North Carolina basketball schedule 2023-24: UConn, Kentucky among Tar Heels’ top nonconference opponents

North Carolina opens up its 2023-24 basketball season in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Nov. 6 towards Radford and performs two extra video games at house sooner than departing for the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Tar Heels’ first opponent within the Battle 4 Atlantis is Northern Iowa on Nov. 22 sooner than going through both Villanova or Texas Tech and most likely Arkansas, Memphis, Michigan or Stanford within the championship in the event that they achieve that time.

The Tar Heels’ first marquee nonconference house recreation is the ACC/SEC Challenge towards Tennessee on Nov. 29. Following that recreation, UNC faces reigning nationwide champion UConn at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 5.

UNC is coming off one of the crucial disappointing seasons in program historical past. The Tar Heels began the season ranked because the No. 1 crew within the nation and didn’t make the NCAA Tournament completely however there may be explanation why for optimism heading into the 3rd season of the Hubert Davis generation. UNC returns RJ Davis and Armando Bacot from the beginning lineup and added former five-star Harrison Ingram from Stanford and ahead Cormac Ryan from Notre Dame by way of the switch portal. 

The Tar Heels even have one of the vital top incoming newbies within the country becoming a member of this system in Elliot Cadeau, who ranked because the No. 11 general prospect within the 247Sports 2023 recruiting ratings.

Here are the top 5 nonconference video games for the North Carolina Tar Heels this season.

1. UConn

When: Dec. 5, 2023 Where: Madison Square Garden (New York)

The Huskies’ nonconference slate is loaded. The reigning nationwide champs have video games towards Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina and Goznaga sooner than beginning Big East play towards Seton Hall on Dec. 20. The Huskies misplaced 3 key avid gamers to the NBA Draft however Donovan Clingan is predicted to take an enormous bounce this season into a possible participant of the yr candidate to interchange one of the most manufacturing misplaced. UConn additionally returns Tristen Newton and Alex Karaban and the important thing switch portal addition was once former Rutgers standout Cam Spencer. It’s unlucky that this recreation may not be performed at a house website, however Madison Square Garden is the following very best venue for this marquee recreation.

When: Dec. 16, 2023 Where: State Farm Arena (Atlanta)

This recreation ranked because the No. 1 nonconference matchup for the Wildcats this season. Kentucky is an excessively intriguing crew heading into the season as a result of the loss of postseason luck the Wildcats have had the previous few seasons. The Wildcats welcome 2023’s No. 1 recruiting magnificence to campus and that workforce is headlined by means of DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards. The No. 4 general participant within the 2023 recruiting magnificence, Aaron Bradshaw, is an unknown for the beginning of the season as a result of an harm sustained within the offseason. This can be a significant measuring stick for each groups sooner than convention play begins.

3. Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament

When: Nov. 22-24, 2023 Where: Imperial Arena (Paradise Island, Bahamas)

North Carolina’s opener within the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament within the Bahamas is towards Northern Iowa. The Tar Heels will then face Villanova or Texas Tech after which both Arkansas, Memphis, Michigan, or Stanford in what may well be the championship. A date with Arkansas or Memphis within the ultimate will be the very best imaginable state of affairs if the Tar Heels need to make stronger an already spectacular nonconference schedule. Villanova is an excessively imaginable matchup in the second one recreation of the event and that will be a rematch of the 2016 nationwide championship recreation, which can be remembered as one the most efficient finishes within the historical past of the NCAA Tournament.

4. Tennessee 

When: Nov. 29, 2023 Where: Dean Smith Center (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)

North Carolina has the luxurious of enjoying no true street video games sooner than ACC play begins and the most important house recreation of the nonconference schedule is towards Tennessee within the SEC/ACC Challenge. The Vols are coming off a disappointing finishing within the NCAA Tournament and failed to achieve the Final Four regardless of a positive street to Houston after a loss to FAU within the Sweet 16. The just right news for Tennessee is that they go back celebrity guard Santiago Vescovi and becoming a member of him within the backcourt shall be former four-star prospect Freddie Dilione.

When: Dec. 20 Where: Spectrum Center (Charlotte, North Carolina)

The Sooners are getting into Year 2 of a rebuild underneath head trainer Porter Moser. Oklahoma has a greater general roster this season and so they will have to be stepped forward after completing the 2022-23 season 15-17. This recreation towards UNC will no doubt be a large take a look at sooner than Big 12 play begins. The Sooners landed Kaden Cooper, the No. 65 general prospect from the 2023 recruiting cycle and he will have to get rapid enjoying time. Oklahoma additionally attacked the switch portal exhausting and added six avid gamers, together with Siena switch Javian McCollum. He ranked because the No. 11 general participant in 247Sports ratings and may just end the season because the Sooners’ main scorer.

2023-24 North Carolina basketball schedule