The North Carolina Tar Heels continue their unbeaten start to the 2025–26 season, improving to a spotless 5-0 after a closer-than-expected 73-61 win over Navy on Tuesday night.
While the victory margin wasn’t overwhelming, the performance further solidified UNC’s status as one of the most intriguing early-season teams in college basketball.
Despite the sluggish stretches offensively, the Tar Heels once again leaned on a combination of stifling defense and the superstar emergence of freshman forward Caleb Wilson. North Carolina held Navy scoreless for over seven minutes in the second half, flipping what was a tight game into a comfortable, controlled finish in the Dean Smith Center.
Wilson delivered yet another signature moment in what has quickly become a sensational freshman campaign. His 23-point, 12-rebound double-double marked his third-straight time reaching those numbers, cementing his place as one of the nation’s top first-year players and a centerpiece of UNC’s early-season identity. His energy, size, and versatility continue to elevate the Tar Heels in every major matchup.
UNC has already passed its biggest test of November, earning a résumé-shaping win over Kansas earlier in the month. That victory, combined with the team’s consistent execution in the nonconference slate, has helped establish North Carolina as a legitimate early contender in the NCAA Tournament picture. The Tar Heels look deeper, more connected, and significantly more dynamic compared to last year’s roster.
In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology update, North Carolina earned a 5-seed in the Midwest Region. It’s a placement that reflects both the upside and the growth still ahead for Hubert Davis’ squad. Lunardi projects the Tar Heels to face 12-seeded South Florida, a 3-1 team entering its Wednesday matchup at Oklahoma State.
The hypothetical first-round pairing is interesting for both programs. UNC barely slipped into the NCAA Tournament last season before shocking San Diego State in the First Four.
Conversely, South Florida is searching for its first tournament appearance since 2012. Both programs arrive at this projection with something to prove, though North Carolina’s ceiling may be significantly higher by March.
If UNC continues performing at its current level—particularly defensively and on the glass—its seed will almost certainly rise by Selection Sunday. Seeding can play a role in matchups, but history shows that it doesn’t always determine postseason success. Last March’s Tar Heel squad proved that point by demolishing the 2023 national runner-up Aztecs as an 11-seed.
This year’s team appears far better equipped for a deep run. The Tar Heels’ increased positional size, their added scoring punch, and the presence of multiple X-factor contributors all point toward a roster with championship-caliber ingredients. Depth is also a defining strength, with UNC showing more lineup flexibility than in recent seasons.
North Carolina now shifts its focus to an important road stretch, beginning with a trip to Florida for the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Tar Heels will open that event against St. Bonaventure before squaring off with Michigan State, a test that should further reveal the team’s defensive toughness and half-court organization.
Once the tournament wraps, UNC will stay on the road as it travels to Lexington for a marquee ACC–SEC Challenge matchup with Kentucky. This portion of the schedule represents one of the toughest segments UNC will face all year, offering a chance to build momentum or expose areas still in need of improvement.
As the Tar Heels continue to develop chemistry and refine their identity, their placement in Bracketology should shift upward—with the potential to climb quickly. For now, they remain a rising force in the early-season conversation, an undefeated team led by a freshman phenom, and a program steadily shaping into the kind of group that no one will want to see come March.
