Just a few weeks ago, North Carolina was in a much different spot.
After defeating Syracuse by 10 on February 2, the Tar Heels extended its winning streak to five games. They would add another to the streak a few days later, as we all know what happened when Duke rolled into Chapel Hill that following Saturday.
Now, just under 20 days later, UNC has been struggling to stay healthy and win games without their two star players.
Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar have both been hit with the injury bug, and North Carolina has struggled without the dynamic front court duo. The Tar Heels have lost two of their last three games leading up to a rematch with the Orange, a squad who will look to avenge their loss to North Carolina just a few weeks back.
The hope is that this game will be a "get right" game for the Tar Heels (even without Wilson and potentially still Veesaar), as the guys who are available need to step up and right the ship heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
2025-2026 Season
North Carolina Tar Heels
Overall record: 20-6
Conference Record: 8-5
Home Record: 15-0
Away Record: 3-5
Neutral Site Record: 2-1
Top-25 Wins: 4
Syracuse Orange
Overall record: 15-12
Conference Record: 6-8
Home Record: 12-4
Away Record: 2-5
Neutral Site Record: 1-3
Key Players
North Carolina
Caleb Wilson (Fr. Forward)- 20.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Henri Veesaar (Jr. Center)- 16.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Seth Trimble (Sr. Guard)- 13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Luka Bogavac (Jr. Guard)- 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Wilson is out indefinitely due to injury.
Veesaar has missed the previous two games due to injury
Syracuse
Donnie Freeman (So. Forward) 17.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists
J.J Starling (Sr. Guard)- 12.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Nate Kingz (Sr. Guard)- 11.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Keys to Victory for North Carolina
Get SOMETHING from the guards
When Wilson and Veesaar are on the floor, they can pick up the slack when the guard play has been suspect.
However, without them on the floor, it puts a much bigger emphasis on the guard play, especially shooting the basketball.
Give Zayden High and Jarin Stevenson credit: they have held it down in the front court while their fellow bigs have been sidelined, especially High, who went from a sparingly-used player to someone who the Tar Heels have needed on the floor for most of the recent games.
This objective is aimed at the guards: yes, I'm talking to you Seth Trimble, Derek Dixon, Luka Bogavac, etc.
Dixon has to find a groove shooting the basketball. Trimble, who hasn't connected on his past eight three-point attempts since his clutch make against Duke, also needs to get into a rhythm offensively.
Would it hurt for Bogavac and Evans to do what they were brought to Chapel Hill to do?
It's time for someone in the back court to step up and provide some steady production. If the trend we've seen continues, the Tar Heels' ceiling this season won't be very high.
Something to Watch For
Donnie Freeman was a problem for the Tar Heels in the initial meeting, finishing with 23 points and eight rebounds.
Without Wilson (and likely Veesaar as well), High and Stevenson will have their hands full handling the sophomore big man.
North Carolina can't afford any foul trouble, especially with a depleted front court. It will be interesting to see how Hubert Davis game plans a way to try and slow Freeman down.
Projected Starters
No. 1- Zayden High
No. 3- Derek Dixon
No. 7- Seth Trimble
No. 15- Jarin Stevenson
No. 44 Luka Bogavac