Story by
Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar Made UNC History That Tar Heels Must Replace
- Story by
- Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar Made UNC History That Tar Heels Must Replace
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The 2025-26 season for North Carolina didn't exactly go as planned on the basketball court, though I don't think it was a bad season by any means. Still, since the year didn't end with a national championship, I can understand why some fans weren't too happy with it.
North Carolina is expected to win year in and year out, and if that doesn't happen, it's typically viewed as a disappointment.
Advertisement
However, when we sit back and look at some of the players, the numbers they put up, and more, it wasn't as bad a season as it might sound.
To make matters even crazier, this was actually the best production that North Carolina has gotten from a frontcourt in 66 years. With Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar averaging the numbers they did, this was the first time two North Carolina players had done so since the 1959-60 season, according to the latest.
"Freshman forward Caleb Wilson (19.8 points per game, 9.4 rebounds per game) and junior center Henri Veesaar (17 ppg, 8.7 rbg) were the first UNC teammates to average at least 16 points and 9 rebounds since Lee Shaffer (18.2 ppg, 11.2 rbg) and Doug Moe (16.8 ppg, 11.3 rbg) did it in the 1959-60 season.
"After ending a 66-year drought in Chapel Hill with their production in the post, Wilson and Veesaar are preparing for their NBA careers and Malone has to find a way to replace the irreplaceable," Rodd Baxley wrote.
Advertisement
I'm not surprised to see that Veesaar and Wilson put up some historic numbers, as both of them were a pleasure to watch on and off the court. However, I also think this raises questions about what North Carolina will look like next year without both of them on the roster.
I'm not too worried about next season, especially with Michael Malone as the head coach, as I'm impressed with what he did offensively in the portal in terms of adding guards, but that doesn't answer all of the questions in the frontcourt, so I can understand where the questions will come from.
