North Carolina's Post Tandem of Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar Carried The Tar Heels To An Early-Season, Resume Win.

Last season, UNC dressed one of its smallest — and least effective — front courts in roughly 60 years. That lack of productivity in the post was the easiest way to explain how the Tar Heels were just the last team to make the NCAA Tournament's field of 68 in March.

But it's a new season in Chapel Hill with a different crop of forwards on the court. And it might be a new day, too, because the No. 25 Tar Heels leaned on their expensive, newly-constructed front line to take down No. 19 Kansas, 87-74, on Friday night.

Freshman phenom Caleb Wilson and Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar combined for 44 points. UNC outscored Kansas 48-20 in the painted area and dominated the battle on the glass, 39-27.

The Tar Heels' return to playing with a two-big lineup almost seemed like a nod to coaching legend Roy Williams, who was able to attend Friday's clash between the two programs he led in spite of a recent knee procedure.

Wilson is beginning to make his case to be considered among the top tier of freshmen in the nation. His busy stat line featured 24 points (on 9 of 12 shooting), seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, but the numbers don't fully capture his impact.

With UNC trailing by 10 nearing halftime, Wilson was the spark plug to help lead the rally. He dove on the floor for loose balls — often drawing fouls in the process — and his demonstrative style of play revved the large, engaged Smith Center crowd on numerous occasions. 

After the game, senior guard Seth Trimble said last season's team lacked a player who consistently made the effort plays like Wilson. He added, "Honestly, that's why we couldn't close out games."

WIlson outplayed the Jayhawks; freshman phenom Darryn Peterson, who had 22 points on 8 of 14 shooting. Along with BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Duke's Cam Boozer, Peterson is viewed as being in the nation's top rookie trio. 

However, with a few more performances like Friday night — or Wilson's productive, head-to-head outing against Dybanta in a preseason exhibition — Wilson might be in position to turn the top trio into a quartet.