If you count preseason exhibitions, college basketball starts this month. On Friday, October 9, your North Carolina Tar Heels will battle the USC Trojans at the old Greensboro Coliseum.
Fans have every reason to be excited about UNC, which hired longtime NBA boss Michael Malone to replace Hubert Davis as head coach. On paper, North Carolina sports an exciting roster combining high-level scoring, defensive versatility and an intenational flair.
The Tar Heels know their opponents, but are still awaiting most of their tip-off times. On Thursday, UNC learned arguably its most important tip-off time, with a 5:30 p.m. slot at archrival Duke on February 13.
North Carolina split with the Blue Devils a season ago, winning at home thanks to Seth Trimble's
buzzer-beater. Roudn Two in Durham proved less fortunate for the Tar Heels, who lost 76-61 without superstar Caleb Wilson.
Can UNC's 2026-27 roster compete with Duke, which replaced its lost talent with a roster construction similar to the boys in Carolina Blue?
Here’s the ABC schedule for College Hoops pic.twitter.com/HY2xh1Dg2D
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) October 1, 2026
North Carolina now has a 20-point scorer in Terrence Brown, while guys like Neoklis Avdalas are a matchup nightmare for any opponent. Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov are imposing centers, with returner Jarin Stevenson the X-factor during his second and final season in Chapel Hill. Matt Able is ready for his first starting opportunity, while incoming high school recruits like Kevin Thomas and Maximo Adams have a great chance to start from Day One.
We'll have a great idea about which direction the Tar Heels are headed in by 2027, with their non-conference schedule featuring tough matchups vs. the likes Arkansas and Kentucky.
Can UNC upset its archrival in February, then complete the season sweep inside the Dean Dome a month later? Both matchups are must-watch TV.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC announces tip-off time for crucial ACC basketball matchup
