North Carolina stayed undefeated Tuesday night, but nothing about its 73–61 win over Navy felt routine. The No. 18 Tar Heels improved to 5-0 for the first time since the 2022–23 season, yet the performance left fans equal parts encouraged, frustrated, and curious about what this team will look like once the competition stiffens at the Fort Myers Tipoff next week.
UNC showed flashes of dominance, particularly from star freshman Caleb Wilson and a defense that tightened the screws in key moments. But the lapses—offensively, mentally, and in key stretches of both halves—were impossible to ignore.
Here are three expanded and deeper observations from a win that was solid in result, shaky in execution, and revealing in ways that go beyond the box score.
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1. CALEB WILSON’S SECOND-HALF TAKEOVER CONTINUES HIS RAPID RISE
At just 18 years old, Caleb Wilson is already establishing himself as the emotional and physical spark North Carolina leans on. Tuesday night further cemented that emerging reality.
His early foul trouble disrupted UNC’s rhythm in the first half. When Wilson checked out after helping the Tar Heels jump ahead 16–6, the energy immediately sagged. Navy took full advantage, stringing together a 9–3 run that chopped the lead to four. Wilson’s absence was not just noticeable—it was glaring.
But once the second half began, Wilson made sure the entire game shifted around him.
After UNC endured a brutal offensive stretch—missing 12 of 13 shots straddling halftime—the freshman ignited a turnaround that the Midshipmen couldn’t answer. Wilson erupted for 15 of his team-high 23 points in the second half, finishing with another double-double thanks to 11 rebounds. It was his third straight, an especially impressive streak for a player whose game is still maturing.
Wilson’s defensive presence may have been equally important. Every one of his four blocks and three steals came after halftime, showcasing a player who doesn’t just score—he tilts the entire floor. His rim protection turned away Navy’s drives, and his quick hands created transition chances UNC desperately needed to regain momentum.
It’s becoming increasingly clear: Wilson isn’t just a promising freshman—he’s rapidly becoming the Tar Heels’ heartbeat. His combination of energy, timing, and talent makes him one of the most impactful young players in the country.
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2. UNC’S DEFENSE WAS RELENTLESS, PHYSICAL, AND A BIG REASON FOR THE WIN
Even during UNC’s ugliest offensive stretches, the defense kept the team afloat. In fact, the Tar Heels delivered one of their most locked-in defensive performances of the early season.
Navy was held to just 30.4% shooting for the game (21-for-69), including 28.6% from three. The Midshipmen found even fewer answers after the break, hitting only 11 of 38 shots (28.9%) as Carolina’s length and rotations suffocated their possessions.
The Tar Heels also finished with seven blocks, led by Wilson’s four and supported by Henri Veesaar’s two and Jarin Stevenson’s one. The timing on these blocks—often coming on drives late in the shot clock—made them momentum-swinging plays, not simply stat-padding moments.
North Carolina’s collective effort on closeouts, ball pressure, and interior contests was the stabilizing force on a night when offensive rhythm was sporadic at best. Navy rarely found clean looks, and even when they did, UNC’s rebounding presence forced second-chance attempts to be heavily contested.
If the Tar Heels needed a proof-of-concept game on defense, this was it. The communication was crisp, the rotations sharpened as the game progressed, and the effort rarely dipped even when the offense sputtered.
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3. A WIN IS A WIN—BUT THE TAR HEELS’ SLUGGISH MOMENTS ARE BECOMING A PATTERN
For the second time in three games, UNC allowed a comfortable lead to turn borderline uncomfortable because of lapses in focus, urgency, and execution.
A Cold Ending to the First Half
The Tar Heels went nearly five full minutes without a made field goal to close the half, missing seven straight shots and committing two turnovers. The offense became stagnant, the shot selection worsened, and spacing deteriorated. It was a stretch that allowed Navy to hang around far longer than they should have.
It wasn’t until Jarin Stevenson’s putback dunk with 17:38 left in the second half that UNC finally broke the drought.
A Concerning Late-Game Collapse
With 4:57 remaining, North Carolina held a commanding 68–44 lead. The game looked wrapped.
Then everything unraveled.
Navy went on a 15–0 run in just three minutes, slicing the lead to single digits and shaking what had been a largely comfortable home crowd. UNC’s offense rushed possessions, missed defensive boxouts, and turned the ball over while Navy surged with confidence.
The Tar Heels were outscored 17–5 in the final five minutes, marking yet another troubling late-game fade.
And It’s Not the First Time
Against Radford just last week, UNC led 86–63 with 3:43 left—only to be outscored 11–3 down the stretch.
These aren’t coincidences anymore. They’re trends.
With tougher opponents looming—especially at the Fort Myers Tipoff—UNC cannot afford these extended lapses. Against higher-level teams, these runs could cost the Tar Heels games, seeding, and momentum.
Additional Concerning Stat Lines
UNC turned the ball over 15 times, compared to Navy’s six.
The Tar Heels were outrebounded 13–9 on the offensive glass, a rare instance of an opponent winning that battle.
These details matter, and Hubert Davis will surely make them a point of emphasis before the next test.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
North Carolina is 5–0, and that deserves credit. The defense is trending upward, and Caleb Wilson looks like a future superstar. But the offensive inconsistency and late-game slippage are real issues that need immediate attention.
If the Tar Heels clean up these weaknesses, they have the talent, depth, and defensive ceiling to be one of the nation’s most dangerous teams. If not, they’ll be vulnerable to any opponent capable of stringing together a couple of hot minutes.
UNC survived Navy. Surviving better teams will require more.
