Heel Tough Blog: Central Arkansas Recap

@UNC_Basketball

The Tar Heels opened the 2025-26 season in a big way, earning a 94-54 win over Central Arkansas, in the only tuneup before the showdown with Kansas later this week. Carolina did what it was supposed to do against a team preseason picked to finish in the bottom of the ASUN, and was preseason ranked 346th according to KenPom, but don’t let that overlook how good the new look Tar Heels looked, on their way to their 21st straight season-opening win. Five players scored in double-figures, including four starters, headlined by freshman sensation Caleb Wilson, who poured in 22 points in 25 minutes, with seven of his eight made baskets coming in the dunk variety. Along with him, Kyan Evan (15), Henri Veesaar (14), and Seth Trimble (12), were the other UNC starters to score in double figures, with Luka Bogacac adding 10 off the bench. Speaking of Luka Bogavac, it looked as if the international transfer would miss the season opener, waiting to be cleared by the University, but with just over 30 minutes until tip, he was cleared to play, and he came off the bench, playing 20 minutes. For the game, Carolina shot 51% from the floor, and even though they were just 10-29 from behind the arc, seven different Tar Heels made at least one three, headlined by Kyan Evans going 4-7. But it was the defensive end of the floor, where Carolina really shined, holding the overmatched Bears to 31% shooting for the game, 28% shooting from behind the arc, and they forced 17 turnovers, which were turned into 19 points. Hubert Davis has stressed how good they can be, and how good they have to be defensively, and with a much longer, versatile, and athletic lineup, they are certainly poised to do just that. 

This is the first time since March of 2020 that Carolina Basketball played a game that didn’t feature RJ Davis, a sign that the Roy Williams Era is officially over, and that this is finally Hubert Davis’s roster and program. It’s no secret the pressure he is under entering this season, and it’s not ideal that he’s relying on 11 newcomers to save his job status, but that’s the reality of coaching college basketball in 2025-26. With that in mind, though, for the first time, he has a roster that features legitimate depth, lineup versatility, giving him more to work with, including his magical NCAA Tournament run in his first year on the job, and what he was able to do two years ago, leading Carolina to an ACC Championship. The good news? Every member of that revamped roster impacted the game in some fashion tonight. Here’s what to take away from the dominant win over Central Arkansas: 

1. Caleb Wilson Shines in Official Debut: After posting double-doubles against BYU and Winston-Salem State in exhibition play, expectations were even higher for Caleb Wilson in his official UNC debut, and he didn’t disappoint, scoring his first four baskets via the dunk to energize the crowd and the team right from the start. Central Arkansas had no answer for his size, and Wilson did a great job posting up on the block, receiving quality entry passes, and simply turning and dunking over smaller opponents. His 22 points in 25 minutes are a sign that he can be an efficient scorer, without playing on the perimeter. He did connect on the lone triple he shot, and if he can shoot 37-38% from outside, it’s really going to open the floor for himself and his teammates. Wilson’s 22 points are the most by a freshman in his UNC debut, since Cole Anthony scored 34 against Notre Dame back in November of 2019. 

2. Other Debuts: How about Henri Veesaar? In his first game as a Tar Heel, the Arizona transfer recorded his first-ever double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, His size and length were too much on the interior, where he was able to power his way to the rim for easy buckets in the paint. He was also a menace on the offensive glass, grabbing four offensive rebounds, reminding Carolina fans what it’s like to dominate on the offensive glass. After being cleared just 30 minutes before tip, Luka Bogavac scored 10 points in 20 minutes, appearing to still be in rhythm, after missing the two exhibitions. Among the other transfers, Kyan Evans (15), Jarin Stevenson (5), Jaydon Young (5), and Jonathan Powell (3) all managed to impact the game in a positive manner. 

3. Kyan Evans Delivers: After two uneven performances in the exhibitions, the jury was out on Carolina’s newest point, Kyan Evans, who struggled with his shot and his decision-making in the preseason. That wasn’t the case tonight, as Evans scored 15 points, on 5-8 shooting, including 4-8 from behind the arc, along with 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in 25 minutes. The more that he plays, the more comfortable he’ll become in the Carolina system, and it’s a system that his skill set has the potential to thrive in. What makes Evans such an easy kid to root for is how hard he plays regardless of his individual struggles, and you know that even if his scoring isn’t there, his defense and his effort will. That couldn’t be said about the guy manning the position just a year ago, and that’s a huge relief to his head coach. 

4. Perimeter Shooting: Carolina will need to shoot better from behind the arc starting on Friday, but of their 10 makes, seven different Tar Heels made at least one three, and that type of balanced perimeter scoring is more valuable than you probably realize. Only Kyan Evans made more than one three, but there were times where Carolina had 3 or 4 perimeter shooters that had to be accounted for, and that simply wasn’t an option last season. 

5. Special Teams: Carolina was dominant in all the secondary categories tonight, scoring 19 points off turnovers, adding 18 second-chance points, 26 bench points, 46 points, and 26 points in transition. That’s a recipe for a winning formula against mid-amateur competition, and the likes of Kansas, which visits Chapel Hill later this week. 

Up Next: Carolina hosts the aforementioned Kansas Jayhawks, Friday at 7 PM, with the game to be broadcast on ESPN.