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#UNC center Henri Veesaar and guard Seth Trimble press conference ahead of Saturday's game at #Duke
Mar 5, 2026
#UNC center Henri Veesaar and guard Seth Trimble press conference ahead of Saturday's game at #Duke
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0:00
So, all right. So, I guess, yeah, just
0:02
to start, um, Hubert was just telling us
0:04
about these, um, handbooks that you got
0:07
at the beginning of the season with, I
0:09
guess, circles with each of the players
0:11
names and they were all connected. So,
0:13
hopefully I'm describing that right. Um,
0:14
but just what was your reaction maybe at
0:17
the time when you got that? And then
0:19
what does that idea of like the circle
0:21
come to mean for you guys this season? I
0:24
mean, uh, I feel like he just kept
0:26
saying all the time it's like the center
0:28
circle, like it has a lot of meanings,
0:30
but he just meant like a team is a
0:32
circle overall. Like everybody's in it
0:34
and we all fight for each other and
0:36
everybody's equal and just kind of being
0:38
able to kind of keep everybody,
0:40
especially during this part of season
0:42
like we'll keep everybody in this team
0:43
just in the circle and not let any other
0:45
people in. Don't let anybody pull you
0:46
out. It might be some other people
0:49
telling you, "Hey, you got to do this
0:50
with your game. You got to do this."
0:51
like in a game look for this like be
0:53
more selfish or do more this. So it's
0:55
like just more keeping all the noise
0:57
outside and just kind of keeping it
0:59
inside the team and do what's best for
1:00
the team right now and win as many games
1:01
as we can.
1:02
>> Henry
1:03
>> Henry every team football basketball
1:05
beginning year always has some kind of
1:06
slogan but doesn't always materialize.
1:08
At what point this year did you maybe
1:10
realize that this slogan that Shelby
1:12
just asked you about was kind of
1:14
becoming a part of who this team is? I
1:16
think it was I feel like yeah over the
1:18
season it kind of like progresses and it
1:21
gets more meaning but I think already
1:22
over the summer that's where everybody
1:25
might be fighting for the role everybody
1:27
we competing against each other but at
1:28
the end of the day we're all teammates
1:29
we all want the same thing we want the
1:31
to be as good as you can so I feel like
1:34
it's just overall building and over the
1:36
summer like the coaches did a really
1:38
good job of like for example the Outer
1:39
Banks trip and just like having outside
1:42
of basketball activities we were all
1:44
connecting building our chemistry and I
1:46
think this year it's helped us a lot
1:48
because I think we're a resilient group
1:49
who fights together and everybody wants
1:51
the best for each other.
1:52
>> Quick follow up on that. Is that why you
1:54
guys have been able to overcome some of
1:55
the deficits that you've had? You've won
1:56
games when you've been out rebounded by
1:58
12 for example.
1:59
>> I think part of it is for sure. I think
2:01
it definitely shows in the part where we
2:04
can have players out for a game or and
2:06
then everybody steps up and you can see
2:09
how Caleb like a star player. He's on
2:11
the bench celebrating for everybody
2:13
else. anybody who's not playing or is or
2:16
is playing a lot of minutes celebrates
2:17
everybody's and wants everybody do good.
2:19
There's nobody who just like I don't
2:21
want anybody do too good cuz it might
2:23
take my minutes, it might take my
2:24
opportunities. Everybody just
2:26
celebrating each other and wishing the
2:27
best for all of us.
2:28
>> Noah, then Brett,
2:29
>> going off that a little bit when you
2:31
guys break down the huddles, you guys
2:32
say just us, I think, right?
2:34
>> Yeah.
2:34
>> What how does that sort of how will that
2:36
come alive going into a game like this
2:38
in an environment like this? How does
2:39
that sort of really come alive for you
2:41
guys? I think for sure it's going to
2:42
mean a lot for us cuz it's a hostile
2:44
environment. People definitely going to
2:46
be rooting against us. Uh the fans there
2:48
are really close to the court. So, but
2:50
at the end of the day, our spot, we can
2:53
control the narrative of the game, the
2:54
way we play. Anybody who's not on the
2:56
court can't control the outcome. So,
2:58
just staying cool, not letting maybe the
3:00
fans might say or try to poke at you,
3:02
try to get you a little bit angry or
3:04
respond or interact with them. So, just
3:06
staying cool throughout the game,
3:08
concentrate on the game, and go play by
3:10
play.
3:12
right over here on the left then
3:14
>> were you at Arizona when um when they
3:16
played at Cameron a couple years ago. Um
3:19
and what do you remember about that
3:21
experience and how different do you
3:22
think this might be now that you're a
3:23
member of the arrival?
3:26
>> Uh I remember that game a lot. Uh, I
3:28
sadly was hurt that game, but yeah,
3:30
watching my teammates play and Caleb,
3:33
Kesha, they had both really good games
3:35
that game and just kind of the
3:38
atmosphere was hostile and I felt like
3:40
we did a really good job that game
3:41
staying cool and collective and just
3:44
keep going at it, keep going at it. Know
3:46
that you can't win a game in one play.
3:48
It's going to be step by step. Just try
3:50
to go one for one as much as you can
3:52
throughout the game. But I think overall
3:55
it's this time is going to be definitely
3:57
more hostile and the fans are going to
3:58
be a little bit more crazier and I'm
4:00
sure that they're ever since we beat
4:03
them they have been waiting to play us.
4:04
So I think it's going to be a great
4:05
game.
4:06
>> How much do you think that the
4:07
experience you have staying calm and
4:09
collected in that environment might help
4:10
this time?
4:11
>> Uh I think it's definitely going to help
4:13
just knowing what we're walking into
4:15
kind of gives me an experience of I
4:17
obviously didn't play but just seeing
4:19
the environment seeing what it takes to
4:20
win there. Murf and Spencer
4:23
>> Henry, we see what Caleb's like on the
4:25
sidelines, how into the game that he is.
4:27
H how away from the spotlight. What's it
4:30
been like since he's been out about him
4:32
wanting to get in the game? Can you can
4:34
you feel that he wants to play? Um and
4:36
has he been sort of itching? Can you get
4:37
that sense as a teammate?
4:39
>> Uh for sure. I feel like we're good
4:41
friends. So just seeing him even
4:43
probably the next day after it happened
4:45
and to tell him that his hand is broken.
4:47
He was just he's been trying to get on
4:50
the court. He's like thinking about it
4:51
every single day just talking to just
4:53
saying like, "Oh, I hope I can play
4:55
Duke. I hope I can get ready for
4:56
Clemson." Or just he's been always
4:58
really proactive. He's done a lot with
4:59
Doug. Obviously worked every day with
5:01
him. Just try to give the best chance he
5:03
can to get on the court.
5:05
>> You're going to have to keep his jersey
5:06
here in Chel Hill to keep him off the
5:07
court there.
5:10
>> Uh we'll see though about that
5:11
hopefully.
5:12
>> Spencer.
5:13
>> Yeah. Henry, I know you've been, you
5:14
know, dealing with that lingering, you
5:16
know, lower lower leg issue. I noticed
5:17
you were wearing some more kinesiology
5:19
tape on on Tuesday. Just wondering how
5:21
you're feeling going into Saturday.
5:23
>> I'm feeling good right now. I feel like
5:25
I definitely been managing the pain, but
5:27
I feel like after I took that little
5:28
break, it's feeling been feeling a lot
5:30
stronger and just not bothering me as
5:32
much.
5:33
>> Rod,
5:34
>> Henry, obviously you guys have beaten
5:36
Dude, but what are those boxes you guys
5:38
absolutely have to check if you want to
5:39
win a camera? Uh feel like the first
5:43
part is going to play defense and
5:44
rebound because you're going to have to
5:46
make them miss and then you have to
5:48
control second chance points. Another
5:49
part is just stay calm on offense and
5:52
not don't turn the ball over. Don't give
5:54
them any easy ones. Uh take good shots.
5:57
Just try to get as many bites of the
5:59
apple. If you win a rebounding battle, I
6:01
think we're going to have a good chance
6:02
of winning. Matthew
6:04
>> Henry, obviously in the first match up
6:06
against Duke, you didn't have any points
6:08
in the first half. How do you change
6:09
your mindset to be a little bit more
6:11
aggressive going into the game from the
6:13
start against Duke and be a reliable
6:15
option on offense?
6:16
>> Uh, I just feel like I'll keep the same
6:18
aggressive minds I had the second half
6:20
and I feel like I the last game I took a
6:22
lot of shot like the last couple games
6:25
I've taken a lot of shots. So, just try
6:26
to keep that up, keep that aggressive
6:28
mindset of being on the go. We already
6:30
in the first half rather than just wait
6:31
for the second half. Anybody else?
6:34
Shelby.
6:35
>> Yeah, I guess um just really quick
6:38
wanted to ask about like um Seth and his
6:44
role recently. Um just how you maybe
6:46
seen him change. He was a big part of
6:48
your obviously just had a senior night.
6:52
When you think about like the culture of
6:54
the team and the whole like you know
6:55
it's us the circles things like that
6:58
just what role has he?
7:00
Uh I think he's had a big role on the
7:02
team like ever since everybody got here.
7:05
He was really the one player from last
7:07
year that started that came back. So
7:09
he's kind of take accepted everybody.
7:12
He's built like a team. He already kind
7:15
of he was the only guy who knew the team
7:16
culture the way UNCC is. So, he kind of
7:19
showed us the identity of the team and
7:21
how we have to be kind of similar to him
7:24
or be like him or just overall how
7:27
everybody cares about the team and that
7:29
UNCC is first, you second. I feel like
7:32
that's kind of what everybody on our
7:33
team is kind of realized that UNCC as
7:36
the school that you play for, the shirt,
7:38
like the logo you have on your jersey
7:39
means more than yourself. So, just kind
7:41
of keeping that every day in your mind
7:43
and working hard to give the best chance
7:45
to the team. And I think Seth has been a
7:47
great example for everybody on this
7:48
team, showing his leadership and how
7:50
much he cares about the program and how
7:52
much he really wants it to just win and
7:53
UNCC be a great place.
7:55
>> Thank you, Henry.
7:56
>> Thanks, Henry. Appreciate it, man.
7:57
>> Thank you.
7:57
>> Seth obviously played your last game at
8:00
the Smith Center. What's it going to be
8:01
like playing that final game at Cameron?
8:03
What are the emotions of that and Duke
8:05
and Carolina?
8:06
>> Yeah, uh I think the emotions will
8:08
definitely be there. That's a rivalry
8:10
that you, you know, you always dream of
8:12
being a part of. Uh, so getting to play
8:14
one last game in Cameron. Uh, I'll
8:16
definitely just soak that all in and
8:18
just, you know, of course try and play
8:19
the best I can and try and get a win for
8:21
the team.
8:21
>> Shelby, then Michael.
8:23
>> Yeah, just question just a little bit
8:24
away from basketball I haven't had a
8:26
chance to ask. Um, you were awarded the
8:28
outstanding service to youth award from
8:30
the boys club of Orange County and
8:32
Durham. Just want to ask what that means
8:34
for you. Then also just with this team,
8:36
you talk about how close everyone is.
8:38
What has having the opportunity to go
8:40
out in the community and kind of do some
8:41
of that work meant for you guys to do?
8:43
>> Yeah. Uh uh for me it means a lot. Uh
8:47
one of my you know biggest goals and
8:49
aspirations here uh to was just to not
8:52
you know grow only as a basketball
8:53
player but just to grow as a young man
8:55
and you know leaving an impact on the
8:58
community to the best I can outside the
9:00
basketball court has has like I said
9:02
been a huge goal of mine. So for me just
9:04
to get that reward or award, sorry. Uh
9:08
it I mean it just means a lot. It just
9:10
means a lot. It it it shows that, you
9:12
know, the work I'm doing means something
9:15
to the community and and that's what's
9:16
most important. And with the team, team
9:19
chemistry wise, we've we we love doing
9:22
stuff like this. It builds our
9:23
relationships as as teammates and as
9:26
friends, and it builds our relationship
9:28
with the community. So it gives us the
9:29
best of both worlds. Michael and Noah.
9:32
>> Seth, Derek has hit some big shots in
9:34
clutch moments for you guys in a lot of
9:36
games this year. Coach Davis was just in
9:38
here talking about how remarkable it is
9:40
that freshman can come in and have so
9:42
much confidence like Caleb Derrick have
9:44
this season. Is that how rare is that
9:47
like as someone who has gone through the
9:49
college experience? How rare is it to
9:51
find freshman like that? Yeah, I mean,
9:52
I'm not going to say it's super rare
9:55
because obviously you have your freshman
9:56
every year, but it's incredible to see
9:59
uh when you have freshman like Caleb and
10:01
Derek just making plays after plays all
10:03
game, but then in the clutch as well. Uh
10:05
it shows that they're not scared of the
10:07
moment. Uh you know, they don't fear
10:09
nothing and that they're ready. So, I
10:11
love to see it and I love to have young
10:13
guys like those on my team.
10:14
>> No other than Andrew. I know when Duke
10:16
was coming here, you talked with a lot
10:17
of your teammates about trying to
10:18
explain to them what this rivalry is
10:20
like before they actually played in the
10:21
game, but you found yourself doing a lot
10:22
of the same things just because you're
10:24
going they're going to a new place. I
10:25
don't think I think you're the only one
10:26
that's played minutes inside of Cameron.
10:28
Henry was there when he was injured and
10:30
those kinds of things.
10:31
>> Yeah. Uh that will definitely ramp up
10:33
today. Uh you know, I haven't I mean
10:35
obviously we've had those talks
10:36
throughout the year, but they've been
10:38
brief. They just, you know, they haven't
10:41
been too much consistent talks, but, you
10:42
know, now that, you know, the game is
10:44
actually coming up, those talks will
10:46
definitely ramp up uh to help guys get
10:48
prepared cuz it's something that you do
10:50
have to prepare for. They have great
10:51
homec court advantage. It's a loud
10:52
arena. It's small. It's I mean, it's
10:55
like something you've never been in
10:56
before. So, that preparation uh
10:59
definitely starts today.
11:00
>> For you, what's the number one thing the
11:02
first thing you'll tell them?
11:04
>> That it's real. Like I mean you going to
11:08
go in there and get taken back a little
11:10
bit. I just first how cool it is. Uh but
11:13
second like how loud it is. I mean it's
11:16
just real like everything about that
11:17
place it's it's a true homec court
11:18
advantage. But when you embrace it it's
11:21
really fun to play in.
11:23
>> Andrew then Brett Henry was just talking
11:25
about the like the pamp that Hubert
11:28
handed out the circle thing you guys.
11:29
You guys see just us in the huddle and
11:32
how bonding that is and how you guys
11:34
bonded before the season. Some of you
11:35
have talked about it during the year, of
11:36
course, but now that you're at the end
11:38
of the year, how discernable a a can you
11:41
determine the value of something like
11:43
that getting you through tough stuff
11:44
during the course of the season? It's
11:46
not a stat, but if it were a stat, like
11:48
how big a stat would it be to you guys?
11:50
>> Uh, it'd be our number one stat. That's
11:52
the most important thing on this team.
11:54
Uh, being keeping our circle just us,
11:58
uh, hearing only just us and relying on
12:00
just us takes us such a long way. uh you
12:03
know when things get hard and when
12:05
adversity starts to weigh on you, you
12:08
know, you want to crumble and and and
12:11
you you start listening to the outside
12:13
noise and everything starts taking a
12:15
toll on you. But when you when you have
12:18
something like that that you really live
12:20
on as a team, it allows you just to
12:22
block out that noise and and help keep
12:24
the main thing the main thing. So, it's
12:26
been super important for us all year and
12:28
it's going to be very important going
12:29
into Saturday.
12:29
>> How how powerful is that?
12:31
>> Very very powerful. I mean, we we use it
12:34
through all the adversity we face this
12:36
year, through all the tough times, we
12:37
have used it every single time and uh we
12:39
say it every day to remind each other
12:41
and and it it's it's very important and
12:44
that's why you hear coach talk about
12:46
that's why you hear Henry talk about it
12:47
because, you know, it really means
12:48
something to this to this team.
12:49
>> Brett, then Brian,
12:50
>> it's obviously a long shite, but knowing
12:52
what you know about Caleb, how surprised
12:54
or will you be surprised if he plays
12:56
Saturday?
12:57
>> Uh, I'll be very happy if he plays
12:59
Saturday. Uh, but I don't really know
13:02
too much. I don't really know. I'll try
13:04
and bring the doctor to to to my next
13:06
appointment.
13:07
>> Would you be surprised if if he's out
13:09
there playing?
13:10
>> Would I be surprised?
13:11
>> Uh, Caleb really wants to play. He wants
13:14
to get back as soon as he can. So,
13:17
>> I mean, nothing really surprised me
13:19
anymore.
13:19
>> Ryan,
13:20
>> I I wondered you had to miss some time
13:23
earlier this year. How have you been
13:24
able to help Caleb as he has to miss
13:26
time and we see him on the bench, it
13:28
looks like he wants to play so badly.
13:30
How have you been able to help him?
13:31
>> Yeah, just just being a voice. Just
13:33
being a voice. We've talked about it,
13:34
especially when he first got injured. Uh
13:36
we talked about it a lot, but Caleb, I
13:39
mean, from from my interpretation, it
13:42
seems like he's got it all under
13:43
control. Seems like he's super confident
13:45
and he's trusting the process and, you
13:48
know, he knows when his time comes, he's
13:50
going to be ready. So, I've been there
13:52
as much as I can for Caleb, but he
13:54
really hasn't needed too much help, man.
13:56
He's just he's he's enjoying it, you
13:59
know? He's enjoying being there for for
14:01
the team, but we know he can't wait to
14:03
get back on the court. So, we just been
14:05
there just been there for him whenever
14:06
he needs it.
14:07
>> Brandon,
14:08
>> Seth, not sure if you guys have like
14:09
started scouting Duke again and for
14:12
watching them recently, but do you see
14:13
any changes, if so, and how they're
14:15
playing now or what they've looked like,
14:17
I guess, of late?
14:18
>> Uh, yeah. The one change that I really
14:20
really noticed is Damesar. You know,
14:22
he's playing with incredible confidence.
14:24
Uh he's been a real perimeter threat for
14:27
him since since I think the last time we
14:29
played him and he's just expanding Duke
14:32
offense. So, he's been playing really
14:34
really well. Uh we'll talk about today
14:37
and we'll go over how, you know, we'll
14:39
guard him of course and the rest of the
14:41
team, but he's he's one player. He's one
14:43
thing that I really noticed has been
14:45
better about that Duke team.
14:47
>> All right. It's getting to practice.
14:48
Thank you. Appreciate
14:48
>> it. Have a good one.