It happened again. Just when you think North Carolina has finally figured out how to travel, they go and drop two straight in Northern California. Honestly, losing to Stanford on Wednesday was frustrating enough. But the 84-78 loss at Cal this past Saturday? That was something else entirely.
If you’re looking for the latest north carolina tarheel basketball news, the headline isn't just the score. It’s the way they lost. This team, currently sitting at 14-4 overall and a shaky 2-3 in the ACC, looked like they were stuck in mud for the first twenty minutes in Berkeley.
The 54-Point Nightmare
Let’s be real: you cannot give up 54 points in a single half and expect to win a basketball game in the ACC. Period.
Cal came out firing, hitting 10 of their first 16 three-pointers. It felt like every time a Bear player looked at the rim, the ball went in. Justin Pippen—yeah, Scottie’s son—and Dai Dai Ames were basically doing whatever they wanted. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, the Tar Heels were down 54-37. It was the worst defensive half UNC has played against a conference opponent since 2008.
Hubert Davis looked stunned on the sideline. You've seen that look before. It’s the one where he’s trying to figure out why his veteran-led defense is suddenly playing like a pickup team at the YMCA.
Derek Dixon’s First Start
One bright spot in the recent shuffle of north carolina tarheel basketball news was the insertion of freshman Derek Dixon into the starting lineup. He replaced Jarin Stevenson, who has been struggling mightily with his shot lately.
Dixon didn't disappoint. He finished with 14 points and knocked down four triples.
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- Caleb Wilson: 17 points, 5 rebounds.
- Henri Veesaar: 14 points, 10 rebounds (9th double-double).
- Derek Dixon: 14 points in 29 minutes.
- Seth Trimble: 12 points, 4 assists.
The comeback attempt was frantic. UNC actually cut the lead to 77-73 with about three minutes left. But then, typical 2026 Tar Heels, they went cold. They didn't make a field goal for almost four minutes at the end of the game. That’s how you lose a winnable road trip.
The Problem With the Big Men
Is anyone else worried about the frontcourt? Henri Veesaar is putting up numbers—14 and 10 is a solid night—but he’s shooting 60% from the free-throw line. As a team, Carolina shot a pathetic 17-for-28 (60.7%) from the stripe against Cal.
You can't win titles if you can't make free throws.
And then there's the defense. The "drop coverage" that Hubert Davis loves so much is getting shredded by guards who can pull up from mid-range. Stanford did it. Cal did it. If they don't fix the ball-screen defense before Duke comes to town in February, it’s going to be a long night in the Smith Center.
ACC Standings and the Road Ahead
Currently, the Heels are tied for 8th in the ACC. That’s not where a top-15 team belongs.
| Date | Opponent | Result/Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 14 | at Stanford | L, 90-95 |
| Jan 17 | at Cal | L, 78-84 |
| Jan 21 | Notre Dame | 7:00 PM ET |
| Jan 24 | at Virginia | 2:00 PM ET |
The upcoming schedule is a "get right" opportunity, but Notre Dame isn't the pushover they used to be. Then they have to go to Charlottesville. We all know how much fun it is to play in the "Tony Bennett slog" at JPJ. If UNC doesn't find their defensive identity in the next 72 hours, 2-3 in the ACC could easily become 2-5.
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Recruiting and the Long Game
While the on-court product is a bit of a roller coaster, the 2026 recruiting news has been a mix of "yay" and "wait, what?"
They landed Maximo Adams, a four-star small forward who fits the Hubert Davis mold perfectly. He can stretch the floor and run. But they've cooled off on some of the elite power forwards they were chasing. Rumor has it some of these kids are waiting to see if this coaching staff can actually develop big men into NBA lottery picks.
Armando Bacot was great, but he was a traditional post. Veesaar and Wilson are "modern" bigs, and the jury is still out on whether this system maximizes their potential.
Why This Slide Actually Matters
This isn't just a "bump in the road," as Seth Trimble called it. It's a pattern.
The Tar Heels have lost three of their last four. The wins they do have—like the one over Wake Forest—were narrow escapes. The defense is giving up nearly 70 points a game, which ranks them in the bottom half of the country in defensive efficiency.
Honestly, the biggest piece of north carolina tarheel basketball news might be the growing chatter about Hubert Davis's contract. He’s signed through 2030, and his buyout is roughly $5 million if they were to move on after this season. Nobody is saying he’s on the hot seat yet, but the "honeymoon phase" from that 2022 Final Four run is officially over. Fans are starting to ask why the same defensive lapses keep happening year after year.
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What Needs to Change Now
First, the rotation needs to tighten.
Playing 10 guys isn't working when nobody knows their role. Hubert needs to pick his seven warriors and ride with them.
Second, they have to stop settling for threes. Against Cal, they took 27 triples and made 9. When you have a guy like Caleb Wilson who can get to the rim at will, why are we watching 20 seconds of perimeter passing?
Lastly, they need a leader. Seth Trimble is trying, but he’s naturally a quiet guy. Someone needs to get in people's faces when they miss a defensive rotation.
Your Tar Heel Checklist for This Week
If you're following the team, keep an eye on these three specific things over the next two games:
- Free Throw Percentage: If they stay below 70%, they are in deep trouble.
- Defensive Transitions: Watch how fast they get back after a missed shot. Cal beat them for 18 second-chance points; that’s pure effort.
- The Bench Production: Jarin Stevenson needs to find his confidence. If he doesn't, the starters are going to burn out by March.
The talent is there. Caleb Wilson is a pro. Henri Veesaar is a double-double machine. But talent without discipline is just a recipe for another early exit in the tournament.
Stop by the Smith Center this Wednesday. The Notre Dame game is basically a "must-win" if this team wants to stay in the hunt for a double-bye in the ACC Tournament. If they lose that one, the panic button won't just be pushed—it'll be smashed.
Go ahead and clear your Wednesday night. 7:00 PM. ACC Network. Let’s see if they actually care about playing defense this time.