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Feb 23, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Ryan Conwell (3) shoots as North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) and forward Zayden High (1) defend in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels have seen their bench expand in recent weeks.

Feb 23, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Ryan Conwell (3) shoots as North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) and forward Zayden High (1) defend in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels have seen their bench expand in recent weeks.

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Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Naithan George (11) drives against North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jarin Stevenson (15) during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

UNC is 3-1 without Caleb Wilson over the last four games.

Feb 23, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) shoots as Louisville Cardinals forward Khani Rooths (9) and guard Ryan Conwell (3) and forward Sananda Fru (13) defend in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels illustrated their all-cylinder ceiling Monday night.

Feb 23, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Luka Bogavac (44) passes the ball as Louisville Cardinals forward Khani Rooths (9) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels picked up an impressive win over the Cardinals in a pivotal ACC matchup.

Barrage of 3-pointers didn't help Louisville Monday night.

Seth Trimble's career night led UNC to critical ACC victory.

Here are the best reactions from the Tar Heels' victory over No. 24 Louisville Monday.

Feb 23, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Ryan Conwell (3) passes the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jonathan Powell (11) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels picked up a statement win over the Cardinals at the Dean E. Smith Center on Monday night.

Feb 14, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) and center Henri Veesaar (13) on the bench in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels went 1-1 last week while dealing with injuries

These 2 keys will lead UNC to a win.

Feb 14, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Isaiah Denis (5) and forward Caleb Wilson (8) react on the bench in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels are 2-1 without Wilson

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jonathan Powell (11) and center Henri Veesaar (13) react during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels square off against the Cardinals on Monday night at the Dean E. Smith Center.

The Cardinals have multiple players to attack Tar Heels.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) drives against Syracuse Orange guard J.J. Starling (2) during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels recovered from a 24-point loss with an impressive victory over Syracuse.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis looks on during the first half against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels will need their supporting cast to step up against the Cardinals on Monday night.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange guard J.J. Starling (2) drives against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Derek Dixon (3) during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels' well-balanced attack proved too much for the Orange on Saturday.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) reacts to a play past Syracuse Orange forward Tyler Betsey (5) during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels bounced back with an impressive win on the road against Syracuse.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange forward William Kyle III (42) drives against North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels bounced back from a 24-point loss on Tuesday with a win over Syracuse.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jonathan Powell (11) and center Henri Veesaar (13) react during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels showed a bit more life in their win on Saturday afternoon.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis looks on during the first half against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels enter a daunting stretch in the final weeks of the regular season.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis looks on during the first half against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels require a strong finish to the season to improve position in the upcoming tournament.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) dunks during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Veesaar was a welcome sight Saturday against Syracuse

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Zayden High (1) reacts during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels demonstrated good and bad in their victory on Saturday.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) drives against Syracuse Orange guard J.J. Starling (2) during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

See the social media buzz as North Carolina gets back in the win column.

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) shoots against Syracuse Orange forward William Kyle III (42) during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels overcame a slow start, eventually taking control in the second half.