![\"NCAA](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/27981169.jpg\")
Jan 10, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) prepares for a free throw against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nAcceleration has not been a problem for No. 14 North Carolina, but maintaining its maximum speed for an entire contest has become a growing concern.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Tar Heels (14-2, 2-1 ACC) will look to keep the pedal down throughout the game when they begin a West Coast swing with a meeting against Stanford on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Stanford (13-4, 2-2) recorded consecutive wins over then-No. 16 Louisville and Virginia Tech before losing 70-55 to then-No. 23 Virginia on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “Good team,” Stanford coach Kyle Smith said of Virginia. “You’re going to have to play really well to beat them, especially beat them (at home). I felt good about the way we defended and rebounded, but you’ve got to put the ball in the basket.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Cardinal face another tough matchup against North Carolina, which rebounded from a loss at SMU to beat Wake Forest 87-84 at home on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Tar Heels won for the eighth time in their last nine games with a wire-to-wire victory over the Demon Deacons. North Carolina improved to 14-2 for the first time since 2015-16 with the win.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Henri Veesaar had 25 points and Caleb Wilson added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Tar Heels, who led by 15 with 9:50 left before the Demon Deacons went on a 17-3 run.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “This is going to be our growth, for us as a team,” Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis said. “It’s not getting to that level, but it’s staying at that point. There were a number of times where we were up 12, 15 points, and in every one of those situations, we never took a step forward. We took our foot off the gas pedal on both ends of the floor.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n The game marked another example of North Carolina building a big lead before allowing opponents to rally late in games.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “Definitely some frustration,” Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble said. “I wouldn’t say concern. We know that it’s there, but we let teams make these runs and we have these lapses a little bit, and teams just take advantage of it. But I know that we can make that go away. I have no doubt in my mind. Some frustration, but no concern.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Tar Heels can avenge a 72-71 loss to Stanford in Chapel Hill last season. Stanford escaped with the victory after Jaylen Blakes scored with 1.5 seconds left.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The current Stanford squad is led by freshman guard Ebuka Okorie, who is averaging 22.1 points on 43.2% shooting.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Okorie had 31 points in Wednesday’s win over Virginia Tech before scoring 14 on 5-of-20 shooting against Virginia.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “(Okorie) is tough to guard,” Virginia coach Ryan Odom said. “… Certainly, he demands a double team at times.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Senior guard Benny Gealer led Stanford with 15 points against Virginia and is third on the team in scoring at 10.8 points per game.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Stanford and North Carolina have both struggled from beyond the arc this season. The Cardinal are 14th in the league at 33.6% from 3-point range, while the Tar Heels are 13th at 33.7%.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n –Field Level Media<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n