After the emotional high of UNC’s dramatic buzzer-beater win over Duke last weekend, reality came crashing back down in a hurry. The Tar Heels hit the road earlier this week and were outplayed wire-to-wire by Miami, never once holding a lead. To make matters worse, standout freshman Caleb Wilson exited the game with what’s now confirmed to be a broken hand-though head coach Hubert Davis tried to downplay the severity postgame, the loss stings on multiple levels.
But in college basketball, there’s no time to dwell. The schedule doesn’t slow down, and UNC has to regroup fast with Pitt coming to town this Saturday.
Now, on paper, Pitt doesn’t look like a major threat. The Panthers are 9-16 overall and just 2-10 in ACC play, coming off a loss to Duke earlier this week.
But if you’ve been following this conference over the past few years, you know Pitt has a habit of giving UNC trouble. They’ve played spoiler before, and while they’re not having the kind of season that turns heads, they’re scrappy enough to be a problem if Carolina isn’t locked in.
Pitt’s offensive identity this season has been a bit by committee. Their leading scorer, guard Brandin Cummings, hasn’t played in a couple of weeks and may not return this season.
Still, he wasn’t a one-man show-he’s one of four Panthers averaging between 10 and 13 points per game. In his absence, Cameron Corhen has stepped into the primary scoring role, averaging 12.0 points per game.
But the name to circle going into Saturday? Roman Siulepa.
The sophomore wing just dropped 19 points on the road at Duke, and he’s got the confidence and rhythm to be a real factor if UNC doesn’t close out on him.
Where Pitt could really make things interesting, though, is on the offensive glass. The Panthers rank in the top third nationally in offensive rebounding percentage at 34.2%.
That’s not a fluke-it’s a strength. And if Caleb Wilson is sidelined or limited, that could put a lot of pressure on UNC’s remaining frontcourt to control the paint and finish defensive possessions.
Second-chance points can be a backbreaker in a game like this, especially if the Tar Heels are still trying to find their rhythm without their star freshman.
Defensively, Pitt hasn’t exactly been a brick wall. Their opponents are scoring at a clip that ranks them 98th in the country in offensive rating allowed (109.6).
Even when adjusted for strength of schedule, their defensive metrics hover in the 120s nationally. They’ve allowed 80 or more points in seven games this season-including a 100-point outburst by Louisville just a few weeks back.
And when you consider Pitt plays at one of the slowest tempos in the country (339th in tempo per KenPom), those numbers become even more glaring. If UNC can push the pace and find rhythm in transition, there should be scoring opportunities there.
But the real question for Carolina is how they adjust without Wilson. Alongside Henri Veesaar and Jarin Stevenson, Wilson has been central to the Tar Heels’ frontcourt identity.
Without him, the depth gets tested. There are bodies to fill those minutes, but none of the remaining bigs have made a strong case for extended run this season.
It’s not just about plugging in a replacement-it’s about reshuffling the rotation, adjusting the offensive flow, and maintaining defensive intensity without one of your most versatile players.
This matchup with Pitt offers a chance for UNC to bounce back and clean up some of the issues that plagued them in the Miami loss. But it’s not a freebie.
Pitt’s record might not impress, but their rebounding tenacity and balanced scoring make them a team that can hang around if Carolina isn’t sharp. With questions around Wilson’s availability and the need to re-establish momentum, the Tar Heels can’t afford to take this one lightly.