By Jalon DixonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe North Carolina Tar Heels may be inching closer to getting one of the nation’s best freshmen back on the court. Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis provided a positive update Thursday regarding standout forward Caleb Wilson as UNC prepares for its rivalry matchup with Duke.
Wilson has missed the last six games after fracturing a bone in his left hand during North Carolina’s Feb. 10 loss to Miami. But according to Davis, the freshman is making steady progress in his recovery process and continues to ramp up his individual workload.
“He is progressing,” Davis said Thursday when discussing Wilson’s status. The Tar Heels coach explained that the freshman has been able to participate in controlled individual sessions as he works his way back toward full activity. “He’s been doing individual workouts. Since we played on Tuesday, we didn’t have practice yesterday and we’ll practice today. He’ll do more today. But other than that I don’t have any other information.”
The update provides cautious optimism for North Carolina ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated rivalry game against Duke. While Wilson has not yet been cleared for full-contact five-on-five action, he has begun participating in non-contact basketball activities, including dribbling and shooting.
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Wilson’s Absence Has Tested North Carolina’s Depth
...Wilson’s injury initially raised concerns for a Tar Heels team with championship aspirations. The 6-foot-10 freshman had quickly emerged as North Carolina’s most productive player before the setback.
In 24 games this season, Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 57.8 percent from the field. He also contributed heavily on defense, averaging 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
The freshman’s impact has been particularly evident in big games. In five matchups against ranked opponents this season, Wilson averaged 20 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals, helping UNC post a 4-1 record in those contests.
Despite losing their leading scorer and rebounder, the Tar Heels have responded well in his absence. North Carolina has gone 5-1 over the last six games without Wilson, improving to 24-6 overall and 12-5 in ACC play. Davis believes the stretch has helped the team grow in several ways.
After Thursday’s practice availability, Davis reflected on how the group has responded since Wilson’s injury, praising the team’s collective effort and adaptability.
“I think individuals have stepped up and played extremely well,” Davis said. “I feel like as a group, one of the things that we always talk about is, ‘Whatever it takes.’ And I feel like they have taken hold of that. And if we need to stop, we get a stop. If we need a basket to execute, we get it done. And just their ability to adjust on the fly and perform out there on the floor has been really good with this group.”
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Return Timeline Remains Uncertain
...Although Wilson’s progress is encouraging, his exact return date remains unclear. The freshman previously stated on social media that he intends to return before the end of the season.
North Carolina has already secured the No. 4 seed and a double-bye in the ACC Tournament, which begins next week in Charlotte. The Tar Heels will open tournament play in the quarterfinal round on March 12. Still, Davis emphasized that postseason positioning is not influencing the staff’s approach to Wilson’s recovery.
“Our focus is on Duke and our game on Saturday,” Davis said. “That’s the only conversations that I’ve had with the team, only conversations I’ve had with the coaching staff, and that’s where our focus is: for us to play our best on Saturday.”
Whether Wilson returns against Duke or later in March, his presence could significantly raise North Carolina’s ceiling as postseason play approaches.
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