Category Archives: UNC Basketball

Wilson, Veesar push No. 16 North Carolina past Georgetown, 81-61

Wilson, Veesar push No. 16 North Carolina past Georgetown, 81-61

By MITCHELL NORTHAM Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Caleb Wilson and Henry Veesar both collected double-doubles as No. 16 North Carolina pulled away from visiting Georgetown in the second half to win 81-61.

Wilson tallied 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Veesar totaled 18 points and 15 boards for the Tar Heels (8-1). Derek Dixon and Luka Bogavac each added 14 points apiece for UNC.

KJ Lewis paced the Hoyas (6-3) with 17 points and Julius Halaifonua scored 14.

Sparked by a 3-pointer from Malik Mack, the Hoyas went on a 10-2 run in the game’s opening five minutes to grab an early five-point lead. The Tar Heels charged back though and led by seven points on a 3-pointer from Dixon just before intermission.

Georgetown trimmed its deficit to three on two occasions early in the second half, but the Tar Heels used a 12-2 run midway through the second half to open a 15-point lead. That scoring surge was capped off by Dixon, Veesar and Jarin Stevenson swishing 3-pointers in the span of less than 90 seconds.

UNC has been led this season by the frontcourt duo of Veesar and Wilson, who entered the game averaging a combined 35.3 points and 18.6 rebounds per game. They’re the first pair of Tar Heels to average at least 16 points and eight rebounds per game since Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace did in the 1994-95 season. In eight of UNC’s nine games, either Veesar or Wilson have led North Carolina in scoring.

Georgetown guard DeShawn Harris-Smith (personal reasons) did not play, according to a statement from the team.

Up next

North Carolina: USC Upstate visits Chapel Hill on Saturday.

Georgetown: The Hoyas host Saint Peter’s on Saturday.

Dixon delivers late as No. 16 North Carolina wins 67-64 at No. 18 Kentucky

Dixon delivers late as No. 16 North Carolina wins 67-64 at No. 18 Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Derek Dixon made a tiebreaking layup with 16 seconds remaining and scored five of North Carolina’s last six points to lift the No. 16 Tar Heels to a 67-64 win at No. 18 Kentucky. Dixon had nine points off the bench, and his 3-pointer with 53 seconds left helped give the Tar Heels their first road win this season. Henri Veesaar led North Carolina with 17 points, followed by Caleb Wilson with 15. Wilson shot 5 for 19 but added 12 rebounds and six assists. The Tar Heels made six 3s and limited the Wildcats to one on 13 attempts. Neither team led by more than six in a game that featured nine ties and 14 lead changes. Otega Oweh led Kentucky with 16 points.… Continue Reading

Wilson leads No. 18 North Carolina past NC Central 97-53

Wilson leads No. 18 North Carolina past NC Central 97-53

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Freshman forward Caleb Wilson scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half and added 13 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double, leading No. 18 North Carolina past North Carolina Central 97-53. Henri Veesaar contributed 12 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, and Luka Bogavac scored 13 for the undefeated Tar Heels. Zayden High had 11 points off the bench. Wilson blocked four shots and was 7 of 8 from the floor, with all but one of those attempts coming before halftime. He played only four minutes in the second half with the Tar Heels leading comfortably. Ramondo Battle II scored 14 points for NC Central, which shot only 24.2%.… Continue Reading

No. 25 North Carolina guard Seth Trimble breaks arm in team workout

No. 25 North Carolina guard Seth Trimble breaks arm in team workout

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — No. 25 North Carolina senior guard Seth Trimble is out indefinitely after suffering a broken left forearm during a workout. The school said a timetable for Trimble’s return will be determined following surgery this week. Trimble entered the season as a team leader on a roster with 11 new players and had a huge immediate impact in the Tar Heels’ 87-74 win over No. 19 Kansas on Friday. The 6-foot-3, fourth-year player rebounded from a quiet first half to score 13 of his 17 points in the second as North Carolina rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit. Trimble also played a crucial role defensively, helping to slow Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson in the second half.… Continue Reading

Wilson, Veesaar, Trimble power No. 25 North Carolina’s 2nd-half push to beat No. 19 Kansas 87-74

Wilson, Veesaar, Trimble power No. 25 North Carolina’s 2nd-half push to beat No. 19 Kansas 87-74

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Caleb Wilson had 24 points and No. 25 North Carolina dominated the second half to pull away from No. 19 Kansas 87-74 in a battle of college basketball bluebloods. Big man Henri Veesaar added 20 points for the Tar Heels. UNC also got a big showing from senior Seth Trimble with 13 of his 17 points after halftime. UNC made 24 of 36 shots after halftime. That erased a 37-29 lead at the break. Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson had 22 points to lead the Jayhawks. Kansas had won five straight meetings in the series.… Continue Reading

Newcomers Wilson and Bogavac power No. 25 North Carolina to a 94-54 rout of Central Arkansas

Newcomers Wilson and Bogavac power No. 25 North Carolina to a 94-54 rout of Central Arkansas

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Caleb Wilson scored 22 points and Luka Bogavac added 10 points and five assists in their North Carolina debuts as the No. 25 Tar Heels beat Central Arkansas 94-54 in the teams’ season opener on Monday night. Kyan Evans hit four 3-pointers and scored 15 points, Henri Veesaar added 14 points and 10 rebounds and Seth Trimble scored 12 points as the Tar Heels won their opener for the 21st consecutive season. Cole McCormick led Central Arkansas with nine points, though he went to the bench with his fourth foul early in the second half and fouled out with 4:56 left.… Continue Reading

ESPN icon Dick Vitale is back for start of another college basketball season after cancer fight

ESPN icon Dick Vitale is back for start of another college basketball season after cancer fight

ESPN broadcasting icon Dick Vitale is back for another season opener after his long fight to return from cancer. Vitale will call Tuesday’s game between No. 6 Duke and Texas in an event named in his honor. ESPN Events had announced the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational over the summer. A lengthy cancer fight kept Vitale off the airwaves for two years until he returned late last season. In an AP interview, Vitale says he feels “lucky” to be able to keep working at 86 years old after that lengthy fight.… Continue Reading

No. 6 Duke keeps its frequent perch as favorite in ACC race featuring No. 11 Louisville, No. 25 UNC

No. 6 Duke keeps its frequent perch as favorite in ACC race featuring No. 11 Louisville, No. 25 UNC

Sixth-ranked Duke is the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball race. The Blue Devils open Jon Scheyer’s fourth season after a Final Four run. The 38-year-old Scheyer also became the first coach to twice win the ACC Tournament in his first three seasons. Duke lost all five starters but adds the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. No. 11 Louisville is the top challenger in its rapid rise under Pat Kelsey. The ACC has four new coaches in Florida State’s Luke Loucks, Miami’s Jai Lucas, N.C. State’s Will Wade and Virginia’s Ryan Odom.… Continue Reading

March Madness in October? Top programs using exhibitions to cash in and check team chemistry

March Madness in October? Top programs using exhibitions to cash in and check team chemistry

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The last weekend of October now looks like the second week of March Madness even though the games don’t count. The NCAA recently changed rules to allow more exhibitions without requiring proceeds to go to charity. This has led to more high-profile matchups between top programs before the season officially starts. The games provide a chance to test chemistry with rosters being overhauled every season because of transfers. They also provide a new revenue source for cash-hungry schools sharing revenue with athletes.… Continue Reading

No. 6 Duke picked to win ACC again; NC State’s Darrion Williams named Preseason Player of the Year

No. 6 Duke picked to win ACC again; NC State’s Darrion Williams named Preseason Player of the Year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The No. 6 ranked Duke Blue Devils have been picked to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference champions, despite losing Cooper Flagg and four other players to the NBA draft. Duke received 34 of 49 first-place votes from the media panel. Louisville, which lost to Duke in last season’s ACC championship game, received the other 15 first-place votes and was selected to finish second. N.C. State’s Darrion Williams has been named the conference’s Preseason Player of the Year. Williams was also named first-team All-ACC, along with Duke’s Cameron Boozer, who was named Preseason Rookie of the Year.… Continue Reading

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