North Carolina
Wilson More Than Ready for North Carolina-Duke Showdown
The North Carolina Tar Heels host the Duke Blue Devils at the Dean E. Smith Center on Saturday night in a game that Hubert Davis’ team needs to win to keep their aspirations for the ACC regular season title alive.
Freshman forward Caleb Wilson has been a major factor in North Carolina’s success this season, averaging 20 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 58.1 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range.
While speaking with the media on Thursday, Wilson shared his mindset on the game, while sharing Seth Trimble’s advice entering this specific contest.
Wilson’s Thoughts
- “He said it’s the biggest game in your life,” Wilson said about Trimble’s advice. “And I think it’s [going to] be fun. Honestly, I don’t really care about the crowd. I mean, me personally, I’m really excited to go play at Duke too. I like to be the villain in games. And I just think it’s [going to] be a lot of fun. That’s really how I’m looking at it, no matter the crowd, no matter the environment, no matter the atmosphere. It’s still a basketball game.”
These types of games build legacies for players, but Wilson is treating this game as any other, focusing on finding a way to win on Saturday.
- “For me personally, you’ve got to get a win, man. I’m not [going to] lie,” Wilson said. “If I want to be a legend and I want to submit my name in history, this is a very good opportunity for me to do it. And it’s a very good time for our school and our team to just have some pride, dignity and get a win in the win column.”
On the other side of this matchup is Duke’s freshman forward Cameron Boozer, who, similar to Wilson, is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. North Carolina’s star forward discussed Boozer’s strengths and shared their relationship off the court, as both were teammates in travel ball in high school.
- “He just plays basketball in a very mature way,” Wilson said. “He’s definitely a great offensive rebounder. He has ability to score in a lot of different ways, a great passer. So, it’s all about just keeping physicality with him, and keeping body contact and just trying to limit his catches and stuff like that.”
- “We talk occasionally, and we were definitely close,” Wilson continued. “Won a national championship, so I mean it was definitely a lot of fun, and winning brings everybody together. We haven’t talked this week.”
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The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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