Caleb Wilson Ready for His Moment as UNC Looks to Snap Losing Streak vs. Duke
CHAPEL HILL - It’s been almost two years since North Carolina last beat Duke. That’s a long time in the Tobacco Road rivalry - too long, if you ask Caleb Wilson.
The Tar Heels’ freshman phenom, already projected as a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, isn’t just aware of the drought - he’s carrying it. And with Duke coming to town this Saturday, Wilson knows exactly what’s at stake.
“We haven’t beaten them in a long time,” Wilson said Thursday inside the Smith Center. “If I want to be a legend, and I want to submit my name in history, this is a very good opportunity for me to do it.”
Wilson’s not just talking legacy for the sake of headlines. He was in Chapel Hill back in 2024 when UNC last took down the Blue Devils.
As a recruit, he soaked in the postgame celebration - the locker room energy, the chaos on Franklin Street. But last season, watching Duke win three straight over UNC from the sidelines, that competitive fire started to simmer.
Now, as the Tar Heels’ centerpiece, he gets his shot to flip the script.
Saturday’s matchup at the Smith Center (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) is the 266th meeting between the two blue-blood programs.
And it’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated chapters in this storied rivalry. No.
14 UNC (18-4, 6-3 ACC) hosts No. 4 Duke (21-1, 10-0 ACC), with both teams eyeing postseason positioning - and bragging rights that stretch far beyond the standings.
But this one’s also about stars, and few shine brighter than Wilson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer. The two freshmen have been nothing short of dominant.
Boozer enters averaging 23.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, while Wilson is right there with him at 20 points and 9.8 boards. Both are elite talents, both likely headed for the NBA next season - and both will be the focal point when the ball tips in Chapel Hill.
Wilson’s already proven he can handle the spotlight. In four games against ranked opponents this season, UNC is 3-1, and the 6-foot-10, 215-pound forward has been the engine - averaging 19.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.5 steals. He’s not just putting up numbers; he’s doing it when it matters most.
Still, for all the individual accolades and draft chatter, Wilson’s focus is clear: win the game.
“It’ll definitely have a big impact on my legacy,” he said. “But honestly … nobody cares unless you win.”
That’s the mindset of a player who understands what this rivalry means - not just to the fans, but to the program, the history, and his own journey. Saturday might be his one and only chance to face Duke at the Smith Center.
That adds weight. That adds urgency.
And for Wilson, it adds fuel.
“I’m just really focused on winning the game,” he said. “I’m not really focused on my legacy going into this game, I’m focused on winning.”
For UNC, a win would mean more than just snapping a losing streak. It would be a statement - that this team, led by a freshman with NBA-level talent and a veteran-level mindset, is ready to reclaim its place in the rivalry.
For Wilson, it’s the kind of moment that can define a season - and cement a name in Tar Heel lore.