North Carolina is making a key lineup adjustment tonight against Pitt, and it’s a significant one. Starting center Henri Veesaar, who’s been a fixture in the Tar Heels’ frontcourt all season, is out of the starting lineup. The team announced the change just ahead of tipoff at the Smith Center.
Veesaar has started all 24 games this season and has been a steady force in the paint, averaging 16.4 points and 9 rebounds per game. But he’s been battling an illness since the team’s return from Miami, and he’s also dealing with a lower-extremity issue that’s kept him from full participation in pregame warmups.
The 7-footer was present for stretching on Roy Williams Court, but when it came time for drills and layup lines, he remained on the bench. Sitting alongside him was freshman Caleb Wilson, who’s also unavailable due to a fractured left hand. That’s two big bodies missing from the Tar Heels’ rotation - and it’s going to test their frontcourt depth.
With both Veesaar and Wilson sidelined, UNC is down to just three available post players: Jarin Stevenson, Zayden High, and John Holbrook. Stevenson and High are getting the start tonight, and they’ll be asked to shoulder a bigger load, both offensively and defensively, against a Pitt team that’s looking to play spoiler.
The Tar Heels, ranked No. 11 in the country, come into the matchup at 19-5 overall and 7-4 in ACC play. A win tonight would push them to a perfect 15-0 at the Smith Center this season - a mark of dominance on their home floor. But with Veesaar out, they’ll need to rely on depth, execution, and a next-man-up mentality to keep that streak alive.