By R.L. Bynum
When North Carolina starts hitting perimeter shots consistently, the No. 14 Tar Heels will become even more dangerous, especially when that outside accuracy complements the strong inside production from Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson.
The shooting talent is there. That explains why UNC is launching 25.2 3-pointers per game, only 126th nationally, but the most under Coach Hubert Davis. The problem? Carolina is converting just 31.72%, which is 253rd in the country.
“I felt like we generated really good 3s,” Davis said after the Tar Heels went 9 of 28 from outside the arc in Saturday’s 81–61 home win over Georgetown. “Even in the first half [4 of 15], I thought we had some good looks, we just didn’t knock them down. I’m really looking forward to the day when we’re dominating points in the paint, and we’re hot from 3-point range.”
Based on players’ numbers last season, that day should come. But through nine games, only Veesaar and freshman Derek Dixon are shooting better from outside the arc than they did a season ago.
Read more
— UNC men are high seed in early bracket projections
— Cadeau scores 18, career-high 4 3s, as No. 2 Michigan wins 6th straight by at least 25
— Davis says Trimble “getting closer and closer” to playing
— Jaw-dropping Wilson dunk in practice leads Davis to playful bluff, “lie”
— No anger, just heart: Veesaar explains his animated night
— Wilson explains how he’s learning to deal with double teams better
The percentage for every other rotation player has dropped, but Davis said that he expects the overall 3-point percentages to go up.
“Yeah, I do,” he said. “I believe that we have the ability to really shoot the basketball.”
UNC’s pace is a sharp contrast to last season, when the team attempted only 19.2 3s per game, the lowest rate under Davis. His only team that shot worse for a full season than so far this season was the 2022–23 Heels, who missed the NCAA tournament after making just 31.2% from beyond the arc (329th in the country).
The previous high under Davis was during the 2021–22 Final Four season, with Brady Manek, RJ Davis, and Caleb Love, when Carolina averaged 23.5 attempts and hit 35.8% (62nd nationally). That team scored double-digit 3-pointers in 35.8% of its games, compared to 22.2% this season (lowest was 21.2% in 2022–23).
UNC is on pace to make more 3-pointers than its opponents for the fifth consecutive season and have won its last 14 games when making more 3-pointers.
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
Veesaar has increased from 32.7% on 3-point attempts at Arizona last season to 44.4% this season, a 11.7 percentage-point rise. Dixon has improved from 38.5% at Gonzaga College High School to 48.0% so far (+9.5%).
Jonathan Powell (35.2% last season at West Virginia and 32.3% this season) is the closest of the rest of the rotation to maintaining his percentage from one season ago.
Here is how the other players stack up, in order of biggest declines:
— Jaydon Young: 29.6% at Virginia Tech; 1 of 7 (14.3%); -15.3%
— Wilson: 34.2% in his senior season at Holy Innocents Episcopal School; 2 of 11 attempts (18.2%); -14%
— Kyan Evans: 44.6% at Colorado State; 12 of 39 (30.8%); -13.7%
— Jarin Stevenson: 30.7% at Alabama; 6 of 27 (22.2%); -8.5%
— Luka Bogavac: 39.8% with SC Derby Podgorica in Adriatic League; 27 of 52 (32.7%); -7.1%
In a limited sample size, Isaiah Denis has made 3 of 4 shots from outside the arc after shooting 35.2% during his senior season at Davidson Day School.
In his two games before an injury, Seth Trimble missed all seven 3-point attempts after shooting 28.6% (25 of 93) last season.
If those numbers start trending upward, the Tar Heels’ offense could reach another level. Davis has made it clear that the foundation will remain inside-out, but when UNC combines inside dominance with reliable perimeter shooting, it becomes a matchup nightmare.
UNC 3-point shooting
| Player | 2024–25 | 2025–26 | Difference | Games with multiple 3s | Best game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Bogavac | 61 of 153 | 39.8% | 27 of 52 | 32.7% | -7.10% | 5 | 4 of 5 vs. Georgetown |
| Isaiah Denis | 35.2% | 3 of 4 | 75% | +39.8% | 0 | 1 of 1 three times |
| Derek Dixon | 80 of 208 | 38.5% | 12 of 25 | 48.0% | +9.5% | 3 | 3 of 5 vs. NCCU, Georgetown |
| Kyan Evans | 70 of 156 | 44.6% | 12 of 39 | 30.8% | -13.7% | 3 | 4 of 7 vs. Central Arkansas |
| Jonathan Powell | 64 of 182 | 35.2% | 10 of 31 | 32.3% | -2.9% | 3 | 2 of 3 at Kentucky |
| Jarin Stevenson | 31 of 101 | 30.7% | 6 of 27 | 22.2% | -8.5% | 0 | 1 of 1 vs. Navy |
| Henri Veesaar | 16 of 49 | 32.7% | 8 of 18 | 44.4% | +11.7% | 2 | 2 of 3 vs. Georgetown |
| Caleb Wilson | 34.2% | 2 of 11 | 18.2% | -14% | 0 | 1 of 1 vs. Central Arkansas |
| Jaydon Young | 45 of 152 | 29.6% | 1 of 7 | 14.3% | -15.3% | 0 | 1 of 3 vs. Central Arkansas |
| Team | 295 of 829 | 35.6% | 72 of 22 | 31.7% | -3.9% | — | 8 of 18 vs. St. Bonnie |
3-point shooting under Davis
| Statistic | 2025–26 | 2024–25 | 2023–24 | 2022–23 | 2021–22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attempts per game | national rank | 25.2 | 126th | 19.2 | total 89th | 22.7 | total 62nd | 22.8 | total 126th | 23.5 | total 16th |
| Percentage | national rank | 31.72% | 253rd | 35.6% | 84th | 35.9% | 74th | 31.2% | 329th | 35.8% | 62nd |
| % of games with 10+ 3s | 22.2% | 29.7% | 24.3% | 21.2% | 35.8% |
| Team | League | Overall | NET* | WAB* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Duke | 17–1 | 29–2 | 1 | 2 |
| No. 10 Virginia | 15–3 | 27–4 | 13 | 11 |
| Miami | 13–5 | 24–7 | 32 | 28 |
| No. 19 North Carolina | 12–6 | 24–7 | 23 | 19 |
| Clemson | 12–6 | 22–9 | 36 | 33 |
| No. 24 Louisville | 11–7 | 22–9 | 14 | 25 |
| N.C. State | 10–8 | 19–12 | 35 | 45 |
| Florida State | 10–8 | 17–14 | 69 | 74 |
| California | 9–9 | 21–10 | 65 | 49 |
| Stanford | 9–9 | 20–11 | 59 | 51 |
| SMU | 8–10 | 19–12 | 39 | 50 |
| Virginia Tech | 8–10 | 19–12 | 53 | 52 |
| Wake Forest | 7–11 | 16–15 | 64 | 81 |
| Syracuse | 6–12 | 15–16 | 83 | 92 |
| Pittsburgh | 5–13 | 12–19 | 109 | 146 |
| Notre Dame | 4–14 | 13–18 | 93 | 121 |
| Boston College | 4–14 | 11–20 | 159 | 217 |
| Georgia Tech | 2–16 | 11–20 | 167 | 210 |
* — Through Sunday games
Saturday’s results
No. 1 Duke 76, No. 19 North Carolina 61
Boston College 77, Notre Dame 69
Clemson 79, Georgia Tech 76
No. 24 Louisville 92, Miami 89
Florida State 92, SMU 78
Stanford 85, N.C. State 84
Wake Forest 80, California 73
Pittsburgh 71, Syracuse 69, OT
END OF REGULAR SEASON
ACC tournament
Spectrum Center | Charlotte
Tuesday through Saturday
| Date | Time/ scores | Month/day | Opponent/event (final ranks) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |||
| 9 | W, 88–70 | Friday | vs. USC in Greensboro | |
| 18 | 5 p.m. | Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis | B1G+ * |
| 27 | 7:30 | Tuesday | vs. Charlotte | ACCN Extra |
| November | Regular season | |||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Western Carolina | ACCN |
| 6 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Wofford | ACCN |
| 10 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming | ACCN |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Georgia | ESPN2 |
| 20 | 9 p.m. | Friday | vs. Marshall | ACCN |
| 23 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Monmouth | ACCN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Friday | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte | ESPN |
| December | ||||
| 1 | 7:30 | Tuesday | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 13 Arkansas | ESPN |
| 6 | 3 p.m. | Sunday | vs. Butler | ESPN2 |
| 12 | Noon | Saturday | at Georgetown | Peacock |
| 15 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro | ESPN2 |
| 19 | 2:30 | Saturday | CBS Sports Classic vs. Kentucky in New York | CBS |
| 21 | 8 p.m. | Monday | vs. The Citadel | The CW |
| 30 | 4 p.m. | Wednesday | vs. California | ACCN |
| January | ||||
| 2 | 4 p.m. | Saturday | at Boston College | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 5 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at Louisville | ESPN or ESPNU |
| 9 | Noon | Saturday | vs. N.C. State | ESPN2 |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Wednesday | at Florida State | ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| 16 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Stanford | The CW |
| 19 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. No. 17 Virginia | ESPN |
| 23 | Noon | Saturday | at Syracuse | ESPN or 2 or U |
| 26 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. SMU | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 30 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 5 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. | ESPN |
| February | ||||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | at Notre Dame | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Georgia Tech | The CW |
| 8 | 6 p.m. | Monday | vs. Louisville | ESPN |
| 13 | 5:30 | Saturday | at No. 4 Duke | ABC |
| 20 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 22 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 24 Miami | ESPN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Virginia Tech | ESPN |
| March | ||||
| 2 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at Pittsburgh | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | vs. No. 4 Duke | ESPN |
| 9–13 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament in Greensboro |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
