North Carolina didn’t parlay the momentum from beating Duke on Saturday into Tuesday night’s game at Miami. Rather than extending their win streak, the Tar Heels fell 75-66 to the unranked Hurricanes for their fourth ACC loss of the year.
However, there was something positive that UNC fans can cling to from Tuesday night, and it happened, not on ESPN, where UNC was playing, but on CBS Sports Network, where the team was being discussed.
When the Tar Heels came up on the panel, former Georgetown basketball star and current CBS analyst Roy Hibbert said, “I think they could be a Final Four team.”
"I think they could be a Final Four team."@Roy_Meets_World thinks this UNC team is built to make a run in the tournament. pic.twitter.com/z8fSZMM8XU
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) February 11, 2026
Roy Hibbert sees UNC as a potential Final Four team this March
Naturally, the 7-footer’s explanation centered around UNC’s dynamic big-man duo of Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar. Wilson’s athleticism and shot-making ability, along with Veesaar’s rim protection and floor spacing on the offensive end, have made UNC a difficult matchup for most teams in the country. However, Hibbert’s take hinges on one of UNC’s most important backcourt players.
“I think if Seth Trimble can continue to hit shots, timely shots whenever he can,” Hibbert continued, “and the addition that UNC does not foul, especially down the stretch, their lack of fouling, I think, could really help them.”
UNC commits just 14.7 personal fouls per game, which is 96th percentile in the country this season (per CBBanalytics.com). With their big men as rim deterents, the team has a block/PF ratio of 0.24, which is 83rd percentile nationally.
Opponents average just 15.6 free attempts per game and a 24.5 percent free-throw attempt rate, which is one of the best in the country and the second-best in the ACC, only behind Duke.
While Hibbert and the AP Poll voters have been believing in the Tar Heels recently, the analytics don’t love UNC. ESPN Analytics favored Miami at home on Tuesday night, and KenPom has the team at 29th by net rating after their most recent loss. With two freshmen in the starting lineup and a heavy reliance on Veesaar as a defensive anchor, Hibbert could be blinded by his love for big men with this take.