Coming into Saturday afternoon's clash with Pitt , the North Carolina Tar Heels knew they'd have a tough task ahead on the basketball court.
UNC entered today's game already without Caleb Wilson, who broke his forearm during the Miami (FL) loss . Minutes before tip-off, North Carolina learned Henri Veesaar would not suit up.
No Wilson and Veesaar? No problem. With their entire starting frontcourt out, the Tar Heels showcased their depth throughout in a 79-65 victory over the last-place Panthers (9-17, 2-11 ACC).
Zayden High , who rarely plays off Hubert Davis' bench, enjoyed career bests of 15 points and seven rebounds. High earned himself opportunities for extensive minutes going forward – and will be a key part of UNC's (20-5, 8-4 ACC) future.
Jarin Stevenson , the hometown kid from Chapel Hill, led North Carolina with a career-high 19 points. Stevenson made 6-of-7 field goal attempts, plus his perfect 4-of-4 mark on free throws highlighted the Tar Heels' best performance at the line this season.
After struggling offensively at Miami, Seth Trimble responded with an 19-point outing, tying Stevenson and making a team-best eight free throws on nine attempts. Luka Bogavac continued proving himself as a needed leadership option and scoring threat, finishing his afternoon with 15 points, 10 of which came in the first half.
Fastbreak offense, a staple of UNC basketball, provd a deciding factor in the blowout win. North Carolina earned a 16-4 advantage on fastbreak points, consistently blowing by a struggling Pitt squad.
The Tar Heels hope they'll get Veesaar back for NC State on Tuesday, but in a day where injuries tested depth, guys stepped up and rose to the occasion.
What a response from the Tar Heels, who only played eight guys due to injuries on a 79-65 win over Pitt.
Jarin Stevenson and Seth Trimble each scored 19 to lead North Carolina.
Jarin Stevenson nails a 3-pointer with 4:15 left in the first half, extending UNC's lead to 76-57 with 3:57 left in the first half.
With the bucket, Stevenson now has 19 points on the day. That's a new career high for the Chapel Hill native.
Luka Bogavac continues shooting the basketball well for UNC today. His latest basket, a 3-pointer with 7:56 left in the second half, gave North Carolina a 70-48 lead.
This is the Tar Heels' first 20-point lead of the day.
The Tar Heels have a 62-45 lead over Pitt here in the second half. 11:51 left on the clock.
UNC's reserve center is hooping! Zayden High, who drew the start today in Henri Veesaar 's absence, just reached 10 points on a layup with 14:11 left in the second half.
10 points is a career high for the junior big man from San Antonio, Texas.
In a low-scoring start to the second half, UNC extends its lead over Pitt to 53-36 just 4:08 into the second half.
Derek Dixon nailed a 3-pointer to start the North Carolina scoring, while Jarin Stevenson and Luka Bogavac each have two points apiece in the second half.
Coby White (2018-19, top picture), Tyler Zeller (2008-2012, bottom left) and Drake Powell (2024-2025) are all in attendance today!
White is a new member of the Charlotte Hornets , while Powell plays for the Brooklyn Nets .
Thanks to a 3-pointer approximately two minutes into second-half action, Derek Dixon extends the Tar Heel lead.
Jarin Stevenson followed with a dunk moments later.
Jarin Stevenson, who grew up in Chapel Hill and played his high school basketball at nearby Seaforth (Pittsboro), has his second-straight game in double-figures.
Stevenson led the Tar Heels with 14 first-half points. At Miami (FL) on Tuesday, Stevenson poured in 13 points.
With all the injuries scattered across their roster, the Tar Heels are playing about as good a first half you can ask, leading Pitt 46-32 at halftime.
Jarin Stevenson leads all UNC scorers with 14 points, while Seth Trimble (13) and Luka Bogavac (10) join the hometown kid in double-digits.
Drake Powell played at UNC during the 2024-25 college basketball season, earning his team's Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Powell, now a member of the Brooklyn Nets, grew up and played his high school ball at Northwood in nearby Pittsboro.
The Tar Heels lead Pitt, 38-28, with 2:23 remaining in the first half.
Since the last media timeout, Seth Trimble (five), Jaydon Young (three) and Jonathan Powell (two points) all scored for North Carolina.
Jaydon Young nails a 3-pointer with 6:10 left in the first half, extending North Carolina's lead to 36-23 with 6:10 left in the first half.
The Tar Heels lead Pitt, 28-19, at a media timeout with 7:44 left in the first half. Jarin Stevenson and Luka Bogavac combined for North Carolina's last five points.
Powell, who played at UNC in the 2024-25 campaign, is now a member of the Brooklyn Nets.
Powell had his jersey retired at Northwood High school last week.
UNC takes a 23-15 lead into the first half's under-12 media timeout, which comes with 11:12 left on the clock.
Luka Bogavac has 10 points, Jarin Stevenson has five, Seth Trimble and Zayden High each have four points.
On a day where everyone needs to play their best basketball for UNC, Luka Bogavac is rising to the challenge.
Bogavac, an international guard from Montenegro, has 10 points through just under nine minutes into the first half.
The Tar Heels are 8-of-8 on field goals to start the game, building an 18-9 lead over Pitt.
UNC is a perfect 5-for-5 to start today's game against Pitt, carrying a 12-5 lead into the first media timeout, with 15:39 left in the first half.
Zayden High started the North Carolina scoring just 1:03 into the game, while Jarin Stevenson and Luka Bogavac each have five points.
Just 1:03 into the game, Zayden High gets the scoring party stated!
High back his defender down, sank a turnaround hook shot in the paint and gave UNC a 2-0 lead.
Jarin Stevenson followed moments later with a 3-pointer.
UNC will start Derek Dixon, Seth Trimble, Luka Bogavac, Jarin Stevenson and Zayden High.
Pitt will start Omari Witherspoon, Barry Dunning Jr., Nojus Indrusaitis, Cameron Corhen and Roman Siulepa.
Henri Veesaar, the Tar Heels' starting center who averages 16.4 points and nine re bounds per game, is confirmed OUT for today's game.
Has an illness and lower-body injury.
The Panthers mightbe without starting point guard Damarco Minor and starting center Cam Corhen, who appear in the injury report previously listed in this live blog.
This is in addition to leading scorer Brandin Cummings (12.5 points per game), who is a confirmed out.
Corhen averages 12 points per game and a team-best 7.5 points per game, while Minor averages a Pitt-best 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Caleb Wilson is a 5-tool player amongst the best overall players in college basketball. Just a freshman, Wilson leads UNC with 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Henri Veesaar, the ACC's leader in double-doubles, is expected to take on a major workload in Wilson's absence. If Veesaar is unable to go, Zayden High will likely play a full 40 minutes, particularly given no James Brown and Ivan Matlekovic.
TV Channel: ESPN
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Radio: SiriusXM (Channels 84 and 391)
Website: WatchESPN
The Tar Heels are fresh off a Tuesday night loss, but they remain a perfect 14-0 in Chapel Hill. Enter Pitt, which has just one road win.
This is exactly the type of trap game North Carolina needs to avoid. UNC will not have Wilson, but needs to realize there are plenty other contributors across the roster.
The Tar Heels should win this one easily.
Score prediction: UNC 84, Pitt 67
Spread: UNC -11.5
Total:O/U 144.5
Moneyline: Pitt +500, UNC -700
Oct. 4: Blue-White Scrimmage (White 55, Blue 50)
Oct. 24: at BYU (preseason, L 78-76)
Oct. 29: vs. Winston-Salem State (preseason, W 95-53)
Nov. 3: vs. Central Arkansas (W, 94-54)
Nov. 7: vs. Kansas (W, 87-74)
Nov. 11: vs. Radford (W, 89-74)
Nov. 14: vs. NC Central (W, 97-53)
Nov. 18: vs. Navy (W, 73-61)
Nov. 25: vs. St. Bonaventure in Fort Myers (Florida) Tip-Off (W, 85-70)
Nov. 27: vs. Michigan State in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (L, 74-58)
Dec. 2: at Kentucky (W, 67-64)
Dec. 7: vs. Georgetown (W, 81-61)
Dec. 13: vs. USC Upstate (W, 80-62)
Dec. 16: vs. ETSU (W, 77-58)
Dec. 20: vs. Ohio State in CBS Sports Classic (W, 71-70)
Dec. 22: vs. East Carolina (W, 99-51)
Dec. 30: vs. Florida State (W, 79-66)
January 3: at SMU (L, 97-83)
Jan. 10: vs. Wake Forest (W, 87-84)
Jan. 14: at Stanford (L, 95-90)
Jan. 17: at California (L, 84-78)
Jan. 21: vs. Notre Dame (W, 91-69)
Jan. 24: at Virginia (W, 85-80)
Jan. 31: at Georgia Tech (W, 91-75)
Feb. 2: vs. Syracuse (W, 87-77)
Feb. 7: vs. Duke (W, 71-68)
Feb. 10: at Miami (FL) (L, 75-66)
Feb. 14: vs. Pitt (2 p.m.)
Feb. 17: at NC State (7 p.m.)
Feb. 21: at Syracuse (1 p.m.)
Feb. 23: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)
Feb. 28: vs. Virginia Tech (TBA)
March 3: vs. Clemson (7 p.m.)
March 7: at Duke (6:30 p.m.)
March 10-14: ACC Tournament in Spectrum Center (Charlotte, N.C.)
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC showcases depth, scoring balance in big win over Pitt
