UNC men’s basketball schedule is complete. Here’s who the Tar Heels will play and when

Hubert Davis has had quite the eventful week, hosting five-star recruit AJ Dybantsa over the weekend and kicking off the Tar Heels’ first official practice of the 2024-25 season on Monday.

Now North Carolina’s path forward is officially set.

The ACC released the full schedules of its 18 men’s basketball teams Tuesday night, revealing UNC’s schedule, which includes at least 10 games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season.

Most of that will happen during the non-conference season, with key neutral-site games against Florida and UCLA, a home game against Alabama and a road game at Kansas.

The Tar Heels will be tested by the departures of starters such as graduated center Armando Bacot and wing Cormac Ryan. Davis added transfers Cade Tyson and Ven-Allen Lubin to improve shooting and strengthen the frontcourt, and the Tar Heels also welcome back three highly rated freshmen, including five-star prospects Ian Jackson and Drake Powell.

Powell and Jackson, along with the return of All-American and ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis and freshman Elliot Cadeau, will form one of the most dynamic three-guard lineups in the conference.

Here is UNC’s full schedule:

UNC’s must-see basketball game

Two important names in college basketball, North Carolina and Kansas, will meet in a highly anticipated home-and-away series starting this season.

First The game will be played on November 8 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.followed by a matchup at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill on Nov. 14, 2025. Historically, the series is tied 6–6 with Kansas winning the last four meetings — including the 2022 NCAA Championship game.

Both programs have rich histories and the Jayhawks lead college basketball in all-time wins. This series will add another chapter to their legendary rivalry.

Trap game warning

UNC’s February visit to Syracuse could be a sneaky trap game. Syracuse’s unpredictable style of play and the challenging environment of the JMA Wireless Dome can catch any team off guard. UNC will need to be careful not to get complacent as they travel to face the Orange.

The toughest period for UNC

The period from January 28 to February 15 UNC presents a tough challenge, starting with a road game at Pittsburgh. The Panthers and Tar Heels are tied with five wins apiece in their last 10 games, and playing late at night on ESPN adds to the pressure.

Just four days later, UNC takes on Duke and the Crazies at Cameron Indoor Stadium, a critical rivalry matchup with both teams battling for bragging rights and potentially crucial conference standings.

The Tar Heels will host Pittsburgh again on Feb. 8, making quick adjustments from their previous matchup, then travel to Clemson on Feb. 10.

The final weeks of the season will conclude with a road trip to Syracuse on Feb. 15. This series of games will test UNC’s toughness, depth and ability to perform under pressure as the Tar Heels approach the critical final weeks of the season.

The easiest stretch for UNC

The period from January 1 to January 25 is particularly favorable for UNC. They will compete against seven teams that did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament last year. The series opens with a game at Louisville, providing a good opportunity for the Tar Heels to start their season off strong.

Next, UNC travels to Notre Dame, a team that has struggled in recent seasons, making this matchup another potential win. The Tar Heels then return home to face SMU, which gives them the opportunity to build momentum on their home court.

After that, they play a potentially tough matchup at NC State — but that’s the only exception here. This series also includes home games against manageable opponents in Cal and Stanford.

The series ends with a road game at Wake Forest and a home game against Boston College, a team UNC has historically performed well against. Overall, this series offers a mix of favorable matchups and home-court advantage, providing a great opportunity for UNC to pick up some critical wins as the Tar Heels look to solidify their position in the conference.

UNC basketball’s non-conference test

The ACC-SEC Challenge matchup against Alabama on Dec. 4 It will serve as a key non-conference test for UNC basketball. Scheduled for 7:15 p.m. in Chapel Hill and broadcast on ESPN, this game will be one of the hottest tickets of the season. Both teams are coming off strong tournament performances, and the Tar Heels will be looking to avenge last season’s Sweet 16 defeat to the Crimson Tide. Given Alabama’s talent and head coach Nate Oats’ smarts, this game will be a critical benchmark for UNC as the Tar Heels enter conference play.

When will UNC face Duke?

The annual home-and-away rivalry series begins this season in Durham as the Blue Devils and Tar Heels face off at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Duke and UNC will close out the regular season on March 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill.

UNC basketball program

+ — Maui Invitation, Lahaina, Hawaii

^ — Jumpman Invitational, Spectrum Center, Charlotte

# — CBS Sports Classic, Madison Square Garden, New York

* — ACC game

! — Spectrum Center, Charlotte