CHAPEL HILL — Caleb Wilson’s incredible numbers Tuesday night looked like something out of a video game: leading No. 12 North Carolina with 22 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

CHAPEL HILL — When Florida State packed its defense inside and dared North Carolina’s guards to beat them, Kyan Evans answered with his best shooting night of the season.

CHAPEL HILL — For much of the first half, No. 12 North Carolina didn’t match Florida State’s pressure and constant defensive changes with the needed intensity.

Jalen Washington came off the bench to score a career-high 21 points with seven dunks Monday night as No. 11 Vanderbilt finished nonconference play unbeaten with a 96–53 home win over New Haven.

CHAPEL HILL — During the first half of No. 12 North Carolina’s win against East Carolina, freshman Caleb Wilson turned the ball over four times, struggling to navigate double-teams that looked a little different. But halftime brought a turning point, not with words but with video.

The whispers, however unfair, were growing louder in the fall of 1992. Hall of Fame UNC coach Dean Smith hadn’t won a national championship in more than a decade. Meanwhile, rival Duke had seized back-to-back titles, tilting the balance of power in college hoops. What followed was a season of resilience, redemption, and a return to glory in a national-championship season.

Any discussion about the best freshman seasons in Carolina basketball history includes Phil Ford, Antawn Jamison, Tyler Hansbrough, Armando Bacot and many others. Caleb Wilson has taken only 13 games to play his way into that chat.

No. 12 North Carolina faces a classic ACC gauntlet in a league that’s improved from last season, leaving little margin for error in some road games.

The personnel dramatically changed from last season, but Coach Hubert Davis’ bench usage has not. His familiar pattern leans heavily on a trusted core and keeps the rotation short, notably riding the iron-five starting lineup to the 2022 Final Four.

Calf strains delayed the start of Coby White’s season, but he continues to produce big games, including coming through in the clutch Tuesday night in Atlanta in the Chicago Bulls’ fourth consecutive victory.

The NET rankings can fluctuate wildly early in the season, leading to surprising changes. That was the case for No. 12-ranked North Carolina (11–1) when the Tar Heels fell four spots to 19 after a Quad 1 win but moved back up to 16 after q Quad 4 victory.

CHAPEL HILL — Caleb Wilson keeps turning the rim into his personal target, and Monday night was another reminder of why he’s the leading dunker in the country.