North Carolina had to work harder than expected, but the Tar Heels still left Tuesday night with a 76-63 win over Wyoming after a second-half surge steadied things.
The biggest issue showed up immediately and kept the Cowboys in the game longer than UNC would have liked. Wyoming owned the backboards in the first half, outrebounding North Carolina 25-15 and pulling down 15 offensive rebounds.
Some of those extra chances came on long misses and fortunate bounces, but the larger problem is hard to ignore. At this point, rebounding looks like a real season-long concern, especially with Cameron Fens still ineligible.
North Carolina did clean it up after halftime, though, limiting Wyoming to just four offensive rebounds in the second half.
One of the more encouraging developments came from Denis, who looked nothing like the player who had struggled through the first two games. After averaging 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 14.3 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from three-point range, the sophomore guard found his rhythm against Wyoming. He scored 11 points in the first half alone and hit all four of his shots in the opening 20 minutes, giving UNC a much-needed lift while the Cowboys kept pressing.
Keita also delivered a performance that matched the urgency of the moment. The freshman center, a former FC Barcelona big man, was a force inside with 13 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks while going 6-of-9 from the field.
His upside is obvious, even if he remains a work in progress. In a lineup with four other players who can stretch the floor, his job is clear: run the floor, protect the rim, and keep learning how to operate away from the ball.
When that starts to click, the seven-foot center looks every bit like the kind of elite overseas prospect who could be a first-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.
For all the uneven stretches, the second half offered a glimpse of what this team can become when it rebounds better and leans into its strengths. North Carolina has enough players who can push the pace in transition and make life miserable for defenses in the halfcourt. If the rebounding improves and Fens eventually returns, this is the kind of group that could become a problem for ACC opponents once conference play begins.
In Other News...
Bill Belichick's UNC Future Just Got More Uncertain
Bill Belichicks second season at North Carolina has brought some on-field progress, with the Tar Heels sitting 5-4 after a rough first year under the longtime coach. Even so, there has been no conversation between Belichick and the university about changing his current contract or mapping out what comes next, which leaves his status in a more uncertain place than the record alone might suggest.
The backdrop here is more complicated than wins and losses. North Carolina recently conducted an investigation into the football program, and that process already led to the resignations of general manager Michael Lombardi and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick. With those changes still fresh and no contract talks underway, the future of the programs most prominent figure remains an open question. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Could Land One More Recruit That Changes This Class
North Carolina already has a headliner in five-star small forward DeMarcus Henry for its 2027 class, but the next few days could tell the bigger story. With the open signing period beginning soon, the Tar Heels are in position to turn one elite commitment into something even more imposing if another top target decides to jump in.
Five-star forward C.J. Rosser is still weighing his options between North Carolina and Kentucky, and there is no confirmed decision yet. For a class that already has real star power, landing Rosser would change the conversation around what the Tar Heels are building, and the timing makes the next move especially important. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Lands A Physical Defender Who Could Grow Into Much More
North Carolina added another piece to its future defense when Treveon Lewis, a 2027 linebacker from East Paulding High School in Dallas, Ga., announced his commitment on social media. Lewis is expected to be on campus for a recruiting event, giving the Tar Heels an early look at a prospect whose game already stands out for its physical edge and willingness to attack downhill.
Lewis arrives with the kind of profile that can appeal to a program looking beyond the immediate future, since the evaluation around him points to a defender who could keep growing into a more complete player with time. For UNC, the commitment is less about instant impact and more about securing a young linebacker with traits that suggest there may be plenty more development ahead. [Read more 🡒]