North Carolina vs. Stanford: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

The North Carolina Tar Heels take on the Stanford Cardinal in their first true road game of the season. Who comes out on top?

TV Schedule: Monday, Nov. 20, 11:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Arena: Maples Pavilion, Stanford, California

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 2-0 to start the season and should continue their positive momentum on Monday night.

While the Tar Heels do not have an elite win on the season just yet, neither of their wins come against cupcake programs. Northern Iowa is extremely talented and has a chance to become the premier program in the Missouri Valley Conference now that Wichita State is gone to the American.

Likewise, Bucknell is one of the best teams in the Patriot League despite being 0-4. A road loss to Monmouth by one as well as losses to Arkansas, Maryland, and UNC is nothing to laugh at, and the Tar Heels already have some solid wins on their resume.

Next up for North Carolina is a trip to the West Coast, where they will face off with the Stanford Cardinal.

The Cardinal are 3-1, with their lone loss coming to Eastern Washington. Reid Travis is one of the best forwards in college basketball, and his scoring ability will cause even the best teams problems.

That being said, Stanford clearly has some issues to work out early in the season, and the Tar Heels should dominate. I expect Travis to get his usual 15-25 points, but I doubt many others find themselves able to contribute against this athletic and versatile Tar Heels’ squad.

Next: 68 reasons to be excited for the college basketball season

Stanford might surprise some people in what is shaping up to be a two-team race in the Pac-12, but they are not pulling off the upset here.

Prediction: UNC 80, Stanford 68