UNC Adapts and Delivers Without Wilson, Veesaar in Win Over Pitt
CHAPEL HILL - This wasn’t the version of North Carolina we’ve grown used to seeing this season - and that’s exactly what made Saturday’s win so impressive.
With star big man Caleb Wilson sidelined indefinitely by a fractured hand and Henri Veesaar out due to illness, No. 11 UNC had to pivot. And instead of forcing a square peg into a round hole, the Tar Heels embraced a new identity - faster, smaller, and more versatile - en route to a 79-65 win over Pittsburgh at the Smith Center.
Without their usual frontcourt anchors, Carolina leaned into tempo and spacing. The result? A flowing, high-energy style that allowed their guards to thrive and their offense to hum.
“We’re just playing a little bit faster, just trying to use our speed, use our quickness,” said freshman point guard Derek Dixon, who tied his season high with seven assists and also grabbed a season-best seven rebounds. “Moving it quick, side to side, just trying to get open looks.”
Dixon’s fingerprints were all over this one. He orchestrated the offense with poise, keeping the ball moving and constantly shifting the defense. The smaller lineup gave Carolina more space to attack off the dribble, and Dixon made the most of it.
“I thought we moved the ball really well - body and player movement,” he said. “A lot of shooters on the floor now, so it definitely gives us more space to drive.”
The shift in style also opened the door for Zayden High to make his mark. Making his first career start, the freshman forward delivered career highs in both points (15) and rebounds (7) across 32 impactful minutes. He didn’t just fill a role - he embraced it.
“Coach always preaches defense,” High said. “If we get stops, then we can run in transition… we got a lot of stops today, we were able to get out in transition and run the break.”
That defensive focus was the foundation. With a smaller, quicker lineup, Carolina switched more freely on the perimeter, disrupting Pitt’s rhythm and creating opportunities to push the pace.
Seth Trimble, one of the guards who took on more responsibility with the lineup change, broke it down clearly.
“Offensively, I think us as guards, we’re relied on definitely more [Saturday],” Trimble said. “We played out of the ball screen a lot more at the end of the shot clock.
Defensively, we switched one through four on and off the ball. We don’t always do that when we had Henri and Caleb on the floor just because we’re bigger.
With a group like this - a lot of feisty guards, and then Jarin [Stevenson] and Zayden [High], who are very versatile - we’re able to switch everything and just shrink the floor.”
That versatility was on full display from Stevenson, who poured in a season-high 19 points and helped fuel Carolina’s transition attack. His ability to stretch the floor and beat defenders in space gave Pitt fits.
“We had a smaller lineup, so just getting up and down the court, creating confusion,” Stevenson said. “I feel like our constant motion also created confusion.
We had a few open threes on the break, open layups on the break. Seth was attacking the basket really well.
We got a lot of assists, too. Just attacking multiple ways and playing fast really helps our chances of success.”
This wasn’t about replacing Wilson and Veesaar. It was about adjusting on the fly - and competing with urgency. Head coach Hubert Davis made that clear.
“None of that matters without the competitive fight,” Davis said. “I said, ‘You guys just have to fight; you’ve got to compete.’”
And that’s what stood out most. The Tar Heels didn’t just survive without two key pieces - they responded.
They adapted. They found another gear.
“[Saturday] was a clear example of what Carolina basketball is about, for them to react and respond this way,” Davis said.
With Veesaar’s status still uncertain heading into Tuesday’s matchup at N.C. State, Carolina may need to lean on this formula again. But if Saturday showed us anything, it’s that this team’s identity runs deeper than any one player.
The Tar Heels proved they can win with speed, with depth, and with a little bit of grit - and that might be the most important takeaway of all.