Busting Brackets
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North Carolina Basketball: An early look at the Tar Heels 2018-19 Non-Conference Schedule

By Tristan Freeman

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels and his team react to their 86-65 loss to the Texas A
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels and his team react to their 86-65 loss to the Texas A /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 11: The Harvard Crimson huddles during the first half of the Men’s Ivy League Championship Tournament at The Palestra on March 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 11: The Harvard Crimson huddles during the first half of the Men’s Ivy League Championship Tournament at The Palestra on March 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /

Teams North Carolina should beat – but could reasonably lose to

Stanford Cardinal (Nov. 12)

2017-18 season record: 19-16 (11-7 in Pac-12)

Injuries completely derailed Stanford on the perimeter and the inconsistency those guards showed cost them many games. But if star forward Reid Travis comes back, and the freshmen continue developing, this is a sneaky top-25 team and one that can beat UNC on the road.

Davidson Wildcats (Dec. 29)

2017-18 season record: 21-12 (13-5 in Atlantic 10)

Leading scorer and rebounder Peyton Aldridge will be gone, but Kellan Grady and Jon Axel Gudmundsson are a deadly 1-2 combination. Besides, Davidson always plays North Carolina tough regardless what happens on the respective rosters. Although the size difference will be much noticeable this time around.

Harvard Crimson (Jan. 2)

2017-18 season record: 18-14 (12-2 in Ivy League)

As an aside, another thing the Tar Heels like doing is playing tough teams before ACC play, getting them used to the tough competition that will be going on in January and February. Many others try to ease their way in by playing cupcakes. But Davidson and Harvard legit foes to play late in the non-conference.

As for the Crimson themselves, they always play power conference teams tough, including Kentucky last season. They’ll be even more difficult to beat, with the entire roster not only returning but becoming veteran upperclassmen. Seth Towns and Bryce Aiken are capable of going off in this one.

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