Caleb Wilson Comes Home, Belichick Denied, UNC Women's Tennis Takes Down No. 1
Plus: Antawn Jamison gives back, Mitch Mason update, Women's hoops heads to Raleigh, Crystal Dunn retires
I hope everyone is safe and warm as many of us continue to dig out of the snow. Since we last caught up, Caleb Wilson had a happy homecoming in Atlanta, Bill Belichick was denied election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot, UNC Women’s Tennis took down No. 9 NC State and No. 1 Georgia, soccer legend Crystal Dunn retired, and more. On to the updates…
🏀 Basketball
No. 16 UNC took care of business against Georgia Tech on Saturday, 97-75 in Caleb Wilson’s homecoming. Here are some noteworthy nuggets from the win:
Caleb Wilson scored 22 points and set two UNC freshman records. It was his 21st consecutive game scoring in double figures, the longest streak to begin a career by a freshman and it was his 15th 20-point game.
The Tar Heels committed just 2(!) turnovers, which were the fewest ever by UNC on the road.
UNC also set a school record for fewest turnovers in consecutive games with six (four at Virginia and two at Georgia Tech).
Carolina will need to put that win behind them quickly, though, as they have a short turnaround before hosting Syracuse on Monday (7:00, ESPN).
Caleb Wilson has obviously been a star on the offensive end of the court all season, but he’s starting to be recognized for his defensive abilities as well. Wilson was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List on Thursday.
It was also announced that Carolina Basketball will face Kentucky in the 2026 CBS Sports Classic on Dec. 19 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Kansas will face Ohio State in the other half of the double-header.
And the Smith Center will be this site of ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday, Feb. 7 ahead of UNC’s game against Duke.
Per ESPN producer (and UNC alum) Bryan Ives, Saturday will mark the 88th meeting in which both Duke and North Carolina are ranked. That is 47 more than any other matchup. In those games:
North Carolina: 44 wins, 77.9 PPG
Duke: 43 wins, 77.4 PPG
Two Tar Heels very familiar with the North Carolina-Duke rivalry, Makhtar N’Diaye and Antawn Jamison reunited recently at the invitation of the Dakar Youth Olympics Committee to work with basketball players in N’Diaye’s home country of Senegal. N’Diaye posted a great photo gallery on Instagram of Jamison’s first trip to Africa.
