With Henri Veesaar out for UNC, NC State took full advantage in Wolfpack win

North Carolina center Henri Veesaar was listed as out two hours ahead of Tuesday night’s rivalry matchup with N.C. State at Lenovo Center. Without Veesaar or Caleb Wilson available for UNC, the No. 16 Tar Heels lost 82-58 to an unranked N.C. State team.

After the game, N.C. State coach Will Wade highlighted the fact that the Tar Heels were without a “top three or four pick” in Wilson, and another “potential first round pick” in Veesaar.

“I mean, they were down some bodies against Pittsburgh, and played really, really well,” Wade said, referencing UNC’s win on Saturday. “It gives other guys opportunities. Zayden High’s really come on. He’s been playing well. But, I mean, we just needed to win.”

That they did. And it certainly helped the Wolfpack that North Carolina was without its star freshman — who himself has hinted he may be back by early March — and Veesaar, whose timetable for return seems even murkier after missing two games.

“His outlook is day to day,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said Tuesday night, following the loss. “Every day, he’s getting better. In regards to the lower extremities, he’s getting better. Also, you know, with his flu, he’s making huge strides every day. And every day we’ll evaluate to see when he’s available to practice. And then when he’s able to practice, when he’s able to play.”

A team spokesperson said Monday night that Veesaar is no longer ill, and his current status is tied to the lower-body issue.

On the ACC coaches teleconference Monday morning, Davis had a similar statement on Veesaar’s progress.

“He had the flu, and that’s just not for one day,” Davis said on the Monday morning ACC coaches teleconference. “He is feeling a lot better from that. And then, the lower-body extremity (injury), it’s getting better every day... he’s getting better on both ends.”

Veesaar was ruled out shortly before tipoff against Pitt on Saturday after being labeled a game-time decision. He dressed but did not participate fully in pregame warmups at the Dean E. Smith Center, appearing with tape around his left ankle/Achilles area. On Tuesday night at Lenovo Center, Veesaar didn’t participate in any pregame activities outside of an occasional rebound for his teammates during shootaround.

Veesaar, an Arizona transfer, is averaging 16.4 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 61.5% from the field — a mark that ranks top-25 in the nation. There is no known timeline for his return.

As UNC did against Pitt on Saturday, the Tar Heels started Jarin Stevenson and Zayden High against N.C. State.

High finished with his first career double-double on 13 points and a career-high ten rebounds. He was by far the most active UNC player in the first half, recording 10 of the team’s 26 total points before halftime. Stevenson recorded seven points and seven rebounds in the first half and finished with 13 and nine.

North Carolina faced off against the most efficient Power Four shooter in the nation: Ven-Allen Lubin. The former Tar Heel who transferred to Raleigh last offseason entered Tuesday night averaging a career-best 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in the post. He finished with 12 points and six rebounds in a win over his former team.

Senior Quadir Copeland, who Davis said reminded him of former UNC player Theo Pinson ahead of Tuesday night, had his way with the Tar Heels — particularly by bullying his way to the paint. Copeland finished with 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals.

“I feel like he controlled the game,” Davis said. “His talent out there is real... he really is persistent and stubborn in getting to the basket.”

North Carolina has a chance to respond — with or without Veesaar — when the Tar Heels travel to Syracuse to face the Orange on Saturday at 1 p.m.

This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 5:10 PM with the headline "With Henri Veesaar out for UNC, NC State took full advantage in Wolfpack win."