Slowing down UNC superstar Caleb Wilson is no easy task for opposing basketball teams. Such proved to be the case for Wake Forest on Saturday night: Wilson recorded his 11th double-double with a 22-point, 12-rebound performance.
North Carolina won 87-84, surviving the Demon Deacons’ (10-7, 1-3 ACC) late rally. The Tar Heels (14-2, 2-1 ACC) didn’t make a field goal for over eight minutes, which spanned between a Jaydon Young 3-pointer and Henri Veesaar dunk.
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Even with Wilson’s big game, he only scored five second-half points – two on a layup, plus one from a free throw. After UNC’s (14-2, 2-1 ACC) crucial conference victory, Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes highlighted how his team neutralized Wilson in the final 20 minutes.
“The whole thing with Caleb is getting him up off the block,” Forbes said. “If he’s gonna post, you gotta get him in the mid-post. We didn’t have to double him as much in the mid-post. If he gets too deep, then you gotta go get him. Same with (Henri) Veesaar. I though we did a better job getting him (Caleb) under control in transition. Did a better job of guarding him off the dribble – and forcing him to take a little bit tougher twos, than what he was getting in the first half. He’s going to get some shots, especially in transition.”
Any time Wilson gets the basketball, he’s a threat to do something dangerous, such as throwing down a highlight-reel dunk. Even if teams try to slow Wilson down, like the Deacs attempted on Saturday, Wilson will still find ways to contribute.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes on limiting UNC’s Caleb Wilson
