🔥 UNC’s 2025-26 Hopes REST ON THIS! Can Kyan Evans & Luka Bogavac DRAIN ENOUGH 3s?
The North Carolina Tar Heels have always been a program built on tradition, toughness, and championship aspirations. But as the 2025-26 season looms, one glaring question overshadows all others: Can Kyan Evans and Luka Bogavac transform into the elite three-point shooters this team desperately needs? Because if they can’t, UNC’s dreams of cutting down the nets next April could vanish before they even get off the ground.
Let’s be brutally honest—the modern game of basketball is ruled by the three-point shot. Teams that can’t space the floor, that can’t punish defenses from deep, are playing with a massive handicap. The Tar Heels learned this the hard way in recent seasons, where cold shooting nights turned potential wins into frustrating losses. The departure of veteran shooters has left a gaping void, and now, the pressure falls squarely on Evans and Bogavac to step up and fill it. If they don’t, defenses will collapse on UNC’s interior threats, clogging driving lanes and turning half-court offense into a slog.
Kyan Evans, the dynamic guard with explosive athleticism, has shown flashes of brilliance. His ability to attack the rim is undeniable, but his three-point consistency remains a work in progress. Last season, he hovered around 34% from deep—respectable but not elite. For UNC to compete for a national title, that number needs to climb into the 38-40% range. Evans has the work ethic; his offseason training videos show countless reps from beyond the arc. But will that translate when the lights are brightest? Can he become the kind of shooter who forces defenders to close out hard, opening up his driving game even further? The answer to that question might just determine whether UNC’s offense hums or sputters.
Then there’s Luka Bogavac, the sharpshooting wing with unlimited range. On paper, he’s the perfect floor-spacer for Hubert Davis’ system—a 6’7″ marksman who can catch fire in an instant. But consistency has been his Achilles’ heel. One night, he’s draining five threes and looking like the next coming of Reggie Bullock; the next, he’s ice-cold, hesitating on open looks. If Bogavac can find that killer instinct, if he can embrace the role of UNC’s go-to sniper, this offense becomes exponentially more dangerous. But if his confidence wavers, the Tar Heels will be left scrambling for answers.
The supporting cast can only do so much. RJ Davis (if he returns) and Elliot Cadeau are proven playmakers, but they need reliable shooters to maximize their playmaking. Armando Bacot (or his successor) will command double-teams in the post, but those passes out to the perimeter only matter if the shots fall. Without Evans and Bogavac stretching defenses, UNC’s half-court sets risk becoming predictable, one-dimensional, and ultimately, easier to stop.
And let’s not forget the psychological impact. Three-point shooting isn’t just about points—it’s about momentum. A big triple can ignite a run, silence a hostile crowd, or crush an opponent’s spirit. In March, when possessions become precious and every basket feels like life or death, having two confident, reliable shooters could mean the difference between a Sweet 16 exit and a Final Four berth.
The good news? Both Evans and Bogavac have the talent. They’ve shown they can do it in spurts. But “spurts” won’t cut it. UNC needs night-in, night-out production. They need these two to embrace the pressure, to demand the ball in big moments, and to deliver when it matters most.
If they do, the Tar Heels could be cutting down nets. If they don’t, it might be another season of “what ifs.” The clock is ticking. The spotlight is on. Will they rise to the occasion? Or will UNC’s title hopes fade with every missed three? One thing’s for sure—all eyes will be watching.
