UNC basketball 10 thoughts through 10 games for Tar Heels in 2025-26 season

UNC basketball is 10 games into its 31-game schedule in the regular season.

Ranked No. 15 in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll and No. 14 in the AP Top 25, the Tar Heels (9-1) are off to their best 10-game start since the 2017-18 season.

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Here are 10 thoughts on the Tar Heels through 10 games in the 2025-26 season.

UNC basketball NCAA Tournament resume, NET ranking is good

The Tar Heels have put themselves in position to avoid bubble talk and welcome the conversations around the possibility of earning a top-four seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. After a 1-12 record in Quadrant 1 games last season, UNC is 2-1 in Q1 games and 20th in the NET rankings as of Dec. 14. According to EvanMiya’s metrics, the Tar Heels are 16th in resume quality as a projected 3-5 seed.

Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar giving Tar Heels what they need

UNC’s frontcourt didn’t look like a UNC frontcourt last season, but the Tar Heels have a vintage duo on the interior this year with Caleb Wilson (19.4 points per game, 10.6 rebounds per game) and Henri Veesaar (16 ppg, 9.2 rbg). That duo remains on pace to become the first Tar Heel teammates to average at least 16 points and 9 rebounds per game since Lee Shaffer and Doug Moe in the 1959-60 season. Wilson, a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, leads the nation in dunks (31) and has seven double-doubles through 10 games, including four with at least 20 points. Veesaar has been a menace out of pick-and-roll situations and is making 43% of his 3-point attempts.

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UNC defense leaning on length, versatility

Hubert Davis wanted to improve UNC’s positional size and versatility in the offseason. So far, the plan is working out. UNC is third nationally in effective field-goal percentage defense (42.1%), which would be the program’s best mark in the KenPom era (since at least 1997).

UNC was solid with Seth Trimble injured, but he’ll be back soon

Senior guard Seth Trimble has missed eight straight games after averaging 14.5 points…

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Publish date : 2025-12-15 10:08:00

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