UNC Basketball
Complete coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball.
UNC Basketball vs Duke: Derek Dixon, other X-factors for Tar Heels
The headliners are UNC freshman
Caleb Wilson and Duke freshman
Cameron Boozer. UNC’s
Henri Veesaar and Seth Trimble, along with Duke’s Isaiah Evans and Pat Ngongba are also players capable of big efforts. But looking at it from the Carolina blue angle, who could be the X-factors for the Tar Heels against the Blue Devils? Here are three candidates. (
MSN.com)
Caleb Wilson Named To Karl Malone Award Midseason List
North Carolina freshman
Caleb Wilson is among 10 candidates nationally named to the midseason watch list for the 2026 Karl Malone Award, awarded annually to the nation's top power forward. The Midseason Watch List will be narrowed to five finalists in mid-March. The award winner will be announced ahead of the Final Four in late March / early April. (
GoHeels.com)
Jon Scheyer says UNC’s size, length present challenges
Jon Scheyer knows it doesn’t matter that Duke is ranked No. 4 and is on a 10-game win streak. The third-year Duke coach has been around the rivalry for enough years to know that the Blue Devils’ 21–1 record will be irrelevant when his team arrives at the Smith Center for Saturday night’s 6:30 game (ESPN) against No. 14 North Carolina (18–4, 5–3 ACC). (
Tar Heel Tribune)
Carolina Insider Podcast: Duke preview, George Karl and Nyla Harris join, remembering James Spurling
Jones Angell and Adam Lucas remember James Spurling (2:19), who passed away Thursday, and preview UNC vs. Duke (10:15).
George Karl discusses Carolina memories and the upcoming ABA Docuseries, "Soul Power" (29:35). Women's Basketball's
Nyla Harris joins (47:01). Plus: Tar Heels in the Super Bowl (25:19).
(
Listen To Podcast)
Fri Feb 6, 2026
Frontcourt matchup headlines UNC men's basketball's game against Duke
Caleb Wilson’s presence is matched by center
Henri Veesaar, who gives UNC the true center it lacked last season. Veesaar averages 16.8 points and nine rebounds per game, but his value extends beyond traditional post play. Shooting 46 percent from 3-point range, the 7-footer pulls defenders from the basket, opening driving lanes for UNC’s guards. (
Daily Tar Heel)
How Caleb Wilson can reach even greater heights for UNC basketball, NBA future
Caleb Wilson is setting scoring records, ripping rebounds and taking flight with rim-rattling dunks as a star freshman for UNC basketball. Even with all of the success through 21 games for the 14th-ranked Tar Heels (17-4, 6-3 ACC), Wilson has several ways of reaching new heights before he likely becomes a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. (
USA Today)
UNC's Place in the ACC Basketball Race
Not exactly sure how many teams are going to get into the NCAA Tournament, probably eight, which is a good number, but maybe not many on the top lines. Duke is angling for a number one seed. I think Virginia and Carolina, maybe NC State, if they close strong, maybe Clemson can push for a top four seed. That remains to be seen. We’re in February. (
Inside Carolina)
With 'circus coming, Hubert Davis tries to keep Tar Heels focused ahead of clash with Duke
Hubert Davis has spent the week trying to keep UNC's preparation like any other game ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Duke, even when everyone around the program knows "the circus" is coming. Davis, who has lived the rivalry from nearly every angle, acknowledged the unique spotlight that comes with the matchup and the challenges it creates. (
Tar Heel Tribune)
Video: Hubert Davis Thursday Pre-Duke Press Conference
North Carolina head men's basketball coach
Hubert Davis speaks with the media on Thursday ahead of the No. 14 Tar Heels' rivalry matchup against the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils on Saturday night at the Smith Center.
(
View Video)
Thu Feb 5, 2026
Tar Heels' Depth Coming Alive at Midpoint of ACC Play
You can pencil in UNC's top scorers most games.
Caleb Wilson,
Henri Veesaar, and Seth Trimble are scoring 61 percent of the Tar Heels' points. For much of the season, production past that trio had been inconsistent. One game, it was
Jarin Stevenson. Another was Luka Bogavac. Then it was Jonathan Powell. That unpredictability has changed. (
TarHeel247)