid the drama of a tight finish. But in the ACC, that’s rarely how it goes. The conference is deep, physical, and unpredictable - and more often than not, games are going to come down to the final few minutes.
That’s why having multiple closing options isn’t just a luxury - it’s a necessity. Davis and his staff are still figuring out the best combinations, but the pieces are there. Whether it’s size and rim protection or mobility and perimeter defense, the Tar Heels have the personnel to match up with just about anyone.
Now it’s about finding the right mix at the right time. And if Saturday’s win was any indication, Hubert Davis isn’t afraid to make the tough calls to get there.