RALEIGH, N.C. — After losing to NC State, Hubert Davis gave an update on starting center Henri Veesaar. The news was a mixed bag, offering both reasons to be hopeful and a bit of concern.
“His status is day-to-day. He’s improving each day,” Davis said. “He’s recovering from both a lower body injury and the flu. We will keep evaluating him daily to see when he can practice and play.”
A team spokesman confirmed that the seven-footer is still sidelined and not practicing.
Earlier in the week, Davis was more optimistic, hinting that Veesaar was close to returning. “Today was a significant improvement for him,” Davis shared during his radio show. “Both the injury and flu seem to be getting better. We’ll have to see if he can suit up for NC State. I’m encouraged by his progress.”
Despite this optimism, Veesaar did not return for the game against NC State. He was marked as questionable on UNC’s availability report, but was ruled out just before the game.
This was his second straight game missed. He was dressed but didn’t play against Pitt on Saturday, where illness was the major concern. On Tuesday, the lower-body injury was cited as the reason for his absence.
In the previous game, he did warm-up with the team, but only wore kinesiology tape on his left Achilles to help with the pain. This injury dates back to a game against Miami on February 10, where he briefly exited but returned shortly after.
With Veesaar out, Jarin Stevenson and Zayden High have stepped in to fill the gap in the frontcourt. They combined for 60 points and 39 rebounds over the last two games. However, Veesaar’s scoring impact has been missed. He’s second on the team with an average of 16.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and a 3-point percentage of 44.8. This season, he has recorded 13 double-doubles in just 24 games.
North Carolina struggled in his absence, managing only 58 points against NC State, matching their lowest score of the season. They were also outmatched in the paint, losing 40-28.
The next update on Veesaar’s status will come on Friday, ahead of the Saturday game against Syracuse. It’s a crucial time for the Tar Heels, as they work to regroup and adapt without one of their key players.
As teams face injuries in high-stakes games, it’s a reminder of the unpredictability in sports. Each player’s health and performance can make a significant difference in a season. Fans are eager to see if Veesaar can bounce back quickly, as his contribution is sorely needed.
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Henri Veesaar (22 – Estonia)
