Tar Heels Without Top Scorers Against Wolfpack in Raleigh
North Carolina traveled to Raleigh on Tuesday to take on NC State in a critical Atlantic Coast Conference matchup, despite operating without two of its most important players. The No. 16-ranked Tar Heels arrived at the Lenovo Center without Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson, the team’s top two scorers and rebounders who have accounted for 44.2% of the team’s scoring and 46.9% of their rebounds through 24 games.
The absence of those two key contributors forced UNC to rely on supporting players stepping into expanded roles. Coming off an impressive 79-65 victory over Pitt on Saturday, the Tar Heels demonstrated they could compete at a high level without their star players.
Depth Shines in Pittsburgh Win
In their previous game, North Carolina showed resilience and ball movement with role players taking charge. Jarin Stevenson and Seth Trimble each scored 19 points, while Zayden High posted a career-high 15 points in his first start. The Tar Heels shot 53.3% from the floor in the first half, building a 46-32 lead, and finished with 18 assists on 28 field goals, demonstrating efficient offensive execution.
UNC converted 14 of 17 free throws (82.4%) and dominated the glass in transition play, outscoring the Panthers 16-4 on fastbreak points and 12-4 off turnovers. The Tar Heels committed just four turnovers in the win, continuing a season-long trend of ball security. UNC is averaging 9.28 turnovers—its fewest ever recorded in a season.
The Rivalry Narrative
The matchup against NC State basketball carries significant historical weight. Carolina leads the all-time series 168-81, the most wins the Tar Heels have against any opponent. Under head coach Hubert Davis, UNC is 7-2 against NC State and has won 24 of the last 30 meetings dating back to 2003.
The 2025-26 season marks the first time since 1919 that the teams aren’t scheduled to play in Chapel Hill, with their regular-season meeting taking place only in Raleigh. The Tar Heels are 20-6 in the Lenovo Center, including tournament games, and 70-48 on the road in this rivalry.
Tournament-Caliber Defense
Defensively, UNC ranks seventh nationally in two-point field goal percentage defense at 45.0% and 30th in effective field goal percentage. The Tar Heels are 11-0 this season and 56-4 under Davis when holding opponents under 40% from the floor—a key defensive metric for tournament success. Entering the NC State basketball game, Carolina had improved to 20-5 overall and 8-4 in ACC play.
NC State’s Home Strength
NC State enters the contest with an 18-8 record and 9-4 in conference play, looking to protect home court where they are 10-4 this season. The Wolfpack sits third in the ACC standings, just behind Virginia and one game ahead of Miami.
