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UNC basketball is back in the winner’s circle after a 77-64 win at Syracuse.
The 16th-ranked Tar Heels (21-6, 9-5 ACC) saw Henri Veesaar return to the starting lineup and got contributions up and down the roster to complete a season sweep of the Orange (15-13, 6-9) at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Despite Syracuse’s mediocre record, it’s a big victory for UNC, which has struggled in ACC road games this season. The Orange entered the game at No. 72 in the NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) rankings. If Syracuse remains inside the top 75, the road win will remain a Quadrant 1 result for the Tar Heels.
Currently projected to be a No. 6 seed in most brackets, the Tar Heels entered the weekend as a projected No. 5 seed, according to USA TODAY’s March Madness bracketology.
HIGHLIGHTS: Henri Veesaar, UNC basketball beat Syracuse: Score, highlights
Here are three observations from UNC’s win at Syracuse.
After missing two games with a lower-body issue, UNC center Henri Veesaar returned to the starting lineup, finishing with 19 points, three rebounds and three blocks in 26 minutes. Veesaar scored nine points in the first half, with two rebounds, two blocks and three turnovers in 13 minutes. The 7-footer scored seven points during a key stretch in which UNC made seven shots in a row. When he exited the game late in the first half, Veesaar was riding a stationary bike before returning.
There were no noticeable signs of sluggishness from Veesaar, who had 10 second-half points and made 9 of 13 shots against the Orange. His two-handed dunk capped an 8-0 run in which UNC took control. As has been the case throughout the season, Veesaar’s production is vital to UNC’s success. He didn’t let the Tar Heels down at Syracuse.
Following a poor showing at N.C. State, UNC guards Seth Trimble and Luka Bogavac stepped up on the perimeter to give the Tar Heels some punch in the backcourt. Trimble, a senior captain, sparked a key 8-0 run in the second half after a scoreless first half. He supplied 13 points, five rebounds, two steals and played all 20 minutes in the second half. Trimble made his last five shots.
Bogavac had great pace throughout the game, picking his spots to finish with 13 points, six rebounds and two assists. That rebound total matched Bogavac’s season-best effort and he made 5 of his 10 shots. UNC is a different squad when its guards are balancing things out offensively.
In two games without Henri Veesaar, reserve center Zayden High averaged 14 points and 8.5 rebounds. Coming off the first double-double of his career, High had nine points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. He had a late technical foul, but also provided one of the key plays of the game in the first half when he dove on the floor for a steal and called a timeout to give UNC an extra possession. He also made a corner 3-pointer in the second half to give UNC a double-digit lead. High’s infectious energy remains important for a UNC frontcourt dealing with injuries.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball observations from Tar Heels' win at Syracuse
Continue reading...
The 16th-ranked Tar Heels (21-6, 9-5 ACC) saw Henri Veesaar return to the starting lineup and got contributions up and down the roster to complete a season sweep of the Orange (15-13, 6-9) at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Despite Syracuse’s mediocre record, it’s a big victory for UNC, which has struggled in ACC road games this season. The Orange entered the game at No. 72 in the NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) rankings. If Syracuse remains inside the top 75, the road win will remain a Quadrant 1 result for the Tar Heels.
Currently projected to be a No. 6 seed in most brackets, the Tar Heels entered the weekend as a projected No. 5 seed, according to USA TODAY’s March Madness bracketology.
HIGHLIGHTS: Henri Veesaar, UNC basketball beat Syracuse: Score, highlights
Here are three observations from UNC’s win at Syracuse.
Henri Veesaar stats for UNC basketball vs Syracuse
After missing two games with a lower-body issue, UNC center Henri Veesaar returned to the starting lineup, finishing with 19 points, three rebounds and three blocks in 26 minutes. Veesaar scored nine points in the first half, with two rebounds, two blocks and three turnovers in 13 minutes. The 7-footer scored seven points during a key stretch in which UNC made seven shots in a row. When he exited the game late in the first half, Veesaar was riding a stationary bike before returning.
There were no noticeable signs of sluggishness from Veesaar, who had 10 second-half points and made 9 of 13 shots against the Orange. His two-handed dunk capped an 8-0 run in which UNC took control. As has been the case throughout the season, Veesaar’s production is vital to UNC’s success. He didn’t let the Tar Heels down at Syracuse.
Seth Trimble, Luka Bogavac step up as Tar Heel guards
Following a poor showing at N.C. State, UNC guards Seth Trimble and Luka Bogavac stepped up on the perimeter to give the Tar Heels some punch in the backcourt. Trimble, a senior captain, sparked a key 8-0 run in the second half after a scoreless first half. He supplied 13 points, five rebounds, two steals and played all 20 minutes in the second half. Trimble made his last five shots.
Bogavac had great pace throughout the game, picking his spots to finish with 13 points, six rebounds and two assists. That rebound total matched Bogavac’s season-best effort and he made 5 of his 10 shots. UNC is a different squad when its guards are balancing things out offensively.
Zayden High gives UNC another great effort vs Orange
In two games without Henri Veesaar, reserve center Zayden High averaged 14 points and 8.5 rebounds. Coming off the first double-double of his career, High had nine points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. He had a late technical foul, but also provided one of the key plays of the game in the first half when he dove on the floor for a steal and called a timeout to give UNC an extra possession. He also made a corner 3-pointer in the second half to give UNC a double-digit lead. High’s infectious energy remains important for a UNC frontcourt dealing with injuries.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball observations from Tar Heels' win at Syracuse
Continue reading...
