The decision to insert freshman Derek Dixon into the starting lineup has sparked a noticeable shift for No. 16 North Carolina, and it’s showing up in the win column. Since that move, the Tar Heels have rattled off three straight victories heading into Monday night’s ACC showdown with Syracuse in Chapel Hill.
Head coach Hubert Davis made the switch after a tough 95-90 loss at Stanford on Jan. 17, and Dixon has responded like a veteran. In four starts, he’s put up 41 points and 15 assists against just five turnovers. He’s also knocking down nearly 48% from beyond the arc (10-of-21), but the real story isn’t just what Dixon’s doing - it’s how the rest of the team is thriving with him running the point.
Take Saturday’s 91-75 win at Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels never trailed, and the offense looked as fluid as it has all season.
Caleb Wilson led the way with 22 points, six boards and five assists. Henri Veesaar turned in a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
And Seth Trimble? He chipped in 18 points and looked as confident as he has all year.
Trimble’s resurgence has been one of the biggest developments during this stretch. After missing six weeks with a broken arm earlier in the season, he had been slow to find his rhythm.
But alongside Dixon, he’s found his groove. In the last two games alone, Trimble has hit 13 of his 20 shots, including 3-of-4 from deep - and he hasn’t turned the ball over once.
What’s changed? According to Davis, it’s all about Trimble rediscovering his edge.
“He’s our most powerful driver and finisher,” Davis said after the Georgia Tech win. “The last two to three games, he’s done that consistently and consistently well. That takes us to a different level.”
Luka Bogavac is another name to keep an eye on in this revamped backcourt. He’s quietly poured in 30 points over the last two games, hitting 6-of-12 from three and, like Trimble, hasn’t committed a turnover. With Dixon facilitating and the rest of the guards playing with confidence, Carolina’s backcourt is starting to look deep, dangerous, and dynamic.
On the other side, Syracuse comes into Chapel Hill on a bit of a high after snapping a four-game skid with an 86-72 win over Notre Dame on Saturday night. Nate Kingz went off for a career-high 28 points, while J.J.
Starling - facing his former team - added 21. Freshman point guard Naithan George quietly orchestrated the offense with 10 assists and no turnovers, giving the Orange the kind of clean, efficient game they’ve been searching for.
That win was more than just a morale boost - it might’ve been a turning point. Syracuse had dropped four straight, and another loss would’ve marked their first five-game losing streak since 1962. Instead, they played their most complete game in weeks.
“We played with toughness. We played together,” head coach Adrian Autry said. “Even when we made mistakes, we recovered.”
One wrinkle in that win? Donnie Freeman, the team’s leading scorer at 18.2 points per game, came off the bench for the first time all season.
Autry said it was a strategic move based on matchups - not injury-related - but it’s unclear if that’s a one-time adjustment or the beginning of a new rotation pattern. Freeman saw season lows in minutes (22), shot attempts (4), and points (7), marking the first time this year he failed to reach double digits.
Despite their 13-9 record (4-5 in ACC play), Syracuse has been more competitive than it may seem. Four of their five conference losses have come by single digits, and they’ve shown flashes of being able to hang with anyone in the league when they’re locked in.
Monday night’s matchup sets up as a contrast in momentum: North Carolina is surging behind a freshman point guard who’s stabilized their offense, while Syracuse is trying to turn a corner after a much-needed win. If both backcourts bring their A-game, we could be in for a high-paced, high-stakes ACC battle in Chapel Hill.