Tar Heels Enter ACC Play with Momentum, Depth, and a Sharpened Identity
North Carolina has wrapped up its nonconference slate with a 12-1 record and a No. 12 national ranking, and now it’s full steam ahead into ACC play. With marquee wins over Kansas, Kentucky (on the road), Georgetown, and Ohio State on a neutral court, the Tar Heels are building a résumé that’s already tournament-worthy. Their lone stumble came against Michigan State in Florida, but even that game offered lessons that could pay off in March.
Now, with a healthy roster and a deep rotation, UNC begins its conference run Tuesday night at home against Florida State (7-6). And with that, it's a good time to check in on a few key storylines that could define the next chapter of Carolina basketball.
Trimble’s Return Adds Depth - and Perspective
Senior guard Seth Trimble missed nine games with a broken bone in his left arm, but his absence may have been a blessing in disguise for the Tar Heels. Not only is he back and healthy, but the time away allowed other players to grow into bigger roles.
“When a guy who plays a lot of minutes and has experience goes down, it forces others to step up,” Trimble said. “And if they don’t, we get left behind as a team.
But the guys did an amazing job stepping up while I was out. I’m super proud of them.”
The numbers back that up. UNC went 9-1 without Trimble and is 4-0 since he returned. That’s the kind of depth and adaptability championship teams are made of.
Henri Veesaar: The Big Man Who Thinks Like a Point Guard
Standing at a listed 7-feet tall - though head coach Hubert Davis has been calling him “7-1” lately - Henri Veesaar is redefining what it means to be a modern big. He’s shooting 50% from beyond the arc (17-for-34), but it’s his passing that’s quietly becoming a weapon in UNC’s offensive arsenal.
His 1.92 assists per game may not jump off the page, but context matters. Veesaar has recorded three or more assists in four games, including four against Kansas and five in a tight win over Ohio State.
And those five dimes against the Buckeyes? They all came in the final 16 minutes of a one-point win - three of them in the closing 6:32.
That’s clutch.
But Veesaar isn’t just about the box score. He takes pride in the “hockey assist” - the pass that leads to the pass that leads to the bucket.
“Sometimes, the assists are one thing,” he said, “but I kind of understand the game like hockey - being able to pass and then they give an assist. I get just as much joy out of that as an assist. As long as the team scores and we make the right plays, that’s awesome.”
That kind of unselfish mindset, especially from a stretch big, gives Carolina a level of offensive fluidity that’s tough to guard.
Stretching the Floor: Veesaar’s Shooting Unlocks the Offense
Veesaar’s shooting from deep isn’t just a luxury - it’s a tactical advantage. He’s 6-for-10 from three over the last two games and 11-for-19 in the last five. That kind of consistency forces opposing bigs to make a tough choice: step out and defend him on the perimeter or give up wide-open looks.
“It’s everything,” Trimble said after UNC’s win over ECU. “When teams want to ice us or play their big in a drop, we just make a simple fix and tell Henri to pop. And if teams can’t get out fast enough, we know it’s pretty much automatic.”
Trimble added that the team is more than happy to live with Veesaar taking those shots every possession. “It expands our team and expands our game so much.”
In today’s game, where spacing is king, having a 7-footer who can shoot 50% from three changes the geometry of the floor - and gives Carolina an edge few teams can match.
Caleb Wilson’s Free-Throw Funk: A Mental Hurdle, Not a Mechanical One
Freshman phenom Caleb Wilson has been doing just about everything well for the Tar Heels - except one thing lately: free throws. After hitting 77.1% from the line through the first nine games (54-for-70), he’s dipped to 56.1% over the last four (23-for-41).
“I don’t know what was going on for me today, honestly,” Wilson said after going 7-for-13 from the stripe against East Carolina. “If I made my free throws, I would’ve had 26 points.”
The drop-off seems to be more mental than mechanical. Wilson admitted he’s surprised when he misses.
“I feel like I’ve just got to relax and shoot it,” he said. “This might seem weird, but when I miss a shot, I’m like shocked.
Like, ‘I don’t know why I missed that.’”
Still, he’s not panicking - and neither is the coaching staff. The work ethic is there, and the self-awareness is clear. When asked about his Christmas plans, Wilson cracked, “I’m just going to go back to Atlanta and work on free throws,” drawing laughs from reporters.
Looking Ahead
With ACC play on deck and a fully healthy roster, UNC is entering the most important stretch of its season with momentum, depth, and a clearer identity. The Tar Heels have shown they can win in multiple ways - with perimeter shooting, inside-out passing, and gritty defense - and they’ve done it with contributions up and down the roster.
If the nonconference run was about figuring out who they are, ACC play will be about sharpening that identity - and proving they belong among the nation's elite.