Three Storylines to Watch as UNC Hosts Syracuse at the Dean Dome
After a quick breather following their win over Georgia Tech, North Carolina is right back in action, welcoming Syracuse to the Dean E. Smith Center.
The Orange are coming off a solid 86-72 win over Notre Dame, a much-needed bounce-back after getting blown out by NC State. On paper, this looks like a favorable matchup for the Tar Heels-but Syracuse has already shown they’re capable of pulling off an upset, having knocked off a ranked Tennessee squad earlier in the season.
Then again, they also dropped a game to Boston College in overtime. So which version of Syracuse shows up?
More importantly, how does UNC respond with a massive showdown against Duke looming just days away?
Let’s break down three key things to watch as the Tar Heels take the floor.
1. Will Caleb Wilson Keep Stretching the Floor?
One of the more intriguing wrinkles from the Georgia Tech game was Caleb Wilson stepping out beyond the arc. The versatile forward took a few three-pointers-drilled one, missed the others-but none of the attempts looked out of place.
That’s a development worth watching. Whether this is something head coach Hubert Davis is encouraging or just Wilson testing the waters himself, it could have long-term implications for how teams defend UNC.
Right now, Wilson is viewed largely as a two-level scorer-strong in the paint, solid in the midrange. But if he starts knocking down threes with any regularity, it opens up the floor for everyone else. Defenders would have to respect his range, pulling bigs away from the basket and creating more driving lanes for the likes of Seth Trimble and Kyan Evans.
And let’s be honest-NBA scouts are watching. Wilson is jockeying with Duke’s Cameron Boozer in the eyes of pro evaluators, and one area Boozer currently holds an edge is in three-level scoring.
If Wilson can show he’s got that in his bag too, it strengthens his case in a big way. Just as long as he doesn’t forget to keep punishing the rim-because that’s still where he does his best work.
2. Can Luka Bogavac Make It Three in a Row?
Luka Bogavac has had a season that’s been more of a rollercoaster than a straight climb. The former international pro has shown flashes, especially in non-conference play, but his impact in ACC games had been hit-or-miss-until recently. Over the last two games, Bogavac has poured in 30 points combined against Virginia and Georgia Tech, and he’s starting to look like the reliable fourth option UNC has been searching for.
That’s a big deal. With Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar, and Seth Trimble giving the Tar Heels consistent production, the next step for this team is finding that fourth scorer who can stretch defenses and hit timely shots. Bogavac was expected to be that guy from the start, and if he’s finding his rhythm now, it couldn’t come at a better time.
His ability to knock down threes is especially crucial when defenses collapse to take away the paint. If he can keep defenders honest and force them to close out hard, it opens up the offense for everyone else. Another double-digit performance against Syracuse would go a long way in proving that he’s ready to be a steady contributor when the lights are brightest.
3. Shot Selection: Taking the Right Threes
UNC’s win over Georgia Tech wasn’t without its blemishes, and the most glaring was their shot selection from deep. The Tar Heels went 8-for-31 from three-point range-good for just 25.8%.
But the issue wasn’t necessarily that they were taking bad shots. In many cases, they were wide open.
The problem? They just weren’t falling.
Derek Dixon and Henri Veesaar, both typically reliable from deep, had off nights. Kyan Evans struggled too, going 1-for-6.
It happens. But with a quick turnaround, there won’t be much time to dive into film.
Instead, it’ll come down to in-game awareness-recognizing the difference between a good shot and the right shot.
The good news for UNC fans: this feels more like a one-off than a trend. The team had been shooting the ball well from distance throughout January, and there’s no reason to think the Georgia Tech game is anything more than an outlier. Still, against a Syracuse team that will likely mix in zone and dare the Heels to shoot over the top, recognizing when to let it fly and when to swing the ball will be key.
Final Word
This isn’t just about avoiding a bad loss-it’s about fine-tuning before the biggest game of the regular season. Duke is on deck, but Syracuse is the task at hand. If Caleb Wilson continues to evolve his game, Luka Bogavac builds on his recent surge, and the Heels clean up their shot selection, UNC could be peaking at just the right time.