UNC Basketball’s Full 2024–25 Schedule Released: Key Matchups, Brutal Stretches, and Rivalry Dates Locked In
Hubert Davis has pressed reset on North Carolina basketball. After losing 11 players, including star guard R.J. Davis, the Tar Heels enter 2024–25 with a retooled roster built around transfers Henri Veesaar, Jarin Stevenson, Luka Bogavac, Kyan Evans, and 5-star freshman Caleb Wilson. Now, the ACC has unveiled the path that will define their season and it’s filled with heavyweight clashes, dangerous road trips, and of course, dates with Duke.
The Big Picture
UNC’s schedule features seven opponents who made last year’s NCAA Tournament, with four of them coming before ACC play even begins. The Tar Heels open with exhibitions against BYU and Winston-Salem State, but things heat up fast with Kansas, Michigan State, and Kentucky all looming before Christmas.
Davis’ roster will be tested early, especially as they integrate so many new faces into the system. For a team with just one returning starter Seth Trimble these games will reveal if the rebuilt Heels can contend nationally or if they need more time to gel.
Can’t-Miss Game: BYU and AJ Dybantsa
Circle Oct. 24 on the calendar. UNC travels to Salt Lake City to face BYU in an exhibition at the Delta Center. That means facing AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 recruit in the country and a future NBA lottery pick who spurned UNC and Alabama for Provo.
It’s only a preseason matchup, but it will give fans a sneak peek at how UNC’s new frontcourt additions Veesaar and Stevenson handle elite competition. Coach Davis has emphasized size as the team’s biggest weakness last year, and there’s no better test than going against Dybantsa out of the gate.
Trap Game to Watch: Virginia
Don’t overlook Jan. 24 at Virginia. It’s sandwiched into a brutal seven-game January stretch with five road contests. The Cavaliers, now coached by Ryan Odom, reloaded with international talent like Johann Grunloh and Thijs De Ridder. Virginia’s slower pace and stingy defense often frustrates UNC making this one a dangerous mid-season pitfall.
Toughest Stretch: The January Gauntlet
UNC’s biggest challenge comes in January, when they’ll rack up airline miles and bruises in equal measure.
- Jan. 3: at SMU (Moody Coliseum)
- Jan. 10: Wake Forest (home)
- Jan. 13/14: at Stanford
- Jan. 17: at Cal
- Jan. 20/21: Notre Dame (home)
- Jan. 24: at Virginia
- Jan. 31: at Georgia Tech
That’s four true road games in 18 days. For a team still blending transfers and freshmen, this stretch could define whether UNC fights for ACC contention or battles just to stay afloat.
Easiest Stretch: November Tune-Up
Right after a marquee clash with Kansas, UNC gets a breather. A four-game November slate should help the Heels pile up wins and build chemistry:
- Nov. 11: Radford
- Nov. 14: NC Central
- Nov. 18: Navy
- Nov. 25: St. Bonaventure (Fort Myers, FL)
Davis will look to these games to sharpen rotations before the heavy hitters return.
Blueblood Showdown: Kentucky at Rupp Arena
The most intriguing non-conference clash comes Dec. 2, when UNC heads into Rupp Arena to face Kentucky. Mark Pope’s Wildcats are stacked with transfers like Pitt’s Jaland Lowe, Florida’s Denzel Aberdeen, and Alabama’s Mouhamed Dioubate. If Jayden Quaintance a projected lottery pick recovering from an ACL tear suits up, the matchup becomes even more star-studded.
Duke Dates: Easy to Remember
Nothing defines a UNC season like Duke. This year’s rivalry dates fall perfectly:
- Feb. 7: Duke at UNC (Chapel Hill)
- Mar. 7: UNC at Duke (Cameron Indoor)
For Caleb Wilson, who has already declared he “doesn’t like Duke, N.C. State, or Wake Forest,” these will be his proving grounds.
Final Thought
North Carolina’s 2024–25 schedule is a gauntlet built for drama. From Dybantsa in October to Duke in March, every month brings a must-watch storyline. Hubert Davis’ reloaded roster will have to mature quickly, but if the pieces click, the Tar Heels could storm their way back into national relevance.
One thing’s certain: with this schedule, there will be no hiding.
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