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UNC Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Tar Heels

By Trevor Marks

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 25: University of North Carolina mascot Rameses poses for a photo during a game between NC State and North Carolina at Dean E. Smith Center on February 25, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 25: University of North Carolina mascot Rameses poses for a photo during a game between NC State and North Carolina at Dean E. Smith Center on February 25, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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UNC Basketball Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Blue Devils. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Schedule Breakdown

Nov. 25 – College of Charleston
Nov. 30 – UNLV (Maui Invitational in Asheville)
Dec. 1 – Alabama/Stanford (Maui Invitational in Asheville)
Dec. 2. – Davidson/Indiana/Providence/Texas (Maui Invitational in Asheville)
Dec. 8 – at Iowa (ACC-Big Ten Challenge)
Dec. 12 – Elon
Dec. 19 – Ohio State (CBS Sports Classic in Cleveland)

The COVID-19 pandemic has called for a slightly condensed college season, with most programs playing approximately 27 games. Based on ACC regulations and scheduling, this leaves North Carolina with 20 conference games and a mere seven non-conference matchups over the first three weeks of the season.

No. 16 UNC kicks things off with a home opener against College of Charleston on Wednesday, Nov. 25, a team that’s entering a rebuilding stage following the graduation and NBA draft selection (No. 56 overall to the Charlotte Hornets) of star guard Grant Riller, who helped lead the Cougars to a 17-14 record and No. 4 seed in the CAA last year. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:00 p.m. at the Smith Center, with no fans in attendance.

Following Thanksgiving weekend, the Heels will make the trip to Maui— er, Asheville, N.C., for the 2020 Maui Invitational, where they’ll play UNLV in the first round. Up next will be the winner of Alabama and Stanford, a pair of teams featuring high-profile freshmen in four-star guard Josh Primo (Bama) and five-star wing and projected lottery pick Ziaire Williams (Stanford). And to end the tourney, Carolina will face against one of Davidson, Indiana, Providence, and No. 19 Texas.

Next up will be an away game against No. 5 Iowa and 2020 B1G Player of the Year Luka Garza, then a brief reprieve at home against Elon, and then a bout with Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic in Cleveland to cap off non-conference play.

North Carolina opens ACC play at NC State on Dec. 22 and will be competing in a conference that is very much up for grabs. Several quick turnarounds could make a number of these matchups more difficult than they would be otherwise — including a pair of meetings with NCSU (Dec. 22 and Jan. 23) No. 21 Florida State (Jan. 16 and Feb. 27), and No. 9 Duke (Feb. 6 and March 6, which is senior night).

The Heels will be up against a difficult schedule all-around, something Roy Williams and his program have grown accustomed to. Some games will certainly be rescheduled, if not outright canceled, if complications arise during these precarious next few months, so the current slate shouldn’t be taken as a sure thing. Nonetheless, this will be a trying season for UNC and the rest of the NCAA.

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