UNC Basketball Shockwave: Tar Heels Stun Duke in Overtime Classic—Watch the Must-See Highlights

North Carolina men’s basketball returns to the Smith Center tonight looking to stretch its perfect start when the No. 18 Tar Heels (2-0) welcome Big South contender Radford for a 7 p.m. tip on ACC Network. Carolina’s Hot Start • Hubert Davis’ revamped roster announced itself with back-to-back blowouts, routing Central Arkansas 94-54 and then earning an early résumé win over No. 19 Kansas, 87-74. • The offense is humming at 51 percent from the floor and 42 percent from three, marks UNC hasn’t hit in consecutive season-openers since 2021-22. Freshman Phenom Emerges • Five-star forward Caleb Wilson has seized the spotlight, averaging 23.0 points on 81 percent shooting and becoming the first Tar Heel freshman ever to top 20 points in each of his first two games. His efforts earned him both ACC Player and Rookie of the Week honors. • Wilson headlines a balanced starting five that also features Arizona transfer center Henri Veesaar (17.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and junior point guard Kyan Evans, who leads UNC in assists, steals and made threes. Trimble’s Injury Alters Backcourt Rotation Senior captain Seth Trimble—responsible for 94.5 percent of Carolina’s returning scoring—will miss several weeks after breaking a bone in his left forearm during Sunday’s practice. Expect sophomore Luka Bogavac and freshman sharpshooter Trey Parker to absorb Trimble’s minutes while Evans shoulders heavier play-making duties. Why Radford Could Test UNC • The Highlanders are 2-0, averaging 85.5 points behind veteran guards Kenyon Giles and Bryan Antoine. • Radford’s up-tempo attack forced 18 turnovers per game last week; UNC has coughed it up just 9.0 times per contest, setting up a pace-and-poise chess match. • Carolina is 3-0 all-time versus Radford, but the teams haven’t met since an 86-70 UNC win in 2023 that stayed close until the final five minutes. Key Numbers to Watch 1. Three-Point Line: UNC is +21 in made threes through two games; Radford hit 25 triples last week. 2. Board Battle: Veesaar and freshman Jarin Stevenson anchor a front line outrebounding opponents by 14.0 per game. 3. Bench Boost: Carolina’s reserves average just 12.0 points; tonight could demand more depth as Davis manages minutes during a five-game homestand. What’s Next After Radford, the Heels host NC Central on Friday before an eight-day break, then travel to Fort Myers for Thanksgiving clashes with St. Bonaventure and Michigan State. Maintaining momentum—and integrating new rotation pieces without Trimble—will be critical heading into that neutral-site gauntlet. Bottom Line With a top-20 ranking restored and a star freshman igniting early buzz, UNC basketball has rekindled excitement in Chapel Hill. A convincing performance against an experienced Radford squad would reinforce the Tar Heels’ status as ACC front-runners and keep search-traffic surging as college hoops fans track Caleb Wilson’s rapid rise and Carolina’s march toward 500 wins in the Dean Dome.