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UNC falls in AP Top 25 men’s poll; Duke takes over No. 1 spot
North Carolina slipped two spots to No. 18 in the AP Top 25 men’s poll, with Duke supplanting Michigan as the top-ranked team. UNC (21–6, 9–5 ACC) rebounded from Tuesday’s 82–58 loss at N.C. State with Henri Veesaar’s return, winning at Syracuse 77–64 on Saturday. The Tar Heels are tied for sixth in the ACC with No. 24 Louisville (20–7, 9–5), which they host at 7 p.m. Monday. The Cardinals fell three spots after losing to SMU 95–85 but beating Georgia Tech 87–70.
Hull’s career day leads UNC’s record-tying perimeter show in romp
CHAPEL HILL — The blueprint to match the best 3-point shooting game in program history isn’t going 1 of 10 in the first quarter. But when you have a “blowtorch” at your disposal, that slow start can be erased in a hurry.
Plenty of NET fluctuations in ACC; UNC edges up; 2 wins downgraded, 1 upgraded
There was plenty of NET ranking movement among ACC teams after Saturday’s games, but No. 16 North Carolina wasn’t a part of that three weeks away from Selection Sunday. Logic suggests that a 77–64 win in what was supposed to be a Quad 1 win would help the Tar Heels’ NCAA tournament resume. It actually did some damage, and UNC’s NET ranking remained at 28.
Transfer tracker: Big games for Tyson, Washington; Cadeau’s 4th straight loss to Duke; Jackson injured
It was a week full of ups and downs for former UNC players, highlighted by big games for Cade Tyson and Jalen Washington, but it also included a season-low game for Tyler Nickel, Elliot Cadeau’s fourth straight loss to Duke and an injury to Ian Jackson.
More comfortable High elevating his game
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Zayden High began the season as a reserve who could spell the starters for a few possessions, but often wasn’t effective during those short chances he got. During his two starts while Henri Veesaar was out, he played well but was more of a serviceable replacement. That shifted dramatically with his performance in No. 16 North Carolina’s 77–64 victory Saturday over Syracuse.
Veesaar feels ‘great’ after dealing with 10 days of treatment, rest
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — For 10 days, Henri Veesaar could only watch. An Achilles flare-up after the Miami game on Feb. 10 forced Carolina’s 7-footer to the sideline. There were no practices between that game and Friday. No rhythm. Just treatment, patience and the hope that he’d feel like himself again before the postseason push.
Veesaar changes UNC’s geometry at both ends, leads huge bounce-back win
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Henri Veesaar was back, and so was No. 16 North Carolina’s rhythm on both ends in a bounce-back win the Tar Heels badly needed. It wasn’t all pretty in a game that would have been more difficult against a better team, but UNC rebounded from Tuesday’s demoralizing loss, pushing the tempo in a 77–64 victory Saturday over Syracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Davis gives updates on Wilson, Veesaar, as he ponders roster puzzle
As Hubert Davis prepares his team for Saturday’s rematch at Syracuse, the challenge isn’t just about X’s and O’s but also figuring out what he calls a puzzle.
With Caleb Wilson out and Henri Veesaar questionable, No. 16 Carolina (20–6, 8–5) faces the possibility of playing without both for the third consecutive game.
No. 16 UNC at Syracuse: TV info, stats, scouting Orange, keys to game, comparisons and notes
Here’s a look at Saturday afternoon’s Quad 1 game for No. 16 North Carolina at Syracuse.
Heels rally from rough first half for huge OT win at VT
BLACKSBURG, Va. — On “Stranger Things” night at Cassell Coliseum, it was as if North Carolina’s offense got yanked into “The Upside Down” during the first half. With more energy, better ball movement and hot shooting, the No. 22 Tar Heels fought their way back. After a seven-point halftime deficit and UNC’s worst shooting half of the season, the Tar Heels battled for a thrilling 66–63 overtime victory Thursday over Virginia Tech and a huge Quad 1 win.
Heels again off to fast start, as Hynek, good pitching move them to 5–0
CHAPEL HILL — Hot starts are becoming routine for Carolina baseball, so it’s no surprise that Coach Scott Forbes’ No. 10 Tar Heels are at it again.
UNC guards faltering while Cadeau shines
RALEIGH — The problem entering the game was that No. 16 North Carolina had to play without the talented front-court duo of Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar. Clearly, their absence played a big part in N.C. State is blowing out the Tar Heels 82–58 on Tuesday night at the Lenovo Center. A bigger issue that will remain when UNC’s two leading scorers return is the lack of consistent play from the Tar Heels’ guards.
Heels slide in NET rankings, but next two games are Quad 1
North Carolina and N.C. State nearly swapped NET rankings after the Wolfpack’s 82–58 pounding of the Tar Heels on Tuesday night. The short-handed No. 16 Tar Heels (20–6, 8–5) fell from 25 to 28 in the NET while the Wolfpack (19–9, 10–4) moved from 29 to 25, equaling their season-high and moving to 4–6 in Quad 1 games.
Davis says short-handed Heels lacked ‘competitive fight’
RALEIGH — With North Carolina playing without its two leading scorers, both big men, for only the third time since joining the ACC, good perimeter shooting was crucial. Those hopes repeatedly bounced off the rim as the No. 16 Tar Heels struggled to get anything going offensively in N.C. State’s 82–58 victory Tuesday before a raucous, often profane, Lenovo Center crowd.