Tar Heels Bounce Back in a Big Way, Roll Past Notre Dame in Statement Win
Now that’s the response North Carolina needed.
After a tough 0-2 swing out West, the Tar Heels returned home to Chapel Hill with something to prove-and they delivered. In their most complete performance of the conference season, Carolina handled business with authority, cruising to a 91-69 win over a short-handed Notre Dame squad at the Dean Smith Center.
This was the kind of game that reminds you what this team is capable of when things click. From the opening tip, Carolina played with energy, shared the ball, and-most importantly-showed signs of life defensively. And while the Irish were missing some key pieces, the Tar Heels didn’t take their foot off the gas, using a balanced attack and a dominant second half to put this one away early.
First Half: Threes, Balance, and a Freshman Setting the Tone
The Tar Heels came out firing from deep, knocking down seven threes in the first half-those buckets came from six different players, a testament to how well the ball was moving. That early perimeter success helped Carolina build a nine-point lead at the break, despite some lingering issues guarding the three-point line.
Freshman phenom Caleb Wilson once again showed why he’s one of the most impactful players in the conference. He poured in 14 first-half points, setting the tone with his usual blend of poise and polish. Derek Dixon, coming off a strong showing against Cal, kept the momentum going with eight points of his own before halftime.
Second Half Surge: 10-0 Run Breaks It Open
Whatever was said in the locker room at halftime clearly worked. Carolina came out of the break with a 10-0 run that stretched the lead to 19-and from there, it was all Tar Heels.
They shot a blistering 52.9% from the field in the second half, adding six more threes to their total. The offense was humming, the pace was up, and Notre Dame simply couldn’t keep up.
Wilson finished with 22 points on an ultra-efficient 8-of-11 shooting, along with seven rebounds and a team-high six assists. He was everywhere-scoring inside, facilitating, and crashing the glass.
His frontcourt partner, Veesaar, delivered yet another double-double, tallying 15 points (6-of-10 from the field) and a game-high 12 boards. Dixon added 11 points, hitting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in another efficient outing.
Defensive Response: Not Perfect, But a Step Forward
Let’s be clear-this wasn’t a defensive masterpiece. But after two shaky performances on the West Coast, this was a needed step in the right direction.
Notre Dame hit six threes in the first half and found some open looks, but Carolina tightened things up after halftime. The Irish were held to just 36.6% shooting in the second half and made only two threes. Overall, their 36.0% shooting from the field marked the lowest percentage the Tar Heels have allowed since the Florida State game.
The intensity, communication, and closeouts all looked sharper after the break. It wasn’t flawless, but it was progress-and that’s what this team needed.
Point Guard Play: Signs of Life from Dixon and Evans
One of the biggest question marks for Carolina this season has been the play at the point guard spot. On Wednesday, that position finally gave the Tar Heels a spark.
Dixon got things going early with those eight first-half points, continuing his upward trajectory. Kyan Evans looked the most confident he has in weeks, knocking down three triples on his way to nine points.
His shot looked smooth, and his decision-making was crisp. If this duo can start stringing together consistent performances, it could change the ceiling for this team.
Frontcourt Dominance: Wilson and Veesaar Control the Paint
With Notre Dame lacking size, this was a matchup tailor-made for Carolina’s bigs-and they didn’t disappoint.
Wilson and Veesaar combined for 37 points on 14-of-21 shooting and pulled down 19 rebounds. They controlled the interior on both ends, finishing plays at the rim, cleaning the glass, and forcing Notre Dame into tough shots. It wasn’t their flashiest performance of the season, but it was exactly what the Tar Heels needed.
Lineup Shakeup Pays Off Again
For the second straight game, head coach Hubert Davis made a change to the starting five, and once again, it paid dividends.
Jaydon Young got the nod, and while his stat line won’t jump off the page, his defensive presence helped set a tone early. The move sent a message-effort and intensity matter.
And the team responded. Credit to Davis for pulling the right levers at the right time.
Bench Steps Up in a Big Way
Carolina’s rotation has been a work in progress all season, but on Wednesday night, the bench delivered.
Evans and Luka Bogavac each chipped in nine points, while Jarin Stevenson added eight of his own in one of his more productive games off the pine. In total, the bench accounted for 35 points-a huge number that gave the starters some breathing room and kept the pressure on Notre Dame throughout.
Looking Ahead
This was the kind of bounce-back win that can reset a season’s momentum. Carolina played with urgency, shared the ball, and showed growth on the defensive end.
The challenge now? Carry it forward.
They’ll head to Charlottesville this weekend for a tough test against Virginia. If they can bring this same energy and execution on the road, the Tar Heels might just be turning a corner at the right time.