By R.L. Bynum
ATLANTA — Henri Veesaar didn’t need to be reminded of what happened at Virginia.
A week after turning in season lows of seven points and one rebound, No. 16 North Carolina’s big man answered with one of his most complete performances of the season Saturday, posting 20 points, a game-high 12 rebounds and two steals in the Tar Heels’ 91–75 win over Georgia Tech at McCamish Pavilion.
Veesaar said the response started with an honest assessment of his impact in the previous game.
“It kind of came my way,” Veesaar said after he was a game-high +29 one game after a season-low -8. “But I knew I had to play better, because I can’t allow my teammates to pick me up two games in a row.
On Saturday, Veesaar looked like a player determined to bring his own energy from the opening tip.
“I think today, I was having that energy and kind of effort that really match the opponents and did my best,” he said after tying Caleb Wilson for the team-high in double-doubles with 11.
Veesaar led the team in rebounding for the seventh time and scoring at least 20 points for the sixth time.
Coach Hubert Davis pointed first to the area Veesaar addressed most emphatically.
“One of the things was rebounding,” Davis said. “That’s just something we need him to consistently be able to do.”
Veesaar did precisely that, pulling down a game-high four offensive rebounds to create extra possessions and getting timely rebounds (8) on the defensive end.
Davis also liked how Veesaar varied his offensive approach instead of hunting the same look repeatedly.
“I felt like he was in a really good rhythm offensively, mixing up his game, whether it was offensive rebounds, post-ups, spotting up from three, and that’s what Henri can do,” Davis said.
Veesaar described the week between games as a push to improve without letting frustration turn into a rut.
“I don’t know if I practiced angry, but I was definitely trying to get better and keep in mind that I can’t get complacent at this time of season,” he said, “and just trying to keep getting better and better every game.”
That mindset showed in how he played through contact and pursued the ball, especially early, when his activity helped Carolina build and maintain control, as he scored 11 first-half points.
Davis said the bounce-back wasn’t a surprise so much as a return to the standard Veesaar has shown most of the season.
“It’s nice to see him get back into an offensive rhythm tonight,” Davis said. “And I’ll take that every night from him. He’s done that pretty much every night this year.”
For Veesaar, the Virginia game became something useful rather than something to wear.
“I think it was a great wake-up call over the season, just to know that I got to play with a bigger edge and I can’t get complacent,” he said.
Saturday in Atlanta, he played like he heard that alarm loud and clear.
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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