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#UNC players Kyan Evans, Henri Veesaar, Jonathan Powell and Seth Trimble after win over VT
Mar 1, 2026
#UNC players Kyan Evans, Henri Veesaar, Jonathan Powell and Seth Trimble after win over VT
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0:01
K, you seen that really good floor game.
0:03
What was working for you tonight?
0:04
>> Uh, I think I kind of got into the flow
0:06
of things early and then um, you know, I
0:08
was just kind of felt good from there.
0:10
So, I think I just kind of got in the
0:12
flow early.
0:13
>> What made the difference for you?
0:15
>> Um, you know, I think I don't know, good
0:18
good practices building up and um, I
0:21
think I just came in feeling good
0:23
tonight.
0:23
>> What did you guys change on defense in
0:25
the second half? They got to the rim a
0:27
lot in the first half. Had a bunch of
0:28
dunks, but looked like things were a lot
0:29
more difficult for them on that end. Um,
0:31
in the second half,
0:32
>> yeah, I don't think we really changed
0:33
much um, as far as a plan. It was just
0:36
kind of a mentality. That was just one
0:38
better in the second half defensively.
0:40
>> Think a conscious effort to drive to the
0:42
basket and get inside in the second
0:44
half.
0:45
>> Uh, yeah, we always want to play uh,
0:47
inside out. So, so we were definitely
0:49
um, that was definitely a mindset. Can
0:51
you talk about I guess the overall
0:52
offensive efficiency I guess over the
0:54
last two games especially tonight. Can
0:56
you talk about how things have been I
0:57
guess feeling on that offensive tonight?
0:59
>> Um as far as the team.
1:01
>> Yeah. Yeah.
1:01
>> Yeah. Yeah. I think uh I think
1:02
everything's kind of clicking a little
1:04
bit for everybody and um you know it's
1:06
perfect time to be having that. So uh
1:08
we're feeling good for sure.
1:09
>> Zayen's growth this season seems like
1:11
it's been really big for you guys. There
1:13
were ACC games earlier this year where
1:14
he didn't play at all but tonight he
1:16
gives you 12 points off the bench. Big
1:18
reason why he got scored. can you say
1:20
about how he's how he's grown this
1:22
season?
1:23
>> Yeah, I mean, he's just been extremely
1:25
consistent the whole year um in practice
1:28
and then on his own, you know, just
1:29
staying in the gym and um he knew his
1:31
time was going to come and he was ready
1:33
for it.
1:34
>> K, talk to me about Jonathan Pal
1:35
tonight. What do you think he brought to
1:36
you guys off the bench in particular?
1:38
>> Uh yeah, I mean, elite shotmaking. Um
1:40
you know, he can do that on any night.
1:42
Uh this is what he's capable of. We know
1:44
he's capable of that. So, um, yeah, I
1:47
mean, he he hit some big shots.
1:48
>> Does he like lift the energy up for you
1:50
guys? I mean, he's a pretty high energy
1:51
guy. Likes to kind of flex when he hits
1:53
shots and stuff. Does he kind of lift
1:54
the mood a little bit sometimes during
1:55
game?
1:56
>> Yeah, that's definitely kind of like JP
1:57
style. Yeah, he's he's a uh he's an
2:00
electric guy for sure.
2:01
>> What is the right spot? I feel like you
2:03
had good matchups.
2:04
>> And and then you just came back. I still
2:06
kind of get acclimated. How do you feel
2:08
physically? And uh how big was tonight
2:10
for your confidence?
2:11
>> I feel like I felt great today cuz I
2:13
feel like I finally felt in shape. I
2:15
didn't get as tired as I did the last
2:16
two games. So, just today being able to
2:18
feel that and kind of not getting overly
2:20
tired, being able to go longer periods,
2:22
staying in rhythm, that helped a lot.
2:24
>> Was there a discussion at halftime about
2:25
trying to get it inside more to get more
2:27
drives to the basket?
2:28
>> Not for sure. I think at halftime we had
2:31
like 11 pain points and that's not
2:33
enough. So, being able to get it more
2:34
inside was definitely like a topic that
2:36
we talked about and I think it's one of
2:38
the core values anyway for the whole
2:39
team that we need to get we try to aim
2:42
to get like 40 pain points every game.
2:43
What did you change to do that?
2:45
>> Uh, we just kind of started calling more
2:47
plays and being more mindful of taking
2:50
less threes and not less midies and kind
2:52
of getting it inside the paint.
2:53
>> Henry, what did you make of the team's
2:54
performance in the second half
2:56
defensively?
2:56
>> Uh, we did a really good job in the
2:58
second half compared to the first half
2:59
just being able to take away their shots
3:01
and not letting their good shooters
3:03
shoot. And I think we had many guys just
3:05
do a tremendous job of being physical
3:07
without fouling.
3:08
>> Henry, it seems like you're still kind
3:10
of icing your foot when you come out.
3:12
sometimes got something wrapped around
3:13
it. What's going on with that and what
3:14
is it specifically?
3:15
>> I was just trying to keep it healthy the
3:17
way it was before because that's why I
3:19
missed it a couple games, but now I'm
3:21
just trying to keep it healthy, but it's
3:22
feeling good.
3:22
>> Is it your foot or your ankle or what
3:24
exactly?
3:24
>> Yeah, it's just my lower foot.
3:27
>> Were you specifically working on second
3:29
half?
3:30
>> Uh second half I feel like I was just
3:32
able to get the positions lower, being
3:34
able to catch it closer to the basket,
3:36
kind of get getting settled in, being
3:38
patient because they were digging and
3:39
doubling a lot. So, kind of seeing how
3:40
much room I have and where I have to
3:42
catch it.
3:43
>> You guys are now 4-1 without Caleb. What
3:45
does it say about the depth of this team
3:47
and and the belief within this group?
3:49
>> I think we have a really like they have
3:51
a lot of depth. Obviously, Caleb is a
3:52
tremendous player and we hope we get him
3:55
back soon. But I think this team is good
3:57
and I think there's a little bit benefit
3:59
to like him being out. I'm not saying
4:00
it's a good thing, but I think a lot of
4:02
guys are getting more minutes, more
4:03
reps, and keeping them inside. I think
4:05
Zaden has been doing a really good job
4:06
at playing at the four and the five. So,
4:09
I'm being really happy for him and I
4:10
think we're going to need him in March
4:12
Madness in the rest of tournament.
4:13
>> Henry Zayen just said that with Caleb
4:16
out, the edge that he brought to the
4:17
court, everybody else is kind of picked
4:19
up and made up for and that when he
4:21
comes back, you add that edge to where
4:23
you guys are playing now. It'll be a
4:25
very, very different team.
4:26
>> Oh. Yeah, for sure. Especially like the
4:27
way he dives on the floor and fights.
4:29
Like I think there's two games in a row
4:31
where he got a little tip and he dove on
4:33
the floor called timeout and those are
4:34
like momentum changing plays for our
4:36
whole team and just everybody doing that
4:38
kind of the floor today and seeing those
4:40
plays is good.
4:41
>> It just looks like the the edge across
4:44
the floor with everybody. I remember the
4:45
fight you saw with Jaden tonight
4:47
mentioned K and some of the screens he's
4:48
getting over now he wasn't getting over
4:49
them before. Is this just a simple
4:52
process of guys wanting to elevate with
4:54
him out or is this maybe also part of
4:55
the prog natural progression of this
4:57
team? I think it's part of natural
4:58
progression of the team, but obviously I
5:00
think we gota give props to Zayen. The
5:02
way he's playing and just his energy on
5:03
the court, how it rubs off on everybody
5:05
and the way he fights like it's amazing
5:07
and we need everybody needs to have that
5:08
fight in him.
5:09
>> Jonathan's got a little bit of that in
5:10
this game, too. Juice in this game you
5:13
guys a lot on both ends tonight.
5:14
>> Yeah, I think we have a lot of guys who
5:16
are very can be very physical and play
5:18
aggressive style of basketball,
5:19
especially be disruptive with defense
5:21
and then offensive just play their game
5:22
there.
5:24
>> How about your responding? They can't do
5:25
everything by themselves. So, just make
5:27
an extra effort, make the extra effort
5:28
to box my man out and go grab.
5:30
>> And I know it's been like a big point of
5:32
emphasis from Hubert these past couple
5:33
games is, you know, we got to be better
5:35
on the glass. Was there was there an
5:37
emphasis on that this week in practice?
5:38
And what what did it kind of look like?
5:40
>> Yeah, I mean, since since the summer,
5:42
he's made an emphasis on crashing the
5:44
glass, getting rebounds, and having a
5:46
certain percentage on a on a on a
5:49
rebounding percentage. So, I mean, just
5:51
staying on the boards. We know
5:53
>> when you see a couple of threes go
5:54
through, does the room look bigger at
5:55
all to you?
5:56
>> All I need is one and it the rim is is
5:59
wide, so all I need is one.
6:01
>> How much is the first three going
6:02
through? How much does that help your
6:03
confidence and everything moving forward
6:05
in the game?
6:05
>> I mean, that helps me a lot. I mean,
6:06
just seeing that one go in and then all
6:09
I need is a little bit of space to let
6:10
it go and
6:13
just kept going in.
6:13
>> Does that give you energy on the rest of
6:15
your game, too? Cuz you're bringing
6:16
energy both ends of the floor.
6:18
>> Yes, sir. I mean, I think what sparks my
6:21
offense mainly is my defense, but most
6:23
definitely seeing one go in. I think
6:24
that keeps me going the key getting
6:26
stopped to to get back on offense. So,
6:28
most definitely.
6:29
>> No jersey ripping though.
6:31
>> No jersey today.
6:33
>> JP, you guys now four and one without
6:36
what does it say about the depth and the
6:38
belief of this kind of keep?
6:41
>> I'm nervous. I think we got one of the
6:42
the deepest losses in the country. So
6:44
just showing that even when Kale about
6:47
or when Henry was out, it's just the
6:49
next man up and it's just showing that
6:51
no matter we put on the court, everybody
6:52
can go out and go. So
6:54
>> what's it going to be? What's it going
6:55
to take to keep that momentum going and
6:58
kind of keep the vibes going for the
6:59
Steelers?
6:59
>> I think just staying hungry. I think
7:02
the core of our team is our defense. So
7:05
if we can't stop and we rebound the
7:07
ball, then that's all that's all going
7:08
to lead to our offense. So just stay
7:10
hungry on defense.
7:13
When was the last time you
7:14
>> today and didn't really go away, you
7:17
know, too far into the game. So, I just
7:18
want to get on the bike and and kind of
7:20
get myself going.
7:21
>> Well, it didn't show, especially on that
7:23
dunk.
7:23
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
7:24
>> Set triple record hang
7:26
>> second half. I think I had a lot more
7:27
juice the second half than I did than I
7:29
did in the first.
7:30
>> That was JP hang time.
7:31
>> Was that JP?
7:32
>> I'll take it. I'll take it. I'm finally
7:34
getting up there. [laughter]
7:35
I'll take it. Trying to get some more
7:37
Tuesday. We'll see. We'll see. How how
7:39
much edgier are you guys right now than
7:40
you were before? And I'm not trying to
7:42
compare Caleb because Zayen said that
7:44
you guys have picked up some of his
7:45
edge, but it looks like across the board
7:48
everybody's playing with more of an edge
7:49
now than the sort of the time.
7:50
>> Absolutely. I mean, yeah, Caleb, you
7:52
guys know Caleb had a huge he had a huge
7:55
edge, you know, he had a huge
7:56
determination. He was he was hungry to
7:58
win each and every game. So, when a guy
8:00
like that gets injured, there's a huge
8:01
void that has to get filled. Uh so guys
8:03
have really stepped up and really just
8:05
picked up and kind of stepped out of the
8:07
personality just to just to fill that
8:09
void that's been missing. I think we've
8:10
seen that in the Louisville game. We saw
8:12
that today. Uh today wasn't our most
8:14
perfect defensive performance. I know
8:15
they shot like 54% in the first half or
8:17
something like that. But uh we we found
8:20
a way out in that second half and found
8:22
a way to win.
8:22
>> Were there conscious
8:24
was there a lot of discussion at
8:25
halftime about driving to the basket,
8:27
getting the ball inside because I know
8:29
there weren't as many three-pointers in
8:30
the second half.
8:31
>> Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Uh I
8:33
think we just talked about how uh us as
8:35
players, we felt like we played better
8:38
in the second half because we were
8:39
really forcing the ball inside and
8:40
playing out from there. Uh just watching
8:42
the film, we saw that statistically VTEC
8:47
wasn't the best at guarding the basket.
8:49
So we wanted to make it our mission just
8:50
to really pound the ball inside. So I
8:52
mean we ended up with our first however
8:54
many shots. A lot of them were threes.
8:57
Probably too many of them were threes.
8:58
So we just want to change that and get
8:59
that going.
9:02
Did it feel like dja vu all over again
9:04
when you happen to get to steal that
9:05
ball and just go in for the dunk?
9:08
>> No, man. That's
9:10
>> I mean it feels like déja vu in and
9:12
maybe the sense of high school. You
9:13
know, I used to get like one or two of
9:14
those every game. So now that it's
9:16
starting to happen more consistently,
9:18
kind of feels like like I'm just a high
9:20
school kid again in his gym. But you
9:23
know, no deja vu to to the Louisville
9:25
game. Speaking of edging guys, Jonathan
9:28
has a little bit of a chip on him too
9:29
and he played that used that tonight on
9:31
both ends. Kind of his performance
9:33
giving you guys a lift offensively
9:35
during that stretch especially you're
9:36
able to kind of
9:37
>> Yeah, I mean he's an elite shooter so
9:39
he's able to space the floor for us and
9:41
his off movement is is incredible. And
9:43
then he's an elite defender as well. Uh
9:46
you know I like to think of myself as
9:48
the best permanent defender but Jonathan
9:50
is is very much up there. uh he gives us
9:52
this edge on the defensive end and he
9:54
gives us this physicality that you know
9:56
takes us takes us a long way.
9:58
>> They didn't get in the lane as much when
10:00
he was out there for that extended
10:01
period. I thought that that seemed like
10:03
that was a little bit of a difference
10:04
for you guys.
10:04
>> Yeah. Yeah. When you got when you got
10:06
guys like me and him and then you got
10:09
guys like Henry in the paint. Uh I mean
10:12
it makes it hard. You know we're not
10:13
going to be perfect. We're going to make
10:15
mistakes. But he gave effort. I gave
10:17
effort and got
10:19
>> Seth. I know you guys just kicked with
10:20
this one, but got one coming up on
10:22
Tuesday, your final game inside this
10:23
place. Have you thought about that? What
10:25
has that been like? What's that process
10:27
been like for you for the last couple
10:28
days?
10:28
>> Yeah. Yeah, I've been thinking about it.
10:31
I've been thinking about uh it's just
10:33
surreal to finally get to this point. Uh
10:37
just looking back at, you know, my
10:39
sophomore year, my freshman year, I
10:41
would have told you I had no idea, you
10:42
know, what it would have been like at
10:44
this point in my career. Uh, so just for
10:47
me to be able to have this opportunity,
10:49
for me to be here 4 years, and for me to
10:51
have this senior night in North
10:53
Carolina, it's going to be
10:55
>> You going to get emotional? You could be
10:56
emotional sometimes.
10:57
>> Yeah, I'm I'm definitely going to get
10:58
emotional. Uh,
11:01
>> I'm going try I'm try not to, but I
11:04
mean, we going to see.
11:04
>> You got anybody special coming that
11:06
night?
11:07
>> Uh, I mean, I got my family. Uh, my
11:10
siblings will be here. My big brother
11:11
won't be able to make it in Poland. I'm
11:13
trying to get one of my best friends out
11:15
here, but
11:17
I'll just have all the people I can. Uh,
11:19
but even then, you know, I know all my
11:20
all my family, all my people back home
11:22
in Wisconsin, all my friends, all my
11:25
teammates around the country, they'll be
11:26
they'll be watching. So,
11:27
>> you're going to have a 5-year target.
11:30
>> I know RJ steal my shine.
11:34
>> N I'm playing. Actually, thinking about
11:36
it, it'll be it'll be super super cool
11:39
to have RJ here for my senior night. I
11:41
mean, he's been one of my best friends
11:43
in this program. Uh, he's been like a
11:45
big brother to me. I've looked up to him
11:48
and I still look up to him. You know,
11:51
every time I see one of his little
11:52
highlights coming out, I I still watch
11:55
each and every one of them. Uh, and just
11:57
admire the way he plays. So, to have him
12:00
here when he helped me pave the way is
12:02
is going to be so special.
12:06
>> Something like that. Yeah, I can do
12:07
something that I'll throw out the uh the
12:08
three goggles.
12:11
from my guest