Through five games, the No. 18 North Carolina men’s basketball team continues to learn about its strengths, its growing players and, perhaps most critically, its lingering tendencies. Tuesday night’s matchup against Navy offered yet another mixed bag of encouraging moments and frustrating habits. At halftime in the Dean E. Smith Center, the Tar Heels held a 38-31 advantage — a comfortable margin on paper, but one that didn’t fully reflect the uneven nature of the opening 20 minutes.
UNC entered the contest looking to maintain its strong national ranking and sharpen the loose edges that have appeared in nearly every game so far. Offensively, the Tar Heels shot well early, converting 44 percent from the field and hitting a blistering 50 percent from behind the arc. Defensively, they forced tough looks and limited Navy’s interior production. Yet even with those positives, North Carolina still struggled to establish control in the ways that championship-level teams eventually must.
Two storylines dominated the first half: the Tar Heels’ continued difficulty with sluggish starts, and the encouraging emergence of junior wing Luka Bogavac as a steady offensive weapon. Together, these themes framed an opening frame that was promising, problematic and revealing — all at the same time.
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1. Slow Starts Continue to Hold UNC Back
If there’s one pattern North Carolina can’t ignore, it’s the habit of easing into games rather than attacking from the opening tip. Tuesday night added another chapter to that ongoing narrative.
Despite leading 38-31, the Tar Heels never fully seized momentum. They committed five turnovers to Navy’s two, and several of those giveaways came on careless passes or rushed decisions. Against a disciplined opponent like the Midshipmen, miscues can give life to a team that thrives on patience and precision.
While a seven-point halftime cushion might be enough against Navy, it becomes far more problematic when placed in the context of the season’s first four games. Again and again, UNC has relied on strong second-half bursts to pull away — an exciting approach, but not a sustainable one. Good teams can overcome slow starts. Great teams prevent them.
The issue isn’t talent. When first-year forward Caleb Wilson and junior center Henri Veesaar have been on the floor, UNC’s offense has looked fluid, controlled and confident. Both players space the court well, make smart reads and open up opportunities for shooters and slashers. But when they sit, the offense often loses its rhythm, relying heavily on individual shot-making rather than movement and flow.
As conference play and marquee non-conference matchups approach, those slow starts could prove costly. Against teams like Michigan State or Kentucky — both of whom are on the horizon — spotting early possessions or allowing opponents to dictate tempo is a recipe for unnecessary pressure.
For now, the Tar Heels have time to adjust. The pieces are in place, and the team has repeatedly shown that once they settle in, their ceiling is high. But the urgency to begin games with sharper execution is becoming increasingly clear.
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2. Luka Bogavac Finds His Offensive Rhythm
While the first half exposed some recurring issues, it also showcased one of the most encouraging developments of the young season: Luka Bogavac’s growing confidence and offensive efficiency.
Bogavac’s journey to this moment hasn’t been simple. After working through eligibility and clearance hurdles, the junior wing entered the year with expectations of providing scoring depth, floor spacing and wing versatility. Yet through the first four games, he struggled to find consistency, shooting just 29 percent from three and 40 percent from the field. The potential was there, but the rhythm wasn’t.
Tuesday night, however, looked different.
Bogavac erupted for a team-high 12 points in the first half, shooting 3-for-4 from the floor and a perfect 2-for-2 from deep. Every shot came within the flow of the offense — no forcing, no hesitation, just smooth, purposeful basketball. His pace control was noticeably improved, and his decision-making more poised. Rather than rushing into contested looks, Bogavac let plays develop, stepped into his shots with confidence and attacked with balance.
His emergence comes at a crucial time for the Tar Heels. With senior guard Seth Trimble sidelined for an extended stretch due to injury, UNC needs another reliable scoring option on the perimeter. Bogavac has the shooting mechanics, the size and the instincts to fill that role, and his first-half performance against Navy suggested he may finally be turning a corner.
Beyond the box score, Bogavac’s improvement affects UNC’s overall structure. A confident third-option scorer forces defenses to stay honest, opening lanes for creators and reducing pressure on veteran leaders. If Bogavac continues his upward trajectory, he could become one of the team’s most important pieces — not just for depth, but for big-game moments.
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Looking Ahead
The Tar Heels are far from a finished product, and that’s not a bad thing. A seven-point halftime lead against Navy won’t make headlines, but the underlying lessons are valuable. UNC must find ways to avoid the sluggish starts that have plagued them, especially with high-level opponents drawing near. And they should feel encouraged by Bogavac’s growing confidence, which may prove vital in the weeks ahead.
As the second half unfolds and the season progresses, the goal remains simple: turn potential into consistency. If the Tar Heels can pair sharper early execution with the emergence of new offensive threats, their ceiling will rise — and so will their postseason prospects.
