The 2025-26 UNC basketball team, complete with 11 new players, is quickly showcasing how great team chemistry is the key to success.
North Carolina currently sits 8-1 as of Tuesday, with quality wins over Kansas, St. Bonaventure, Radford, Kentucky and Georgetown. The Tar Heels obliterated Central Arkansas and NC Central, won closer-than-expected games over Radford and Navy, while suffering their lone loss against Michigan State.
In college basketball analyst Andy Katz’ newest Power 37 rankings, which list whom he thinks are the best 37 teams in college basketball, UNC slots in at 17th. North Carolina is one slot behind Vanderbilt, which is a perfect 9-0 and one slot ahead of Arkansas, which has a Top-10 win over Louisville.
The Tar Heels’ early-season success is anchored by their post duo of superstar freshman Caleb Wilson, one of college’s best and Henri Veesaar, a 7-foot Arizona transfer in his first season as a full-time starter. Wilson is averaging 19.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, while Veesaar isn’t far behind with 16.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Seth Trimble, UNC’s veteran shooting guard and team leader, is currently out with a broken forearm. That injury is leading to increased opportunities for Luka Bogavac, Kyan Evans and Derek Dixon, the last of whom anchored North Carolina’s second-half comeback at Rupp Arena.
Jarin Stevenson, an Alabama transfer and Chapel Hill native, is a valuable 3-and-D guy making notable impacts on games. Stevenson can give the Tar Heels 10 points on any night, work down in the post, live on the perimeter or guard the opponent’s top player.
UNC hosts USC Upstate this coming Saturday, ETSU next Tuesday, then heads to Atlanta for a December 20 neutral-site clash with Ohio State. Just how much better can North Carolina get heading into Christmas?
