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.
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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.
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* |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 4 Duke | 10–1 | 21–2 | 3 |
| No. 20 Clemson | 10–1 | 20–4 | 30 |
| No. 18 Virginia | 9–2 | 20–3 | 16 |
| N.C. State | 9–2 | 18–6 | 27 |
| No. 14 North Carolina | 7–3 | 19–4 | 24 |
| Miami | 7–3 | 18–5 | 38 |
| No. 24 Louisville | 7–4 | 17–6 | 17 |
| SMU | 5–5 | 16–7 | 34 |
| California | 5–6 | 17–7 | 59 |
| Virginia Tech | 5–6 | 16–8 | 55 |
| Florida State | 4–6 | 11–12 | 95 |
| Stanford | 4–7 | 15–9 | 69 |
| Syracuse | 4–7 | 13–11 | 68 |
| Wake Forest | 2–8 | 11–12 | 67 |
| Boston College | 2–8 | 9–14 | 147 |
| Georgia Tech | 2–9 | 11–13 | 151 |
| Notre Dame | 2–9 | 11–13 | 89 |
| Pittsburgh | 2–9 | 9–15 | 121 |
* — Through Saturday games
Saturday’s results
N.C. State 82, Virginia Tech 71
No. 18 Virginia 72, Syracuse 59
No. 24 Louisville 88, Wake Forest 80
Miami 74, Boston College 68
SMU 86, Pittsburgh 67
Florida State 82, Notre Dame 79
No. 14 North Carolina 71, No. 4 Duke 68
No. 20 Clemson 77, California 55
Stanford 95, Georgia Tech 72
Monday’s game
N.C. State at No. 24 Louisville, 7 p.m., ESPN
Tuesday’s games
No. 14 North Carolina at Miami, 7 p.m., ESPN
No. 18 Virginia at Florida State, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Notre Dame at SMU, 7 p.m., ACC Network
No. 4 Duke at Pittsburgh, 9 p.m., ESPN
Wednesday’s games
Virginia Tech at No. 20 Clemson, ACC Network
California at Syracuse, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Wake Forest at Georgia Tech, 9 p.m., ACC Network
Stanford at Boston College, 9 p.m., ESPNU
Saturday, Feb. 14, games
No. 20 Clemson at No. 4 Duke, noon, ESPN
Georgia Tech at Notre Dame, noon, The CW
California at Boston College, noon, ACC Network
Pittsburgh at No. 14 North Carolina, 2 p.m., ESPN
Florida State at Virginia Tech, 2 p.m., ACC Network
SMU at Syracuse, 2 p.m., The CW
No. 24 Louisville vs. Baylor in Fort Worth, Texas, 4 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
Stanford at Wake Forest, 4 p.m., ACC Network
Miami at N.C. State, 4 p.m., ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU
No. 18 Virginia vs. Ohio State in Nashville, 8 p.m., Fox
| Date | Month/day | Time | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV/ record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | ||||
| 24 | Friday | L, 78–76 | vs. No. 16 BYU in SLC | Exhib. |
| 29 | Wednesday | W, 95–53 | vs. Winston-Salem St. | Exhib. |
| November | ||||
| 3 | Monday | W, 94–54 | vs. Central Arkansas | 1–0 |
| 7 | Friday | W, 87–74 | vs. No. 11 Kansas | 2–0 |
| 11 | Tuesday | W, 89–74 | vs. Radford | 3–0 |
| 14 | Friday | W, 97–53 | vs. N.C. Central | 4–0 |
| 18 | Tuesday | W, 73–61 | vs. Navy | 5–0 |
| Fort Myers Tip-Off | ||||
| 25 | Tuesday | W, 85–70 | vs. St. Bonaventure | 6–0 |
| 27 | Thursday | L, 74–58 | vs. No. 10 Michigan State | 6–1 |
| December | ACC/SEC Men’s Challenge | |||
| 2 | Tuesday | W, 67–64 | at Kentucky | 7–1 |
| ————————— | ||||
| 7 | Sunday | W, 81–61 | vs. Georgetown | 8–1 |
| 13 | Saturday | W, 80–62 | vs. USC Upstate | 9–1 |
| 16 | Tuesday | W, 77–58 | vs. ETSU | 10–1 |
| CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta | ||||
| 20 | Saturday | W, 71–70 | vs. Ohio State | 11–1 |
| ————————— | ||||
| 22 | Monday | W, 99–51 | vs. East Carolina | 12–1 |
| 30 | Tuesday | W, 79–66 | vs. Florida State | 13–1, 1–0 ACC |
| January | ||||
| 3 | Saturday | L, 97–83 | at SMU | 13–2, 1–1 |
| 10 | Saturday | W, 87–84 | vs. Wake Forest | 14–2, 2–1 |
| 14 | Wednesday | L, 95–90 | at Stanford | 14–3, 2–2 |
| 17 | Saturday | L, 84–78 | at California | 14–4, 2–3 |
| 21 | Wednesday | W, 91–69 | vs. Notre Dame | 15–4, 3–3 |
| 24 | Saturday | W, 85–80 | at No. 18 Virginia | 16–4, 4–3 |
| 31 | Saturday | W, 91–75 | at Georgia Tech | 17–4, 5–3 |
| February | ||||
| 2 | Monday | W, 87–77 | vs. Syracuse | 18–4, 6–3 |
| 7 | Saturday | W, 71–68 | vs. No. 4 Duke | 19–4, 7–3 |
| 10 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | at Miami | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 14 | Saturday | 2 p.m. | vs. Pittsburgh | ESPN |
| 17 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | at N.C. State | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 21 | Saturday | 1 p.m. | at Syracuse | ABC |
| 23 | Monday | 7 p.m. | vs. No. 24 Louisville | ESPN |
| 28 | Saturday | 6:30 or 8:30 | vs. Virginia Tech | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| March | ||||
| 3 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. No. 20 Clemson | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 7 | Saturday | 6:30 | at No. 4 Duke | ESPN |
| 10–14 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament | Spectrum Center, Charlotte |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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