Immediate Thoughts Following UNC Overcoming Hangover to Beat Radford

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - On this episode of the Tar Heels Insider Podcast, beat writer Grant Chachere recapped North Carolina's 89-74 win over Radford, improving to 3-0. He discussed Luka Bogavac’s standout performance, how the team struggled early due to the absence of Seth Trimble and early foul trouble, and how the Tar Heels can improve moving forward.

To hear his thoughts on the game, check out the video below.

Here is a partial transcript from Luka Bogavac’s media availability after the game.

On how UNC’s fan base has embraced him..,

UNC — Nov 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels fans celebrate after the game at Dean E. Smith Center. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

We spoke every day about our crowd, our fans. It's amazing in just this short time, how they love me, how they show me the lobby. I just have one thing in my head when I step on the court dress, to keep them back, also, because there are, as I said, six men. They push us, and they will push us for sure during the whole year.

So I just here in my mind to give, give back that this love and thanks, thanks to them because I saw everywhere, and how they love me. They're sharing my name. So I really love this, and I will try every single game just to the give them back something, you know.

How Ivan Matlekovic and Henri Veesaar have helped him transition in Chapel Hill…

Nov 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) scores as Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga (40) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

for sure, even it's his (Ivan Matlekovic) second year here, so he knows a little bit how things go. So for me, the first month or second was just, you know, I was just asking everything about, you know, about the practices, the style, how we practice. Everything is kind of different where I played before, I think in general, in Europe. So I think now I feel more comfortable. And with the time, just getting more comfortable.

On how the environment at the Dean Smith Center during the Kansas game compares to the environments he played in Europe…

UNC — Dean Smith Center | Grant Chachere, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI

I mean, I come from the countries where basketball is everything, so honestly, I watched, I didn't play in atmosphere like that, but I was really close to the game that atmosphere was maybe more crazier. So it was amazing. I think every single game is amazing atmosphere. Never mind vis Kansas or some other team. But I just tried to bring the people to like, to pay the arena every single year.

The biggest difference between playing basketball in America and Europe…

UNC, UNC Basketball — Lika Bogavac attempting a free throw; Nov. 4 | Jackson McCurdy, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI

I mean, maybe the pace here, the pace, it's different. Thanks, different. So I think just this. Freedom to play a lot of transition plays. Not a lot of half-court sets. So it's different.

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