What we learned about UNC basketball from its narrow exhibition loss at BYU
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Exhibition at BYU served as road test; UNC fell 78-76 in final seconds.
- Roster features 11 newcomers and one returning rotation player, Trimble.
- Caleb Wilson led with 22 points, 10 rebounds; Bogavac eligibility remains unclear.
UNC coach Hubert Davis said there would be “huge benefits” to playing BYU in a preseason exhibition like this. And, on Friday night in Salt Lake City, the team got just that: an early-season test on the road that went down to the wire.
Facing No. 8 BYU at the Delta Center, North Carolina battled to the final seconds before falling, 78-76, in its first public tune-up of the 2025-26 season. For a Tar Heel team featuring 11 newcomers and just one returning rotation player in Seth Trimble — who had a chance to tie the score late on a tightly-contested drive to the basket in the game’s final seconds — the two-point defeat offered more insight than any closed-door scrimmage could.
Freshman Caleb Wilson paced UNC with 22 points on 9-for-17 shooting and added 10 rebounds, three blocks — both team-highs. Trimble, the Tar Heels’ lone senior starter, combined with Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar for 31 points and 15 rebounds. Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans led the team in assists with five.
Luka Bogavac, the highly-touted Montenegrin guard who joined UNC this offseason, traveled with the team to Utah but did not suit up Friday. The university hasn’t yet determined Bogavac’s eligibility status and the timeline on a decision is still unclear.
The NCAA has already approved his eligibility for the upcoming season.
“Institutionally-wise, we’re working on it,” Davis said Wednesday of Bogavac’s status, “and we’re making progress.”
The Tar Heels return home to face Winston-Salem State in their second and final exhibition on Wednesday, before the 2025-26 season officially tips off against Central Arkansas on Nov. 3.
But after one game, albeit an exhibition, UNC fans already have a better idea of what they can expect from this squad. Here’s what we learned:
Wilson looks ready right away
If there was any question about whether Wilson could make an immediate impact at North Carolina, Friday night in Salt Lake City provided a resounding answer.
The freshman forward looked every bit the part of a future star, leading the Tar Heels in three statistical categories in his unofficial debut. Wilson’s versatility and competitive edge were unmistakable. He attacked the glass, created turnaround shots with little-to-no-space and showed rare poise for a first-year player — even taking late-game shot-making into his own hands.
“I feel like I do so much,” Wilson said earlier this month. “I feel like, in whatever case needed to be, I’m going to be able to do what it takes. If I needed to just rebound the basketball, that’s what I’ll do. I think I pass the ball just like a guard. I think I rebound like a four or five, and I think I’m athletic as a three, two or one.”
Wilson matched up head-to-head with BYU’s heralded freshman AJ Dybantsa — a projected top NBA draft pick — and held his own. He blocked Dybantsa at one point — celebrating with a yell and grin.
The freshman prides himself on his defense. In a press conference earlier this month, Wilson shared he watches film of defenders like Marcus Smart and Tony Allen “a lot.”
“I watch videos of little things that they would do or look for when they’re playing … it’s a lot of things, like small things, that I look at,” Wilson said in early October. “[Film review] allowed me to make smart decisions without fouling.”
Sloppy execution costs North Carolina
Exhibition or not, the Tar Heels’ loss offered a reminder that even the most talented teams can’t escape the fundamentals.
North Carolina committed 19 turnovers and 23 fouls. The team turned the ball over four times in the opening four minutes. By halftime, UNC had already piled up 11 turnovers, several coming from moving screens or forced passes into heavy traffic.
Still, the Tar Heels found themselves in position to win late. North Carolina never fell behind by more than eight points — already a promising sign considering the team’s propensity to dive into deep deficits last season — and then tied the game at 71-71 on a free throw from Alabama transfer and Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson.
A defensive breakdown led to a wide-open corner three by BYU’s Kennard Davis Jr. with two minutes remaining. After Veesaar and Robert Wright III each scored, an untimely foul by Dybantsa — who made contact with Trimble as he rose up for a three — gave North Carolina a chance in what was a two-possession game. Trimble’s last-second drive was soon blocked at the rim, sealing the narrow defeat.
When Davis called games like this beneficial, this was precisely the type of test he meant — a real opponent exposing real areas for growth. The turnovers, fouls and late-game execution should all serve as valuable teaching points for the team moving forward.
Newcomers show promise behind Trimble’s steady hand
While Davis’ core rotation is still unclear, one thing was already evident Friday: how seamlessly several newcomers are already fitting into Davis’ system — all guided by the steady presence of Trimble.
The senior finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, leading the charge in both intensity and composure. Trimble attacked the rim, made a few flashy dunks in transition, drew fouls and sank three clutch free throws in the final minute to give UNC a chance.
His leadership stood out clearly amid the chaos of a first game featuring 11 new faces in Tar Heel uniforms.
“I’ve always seen myself as a leader,” Trimble said earlier this month. “In high school, I was always the guy who pushed my teammates. I was always the guy who got on my teammates when needed… that’s just who I want to continue to be. It helps people. It allows people to grow when there’s that leadership. I think I’m capable of doing it.”
Around Trimble, a handful of transfers and freshmen provided encouraging flashes.
Veesaar scored 14 points and controlled stretches of play inside, showing his mobility, court vision and soft finishing touch. Stevenson added shot-making and spacing, while Evans and Dixon handled primary ball-handling duties alongside Trimble.
All displayed moments of chemistry — quick passes, smart cuts, and improved cohesion in the second half — that hint at a high ceiling once the group gains more experience playing together.
This story was originally published October 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM.