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UNC's Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar and Luka Bogavac after win over Syracuse. #UNC
Feb 3, 2026
UNC's Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar and Luka Bogavac after win over Syracuse. #UNC
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0:01
Yeah.
0:01
What was the the locker room like
0:02
postgame? Uh
0:03
we were just saying that, you know, it's
0:05
always big to get a win in the ACC. It's
0:07
a tough league to play in, but we can't
0:08
let that happen again.
0:09
I was say how do you sort of balance
0:10
that happening versus moving forward and
0:12
and not letting it not take How much
0:14
stock, I guess, do you take into
0:15
something like that?
0:16
You just learn from it and move on just
0:17
like you do with everything else.
0:20
What if any message did the coaches um
0:23
you know, Hubert have for you guys after
0:25
the game? Uh he just told us like like
0:27
you just said it's always big to get a
0:29
win, but we can't let things like that
0:30
happen because they can seep into other
0:32
games and we don't want that to happen.
0:34
How' the lack of focus manifest? What
0:36
was it just poor defense, poor [music]
0:38
execution?
0:39
Probably just poor execution offensively
0:41
and defensively. Uh just not being
0:43
detailed and not sticking to what we did
0:45
to start the game against the lead.
0:47
Is there any sort of silver lining in
0:49
that, you know, this could have been a
0:50
big blowout? could have been feeling
0:52
great going into Duke, but now you're
0:54
very highly alert going into one of the
0:55
biggest games of the season.
0:57
Uh, I mean, we still won. It's not like
1:00
lost. I mean,
1:01
it's just something to learn from. You
1:03
know, every game is not going to be a
1:04
30-point blow up. This could have been
1:05
one, but it's always on to the next.
1:08
What went well in building the 32-point
1:10
lead? What did you think you guys did
1:12
well?
1:12
We just dominated points in the paint
1:14
and we played good defense, forced them
1:16
to take and make tough shots, and like I
1:19
said, that's really it. Just offensively
1:20
and defensively we executed our game
1:21
plan.
1:22
The ball movement it seemed like has
1:24
been crisper the last few games and you
1:25
Yeah, for sure. Everybody's starting to
1:27
kind of see what everybody's good at and
1:28
be more on so for sure. It's definitely
1:30
leading us to, you know, better shots
1:31
and a higher percentage uh in the
1:34
two-point and three-point range.
1:35
He really looked pretty animated some of
1:36
those later game timeout huddles. Just
1:39
what was he saying to you guys there?
1:40
Uh he was just telling us that we can't
1:41
lose focus. Uh every team is going to
1:44
come here and try to beat us. No matter
1:45
what the score is, they're not going to
1:46
give up. So we have to stay persistent
1:48
in what we're doing. I know that um just
1:49
talking to Seth and some other guys,
1:51
they feel like folks just as a whole on
1:54
the team have been more vocal. Um
1:55
players have been more vocal. I know
1:56
you've talked about that wanting to be a
1:58
leader. What were you saying to your
1:59
teammates and who was you know speaking
2:01
up later in the game just to keep
2:03
everybody focused?
2:04
I was just saying to keep it going
2:05
honestly just just push through it
2:06
honestly. It's just
2:08
I mean it's not it's not always going to
2:10
be easy. So you know we dug ourselves in
2:12
the hole. Had to get ourselves out.
2:14
JP had a big game off the bench for you
2:16
guys. 12 points. What does he do when he
2:17
gets going for you offensively?
2:19
He definitely stretches out the court
2:20
and you know defensively he's a dog too.
2:21
So he really just brings it on both ends
2:23
and he's a heck of a shooter. So having
2:25
him on the team knowing that we're
2:26
probably going to get a lot of attention
2:27
inside really allows the game for us to
2:29
be easier for us and him.
2:30
What does it do for you all when guys
2:32
come off the bench and kind of get hot?
2:33
Does it give you a break?
2:34
It gives us a spark obviously and it it
2:36
kind of brings up the team around
2:37
honestly. You know, everybody deserves
2:38
that that shine and that that thing that
2:41
you want to see from your teammates. So
2:42
you know it definitely brings the team
2:44
around. Do you think some of the guys
2:45
coming off the bench are finding their
2:46
role and identity a little bit more as
2:48
we get to this second half of the league
2:51
schedule?
2:51
I definitely feel that way. You know, I
2:53
feel like, you know, as a team, we're
2:54
always learning and trying to get
2:55
better. So, the more and more we play
2:56
with each other, the more and more we
2:57
practice, the more and more people on
2:59
our team are able to find their roles
3:00
and what they do. Well,
3:02
you mentioned dominating points in the
3:03
paint. You and Henry hooked up on two of
3:04
the first three possessions of the game.
3:06
What is it that makes that big big
3:07
passing combo so effective between you?
3:10
We just communicate with each other
3:11
before games and kind of look over
3:12
things and we're able to see what
3:15
exactly is going to be open when we're
3:16
playing as a team and exactly we can do
3:18
to kind of exploit every.
3:20
Is that something Hubert has encouraged
3:21
you guys to maybe do a little bit more
3:22
of as more league play goes on.
3:24
For sure. You know, people are looking
3:26
at us. So, we have to kind of even the
3:27
playing field and focus on things that
3:28
we can do better ourselves.
3:30
I know that even going back to the
3:31
Kansas game first game of the year, you
3:32
already talked about the Duke game and
3:34
then you were talking about it again on
3:35
on Saturday in Atlanta. there's any any
3:36
early thoughts ahead of, you know, your
3:38
first match up with Derek?
3:40
Well, I I kind of one of the biggest
3:42
reasons I came in was to play in that
3:43
game. So, I'm really excited for, you
3:45
know, they have a great team this year,
3:46
so I feel like it'll be a great matchup
3:48
and it'll be a really fun environment.
3:49
The
3:50
last three games now, you guys have went
3:51
on a run to end the half. How important
3:53
are those sort of runs at the end of the
3:54
half and then to bring the momentum, I
3:56
guess, into the second?
3:57
They're huge, honestly. You know,
3:59
sometimes we're down and we need that
4:00
momentum, but sometimes it just brings
4:02
us to a great place going into the
4:04
second half. So, You know, it's all
4:06
about momentum in my opinion. Basketball
4:08
is really a game of runs. So, you know,
4:10
the more runs we can get on, especially
4:11
towards later kind of ends of halves and
4:13
games, definitely be important for us
4:15
to, you know, lead into a good second
4:17
half for a good ending to the game.
4:18
Is that something you guys talk about
4:19
like no matter what the score is at
4:21
towards the end of the half like, all
4:22
right, we need to go on some sort of run
4:23
here to bring that into the half.
4:25
I know we we always try to break into
4:27
four-minute segments like we just need
4:28
to dominate this four minutes.
4:31
I guess we're going to watch film on the
4:32
end of the game, but at the other part,
4:34
we definitely know what we did wrong.
4:35
Just stay calm. Be strong with the ball.
4:37
Don't turn it over.
4:39
Don't ever let go of the Don't give up
4:41
the momentum if you have it. Just keep
4:42
pushing because at one point they're
4:44
going to give up, but we kind of thought
4:46
we had it before they gave up.
4:48
The end of the first half of Virginia,
4:49
you guys cut a 16.8 to N. You closed 93
4:52
at the end of the half of Georgia Tech
4:53
12. You had 12 nothing. They they hit
4:55
that three. What's been the difference
4:57
in you guys closing halves stronger
4:59
lately, which was a little bit of an
5:00
issue right in the end?
5:02
I think just having the awareness and
5:04
just being disciplined enough [music]
5:05
and then like having that little lead
5:07
and being able to guard it and just
5:09
overall kind of being able to make that
5:11
little push, trying to get to halftime,
5:12
get to the break with a little bit
5:14
bigger lead or cutting the a little bit
5:16
closer.
5:17
There have been times in the past where
5:18
Carolina teams have gone into the game
5:21
before the Duke game and lost to teams
5:23
that they were better than. Do you feel
5:25
like maybe once you got into the second
5:27
half and built up that big lead, maybe
5:29
started looking ahead a little bit?
5:31
I don't think anybody was thinking about
5:32
the next game. I think it was just more
5:34
thinking that we had already won the
5:36
game. But realistically,
5:38
we hadn't that. As long as there's time
5:41
on the clock, the game is still going
5:42
on. You can't stop playing before the
5:44
time goes to zero.
5:45
And you think it's a silver lining like
5:46
like AJ said, to sort of have that on
5:48
film, that proof.
5:49
No. Yeah, for sure. And I think another
5:50
part is going to be good cuz it kind of
5:52
gives us like something that we felt
5:54
like we need needed to do more for the
5:56
next 3 days of practice before we play.
5:58
So I think that's going to be important
5:59
and have something on film that we
6:01
really know cuz we got to have like
6:02
urgency to fix that.
6:04
Jonathan gave you seven boards off the
6:06
bench at UVA. Gave you 13 points today.
6:08
Having a guy to come in and just kind of
6:10
do whatever is needed in that specific
6:12
game. How huge is that having someone
6:14
like that?
6:14
It's amazing. He's a good defensive
6:16
player. Obviously today he he got fouled
6:18
out, but I think the way he plays and
6:21
the competitive edge he has helps us a
6:23
lot and he's an incredible shooter. So
6:25
just being able to get him some of the
6:27
open ones so he doesn't have to take the
6:28
tougher ones helps us a lot. And the way
6:30
he plays hard and goes to crashes the
6:32
boards all the time helps us.
6:34
You got more double doubles now than
6:35
Caleb on the season. Do you have 12? He
6:36
has 11. You got 11 now.
6:38
I don't think he doesn't care. As long
6:40
as we win, it's all good.
6:42
Thanks. Appreciate it.
6:44
Thank you. the the the drop coverage is
6:46
on defense. Is that helping the
6:47
perimeter defense a little bit better?
6:49
Helping you get on the shooters better?
6:51
Yeah, I think so for sure because we
6:52
have to be less pulled in and I feel
6:54
like the guards are starting to trust me
6:56
kind of protect the rim on the drives or
6:58
if you give up couple layups or so or
7:00
like a lot every now and then. It it's
7:03
it happens and it's going to happen
7:04
every game, but overall if we can take
7:06
away the three-point attempts and or
7:08
like give up not give up the easy ones,
7:10
it really helps us in the long run. How
7:12
have you been doing that as an emphasis?
7:14
How many games have you been doing that
7:15
as an emphasis?
7:16
I think I can't tell you exactly, but I
7:18
feel like it kind of happened after the
7:20
California trip that really helped.
7:23
Last four games you came here versus a
7:25
game. I just thought, you know, what was
7:27
your perspective going?
7:29
I mean, man, I'm excited. It's a huge
7:31
game. Sure. It's going to be absolutely
7:33
packed arena. So just being able to have
7:35
that and having the fans and the whole
7:36
city talking about it and you probably
7:38
the whole state talking about the game
7:40
is a big thumbnail.
7:41
Thanks.
7:42
Yeah, I feel like the guys they they um
7:45
they believe more in myself and uh so
7:47
that's that's great. Also in practice I
7:50
feel more u I feel more involved with
7:53
the group. So that
7:55
you've had some more success putting the
7:56
ball on the floor yourself personally.
7:58
What's been the difference lately in
8:00
getting stuff off? if you had that
8:01
three-point play at Georgia Tech that
8:03
maybe wasn't working for you earlier.
8:06
I don't know honestly. I just try to to
8:08
play my game. Some days I play it
8:10
certain way, some other days I play
8:13
differently, but I just try to keep
8:15
pushing and be bigger on the court.
8:19
Has your shot I guess felt better? I
8:21
think I know your efficiency has kind of
8:22
skyrocketed over the past five games.
8:24
Has your shot felt better? How does it
8:26
kind of feel?
8:27
Yes, for sure. If you watch the games,
8:29
you can see that my shot is better this
8:31
couple games. But as I said before, I
8:34
practicing the same way as I practice
8:36
since I I'm here. So nothing really
8:39
changing my approach.
8:40
Are you getting better looks? Are you
8:41
getting Cuz you get a few catch and
8:42
shoot threes today. Are they more
8:44
comfortable or just better threes than
8:45
maybe you were getting before? Less
8:46
challenge.
8:47
Yes. Yes. You know, we we are new team,
8:49
a lot of new guys in this team in this
8:51
year. So uh you know, we just need the
8:54
time to get know each other. and now I
8:57
think uh you're on a good way.
8:59
Is there anything you've had to I guess
9:00
adjust to throughout the course of the
9:01
season playing in America versus playing
9:03
in Europe that's let you get more
9:04
comfortable and play better.
9:06
I mean the main thing is just trying to
9:08
learn my teammates on the court what
9:11
they like what they like what they don't
9:13
like. So this is the main thing for me.
9:14
What about the physicality? Has that
9:16
taken been an adjustment for you as
9:18
well? The more physical nature of
9:20
college basketball
9:22
maybe running more running I would say.
9:24
What are some of those things that
9:25
you've had to learn about your
9:26
teammates? Like a couple specific
9:27
examples that you've you've learned so
9:29
far this season about your teammates.
9:31
Well, like each other, you know, we we
9:33
know now what our teammates like, what
9:36
they don't like, which position they
9:37
like in defense, in offense. So, from
9:40
this standpoint, I would say just, you
9:42
know,
9:43
more games we play together, more we
9:45
will be better. So, we're in a good way.
9:47
As I said before,
9:48
Luka, at the end of the game, what do
9:50
you think happened to let Syracuse some
9:54
scratch back into it?
9:56
They play in
9:58
zone, some kind of zone defense. So, I
10:01
think um he wasn't ready on to respond
10:05
on that. We have to learn from this and
10:08
this is something that we're going to
10:10
learn from this game for sure. Yeah,
10:11
Henry was saying that it's kind of good
10:13
that you guys have this on film as proof
10:14
of what can happen when the mentality
10:17
slips a little bit. Do you agree with
10:18
that?
10:19
Yeah, you know, we I think we have to we
10:22
have to learn to react faster when we
10:27
miss couple shots and we receive couple
10:29
baskets. I think u we took a lot of time
10:32
to react. You know, we we should be
10:34
faster on this reaction. So, this is the
10:36
it will be the key for us in the coming
10:38
games. We've already been asked this.