When North Carolina Tar Heels came out of the locker room on Friday night, they weren’t just chasing a lead—they were rewriting history. Down by 10 at halftime to the Kansas Jayhawks, the Tar Heels unleashed a second-half offensive explosion that left Allen Fieldhouse’s legacy in the dust and handed Kansas its first loss in five straight meetings. The final: 87-74 at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, November 7, 2025. It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.
A Half of Frustration, Then a Storm
For 20 minutes, Kansas Jayhawks looked every bit the seasoned powerhouse. Led by freshman phenom Darryn Peterson, who dropped 22 points, they controlled the tempo, bullied the paint, and made UNC look sluggish. At halftime, the score was 37-29—Kansas’s largest lead in the series since 2022. Fans in Chapel Hill held their breath. After all, Kansas had won the last five matchups, including the 2008 Final Four, 2012 Elite Eight, and 2022 national title game. They’d never lost here. Not once.Then came the second half.
And everything changed.
Senior guard Seth Trimble, who’d been quiet in the first half, turned into a human highlight reel. Back-to-back fast-break layups in the opening 90 seconds—no hesitation, no mercy—had Kansas coach Bill Self waving his arms in disbelief and calling timeout before the first media break. It was the spark. The turning point. The moment the Dean Dome erupted.
The Trio That Turned the Tide
Trimble finished with 17 points—13 of them after halftime. But he wasn’t alone. Freshman Caleb Wilson, who’d already dropped 22 in the opener against Central Arkansas, added 24 here, hitting mid-range jumpers like they were open gym shots. And then there was Henri Veesaar, the transfer from University of Arizona, who played like a man possessed. Twenty points. Nine rebounds. Three blocks. He didn’t just guard the paint—he owned it.
And don’t forget Kyan Evans. Zero points in the first half. Twelve in the second. A perfect 5-for-5 from the field. The kind of performance that makes coaches whisper, “We’ve got something here.”
UNC shot 66.7% in the second half. 24 of 36. That’s not luck. That’s execution. Kansas, meanwhile, fell to 33% shooting after the break. The ball stopped moving. The shots stopped falling. The energy? Gone.
What Kansas Lost—And What UNC Gained
This wasn’t just about points. It was about momentum. About belief. Kansas came in as the more experienced program—five national titles in the last 20 years, a legacy of March magic. But Friday night, they looked like the team still learning how to win on the road. Peterson was brilliant, but he was isolated too often. No help. No rhythm.
For UNC, it was the opposite. The ball moved. The defense switched. The bench contributed. The crowd roared. And for the first time since 2021, the Tar Heels beat Kansas in a game that mattered—not just a non-conference tune-up, but a statement win on national TV.
“We knew we were better than that first half,” said Trimble after the game. “We just had to stop thinking about what they’ve done. Start thinking about what we can do.”
Betting Lines, Analysts, and the Shockwave
Oddsmakers had this as a toss-up. FanDuel had UNC favored by 1.5. Action Network had them at -2.5. Analysts were split. Sandy Plashkes, who’d been hot all week, took UNC -1.5. Sean Paul, who’d lost big on upsets lately, doubled down on UNC -2.5. But CBS Sports? They picked Kansas +1.5, betting Peterson would thrive under pressure.
They were wrong.
And now? The ripple effects are already starting. UNC, now 2-0, extends its five-game homestand with Radford on Tuesday. Kansas, 1-1, heads back to Lawrence with a bitter taste—and questions about their ability to win away from Allen Fieldhouse.
Why This Matters Beyond the Box Score
This win isn’t just a notch on the wall. It’s a signal. To the ACC. To the NCAA Tournament committee. To every team that thought UNC was still rebuilding.
They’re not.
Wilson is a top-10 recruit playing like a veteran. Veesaar brings size, grit, and experience from a Pac-12 contender. Trimble? He’s the glue. The leader. The guy who doesn’t flinch when the lights are brightest.
And for Kansas? They’re still dangerous. But now, they’re vulnerable. The aura of invincibility in this rivalry? Shattered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did UNC’s shooting improve so dramatically in the second half?
UNC shot just 33% in the first half but exploded to 66.7% (24 of 36) after halftime. The key was ball movement—18 assists in the second half, up from just 7 in the first. Players like Trimble and Wilson found rhythm by attacking closeouts, while Veesaar’s presence in the paint forced Kansas to collapse, opening up perimeter shots. The Tar Heels also took better care of the ball, turning it over only three times in the second half after seven in the first.
What’s the historical significance of this win for North Carolina?
This was UNC’s first win over Kansas in Chapel Hill since 2005—and only their second ever at the Dean E. Smith Center. It also snapped a five-game losing streak against the Jayhawks that included three NCAA Tournament meetings. The win gives the Tar Heels their first 2-0 start since 2021 and proves they can beat elite, veteran teams without relying solely on NBA prospects.
Why did Kansas struggle so badly after halftime?
Kansas’s offense stalled because UNC’s defense tightened up, especially on the perimeter. After allowing 11 three-pointers in the first half, the Tar Heels held Kansas to just 1-of-8 from deep in the second. Darryn Peterson, while scoring 22, was forced into 12 difficult shots after the break. Kansas also had only 11 assists in the second half, down from 17 in the first, indicating a breakdown in ball movement and trust.
How did Henri Veesaar’s transfer from Arizona impact this game?
Veesaar brought elite post defense and rebounding discipline from the Pac-12, where he played under a system that emphasized spacing and physicality. He outrebounded Kansas’s entire frontcourt 9-7 and blocked three shots—two of them on critical possessions in the final eight minutes. His ability to anchor the paint allowed UNC to switch more aggressively on screens, disrupting Kansas’s pick-and-roll game entirely.
What’s next for North Carolina and Kansas?
UNC continues its five-game homestand with Radford on November 11, followed by a showdown against Michigan State on November 15—a potential top-10 matchup. Kansas returns home to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on November 11 before hosting top-10 Baylor on November 18. Both teams now have clearer paths to the NCAA Tournament, but UNC’s win has vaulted them into the national conversation as a legitimate contender.
Was this game a turning point for college basketball this season?
It could be. UNC’s win over a top-20 team with veteran leadership and elite second-half execution signals a shift in the ACC’s balance of power. Meanwhile, Kansas’s inability to close on the road raises red flags for their March hopes. With the NCAA Tournament field still fluid, this game may be remembered as the moment UNC reasserted itself as a national force—and Kansas showed cracks in its armor.