The Tar Heels handled their business over the weekend, grinding out a win against Pittsburgh despite being without their two leading scorers and rebounders: Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar. That’s no small feat when you’re missing that much production on both ends of the floor. But as North Carolina turns its focus to Tuesday’s rivalry showdown in Raleigh, the question now becomes: who’s going to be available?
We already know Caleb Wilson won’t suit up against NC State. The freshman phenom remains sidelined, and UNC is preparing to go without him again.
But Henri Veesaar? That situation is a little more complicated.
Veesaar was dealing with the flu last week, which the team pointed to as the main reason he missed the Pittsburgh game. But there’s also a lower-body injury in play, and that’s something the Tar Heels are keeping a close eye on. It’s not just about getting him healthy-it’s about making sure he’s physically ready to contribute without risking further setbacks.
Head coach Hubert Davis spoke to the media during Monday’s ACC coaches Zoom call and offered an encouraging, if cautious, update on Veesaar’s status.
“He had the flu, and that’s just not for one day,” Davis said. “He is feeling a lot better from that. And then the lower-body extremities, it’s getting better every day.”
That’s about as optimistic as you’ll get from a college coach in mid-February. Davis made it clear that Veesaar is trending in the right direction, but he stopped short of saying the junior big man would be available Tuesday night. With a practice scheduled for Monday afternoon, the staff will use that session to assess where Veesaar stands physically and make a call from there.
“He continues to feel better and get better,” Davis added. “We’ve got practice this afternoon and we’ll just reevaluate and see how he’s doing and then move forward from there.”
In other words, it’s a wait-and-see situation-and likely will be right up until tip-off. Expect Veesaar to be listed as questionable or even a game-time decision when the ACC releases its official availability report Monday night.
From a strategic standpoint, even limited minutes from Veesaar could be a boost for the Tar Heels. His length, rebounding, and interior presence give UNC a different look, especially against a physical NC State team that loves to attack the paint.
But with postseason play on the horizon, the coaching staff isn’t going to take unnecessary risks. If there’s any concern about his long-term health, they’ll err on the side of caution.
So as the Tar Heels prep for a tough road test in Raleigh, Veesaar’s status remains in flux. And for now, UNC fans will have to wait and see whether the junior big man makes his return-or whether the team will once again have to find a way to win without him.