Heel Tough Blog: NC State Recap

ESPN

It was a disappointing night for Carolina Basketball on Tuesday, as the Tar Heels went to Raleigh and lost to NC State 82-58, in a game that wasn’t even that close if we’re being honest. Now the Tar Heels were once again without Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, but that’s no excuse for the lack of fight, which drew the ire of Hubert Davis in the postgame press conferences. Carolina was able to mask not having their top two scorers on Saturday against Pitt, scoring 79 points, and shooting 47% from the field, but that offensive success did not make the bus ride to the Lenovo Center. Carolina shot a season low 32% from the field, and went just 5-33 from behind the arc, for an even worse 15%. Zayden High recorded his first-ever double-double, in just his second UNC start, and Jarin Stevenson added 13 & 9, but they were the only two UNC players to score in double figures. 

State was looking to bounce back after back-to-back losses, and they responded in a big way, led by their emotional leader, Quadir Copeland, who was the best player on the floor. He set the tone for State, talking trash to Carolina players in the pregame warmup lines, before going out and scoring 20 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and handing out 7 assists. For all of the offensive struggles UNC experienced last night, State shot 48% from the field for the game, and 45% from behind the arc, on 9 makes, as 5 NC State players scored in double figures for Will Wade. 

Last night was Carolina’s worst loss to NC State since 2002, and the worst overall loss since 1959, back when the matchups went more in favor of the Wolfpack than the Tar Heels. Unfortunately, Carolina isn’t guaranteed to see NC State again, as the ACC schedule makers only scheduled one matchup between the two schools after dropping the league schedule down to 18 games. It’ll mark the first time since 1919 that the Wolfpack won’t play a regular-season game in Chapel Hill. The best that Carolina can hope for is to see NC State next month in the ACC Tournament, where hopefully Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar will be healthy enough to play for UNC. 

The Tar Heels may have been without 42% of their scoring and 46% of their rebounding, but there’s no excuse for the lack of competitive fight and spirit the team showed last night in the blowout loss. That display had Hubert Davis lost for words when he spoke to Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network, as the Tar Heels suffered their worst loss of the 2025-26 season so far: 

1. Shot Selection: Even with Wilson and Veesaar on the sideline, Carolina still had a size advantage, yet Carolina was reluctant to shoot shots from the perimeter, as 33 of their 60 shots were from behind the arc. The issue was that Carolina wasn’t able to make the number of threes they needed to make on the volume of shots that they took, as they went just 5-33 from deep, for 15%. You have to give State credit, they made it hard for any of Carolina’s guards to get the bal inside via the pass or the dribble, resigning the UNC offense to settle for contested shot after contested shot. But given how successful Zayden High and Jarin Stevenson were on the inside, it doesn’t make sense why Carolina wasn’t stubborn about getting them the basketball, where they had the size advantage on the interior. 

2. Pick-6 Turnovers: Carolina knew going into the game they couldn’t afford to give the ball away, leading to easy points in transition, but that’s exactly what they did, turning the ball over 12 times, leading to 16 points for NC State. Four UNC starters committed at least one turnover, with three starters committing at least two turnovers, highlighted by High’s four turnovers. On the flip side, Carolina wasn’t able to turn State over, forcing just 4 turnovers, and scoring three points off of them. When you are -13 in terms of points off turnovers, combined with the poor shooting night, it’s going to be hard for any team to win, home or away. 

3. Rotation: With Wilson expected to be sidelined for at least two more weeks, Hubert Davis may need to consider a change to his startling lineup. Luka Bogavac continues to be inconsistent in a starting role and might benefit from a return to the bench. Jonathan Powell played 26 minutes last night, scored 9 points on 3-8 shooting, and grabbed 5 rebounds, while coming off the bench. He needs to play those type of minutes on a much more consistent basis, both while Carolina is injured, and even when the roster is fully healty again. I’d like to see him in the starting lineup on Saturday at Syracuse. 

4. Poor Guard Play: Carolina’s starting backcourt combined to score 9 points on 3-21 shooting, including being just 1-12 from behind the arc. It doesn’t get any better if you add the reserves stats to the total, as Kyan Evans was held scoreless, and Jaydon Young scored 5 points, but on 2-6 shooting. Simply put, when that’s the production you get from your entire backcourt, it’s going to be hard to win or be competitive, which Carolina did neither last night. 

5. Veesaar Update: According to head coach Hubert Davis, UNC big man is day-to–day, after missing back to back games, dealing with the flu, combined with a lower-body injury. With nearly 5 days off in between games, the hope is for Veesaar to be able to play on Saturday against the Orange. 

Up Next: Carolina hits the road for their penultimate road game of the 2025-26 season, as they travel to Syracuse to take on a reeling Orange team. Tip is set for 1 PM on ABC. 

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