You've got to give credit to Hubert Davis and North Carolina for the thrilling win over Louisville on Monday night. Home underdogs for that one, the Tar Heels pulled off a bit of an upset for an impressive Top 25 win. This team has serious potential, no doubt.
Hubert Davis knows 'it just doesn't work' without Seth Trimble
And, they have posted back-to-back wins despite Henri Veesaar being a little banged up and Caleb Wilson still being sidelined due to his hand injury. Once Wilson is back on the hardwood, this group is only going to be playing better.
So, how memorable of a season can it be for the Tar Heels once Wilson returns to action? If you ask former North Carolina national title winner Justin Jackson, he thinks Davis' guys can push for a Final Four spot. In order for that to happen, though, the health of the team's playmakers is no question going to make or break things in his eyes:
ICYMI: @JJacks_44 on North Carolina’s TRUE ceiling 👀
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 24, 2026
“I’ve said from the jump that North Carolina has Final Four potential. But that’s if everything lines up and everybody’s healthy.”
🎥: https://t.co/4phTGFTM15 pic.twitter.com/V1p37TkjLV
UNC great Justin Jackson sees Final Four potential for the Heels if they can stay healthy
"A fully healthy team? I mean, I think they can play against anybody," Jackson said. "Right now obviously the depth has always been a question this year, but having a guy like Zayden High step up and show he can provide 10-15 minutes, give those guys a break where if a big gets in foul trouble he can come in and at least do decently to fill that spot.
"This is a team, they've got bigs, got a guy who can continuously attack. Now, it's just all about do they defend consistently, can they hit shots from the outside consistently and how do the guards do against some of these elite guards? I've said from the jump whether you want to call it biased, I've said they've got Final Four potential, but that's if everything lines up and everybody's healthy."
Jackson really didn't mince words there. Is he a little biased? Sure, but the fact of the matter here is that North Carolina has proven it can hang with anyone in the country when it's at its best. The win over Duke, the new No. 1 team in the country, is something that will give the players confidence for the rest of the campaign.
As for the injuries, it's easy to agree with Jackson there. If UNC is at full strength, there's no reason to believe it can't go on a deep NCAA Tournament run. In his two games back, Veesaar has looked strong and he's showing no major signs of discomfort.
With Wilson, he revealed he's hoping to get back for the Duke game early next month, but nothing is set in stone there. If he can be close to 100 percent and play at a high level the way we've grown used to seeing out of him, then Jackson's Final Four prediction may not end up being as wild as some people think it seems.