It was the sort of easy, sleepy type of victory that is actually pretty rare when the Tar Heels head down to Atlanta and play against Georgia Tech. Carolina won by 16 in a game that stayed in that point range from the end of the first half, and scored 91 with two different Tar Heels hitting the 20-point mark. A big reason it was an easier win? Our player of the game, Caleb Wilson.
Wilson was the leading point scorer with 22, but that isn’t the reason he takes the title. He didn’t actually score any
points until 7:45 left in the first half, as Georgia Tech had decided they were not going to let the Tar Heels dominate them inside. Playing a great team game, Wilson countered this by passing out of double teams, and the Tar Heels took advantage of the defense by passing it to the open play for threes.
Then when Caleb decided it was time to get into the game, he really got into the game.
This was five minutes after his first basket, and he went from zero to 12 points with that thunder. He decided he needed to lay it down one more time in the last minute to finish the half. That also included a made three-pointer that came off some outstanding passing by the group as well as a three-point play.
Despite their best efforts at defending down low, Henri Veesaar still recovered from his rough outing last weekend to be the other Tar Heel to finish with 20 points, doing so despite being in foul trouble and playing only 30 minutes total. While Wilson was out to the slower start and Carolina was trying every which way to shoot three-pointers, Veesaar kept Carolina in it with great play and a made three of his own. On just about any other game he would be the guy to get top billing.
Seth Trimble also had one of his best games of the season, just barely missing on the 20 point mark himself with 18. He was strong in his drives and looks to be getting more comfortable in his role with this version of the team. He did so on 8-14 shooting with a made three. Unlike the rest of the Tar Heels he concentrated on his shots being down closer to the basket, and it was much needed.
Another player of note was Luka Bogavac. Bogavac scored 16 in one of his best performances as a Tar Heel, and appears to be getting his comfort with American basketball with each passing game.
Still Caleb Wilson is far and away the choice for player of the game. He got to enjoy a second game in front of his friends and family in Atlanta, and also several distinguished Tar Heels. He demonstrated continued growth in his game, and gave fans perhaps the highlight of the day with his amazing gather and dunk in the first half as Carolina took control of the game. Here’s hoping that all of these elements coming together allow them to bounce back quick for a Monday date against Louisville.
