The Tar Heels officially announced their non-conference schedule for the 2024-25 season on Wednesday afternoon. Here is a breakdown at the schedule that the Tar Heels will face before they dive into the conference slate this coming season.
November 4th: Elon
The Tar Heels will start the season by welcoming the in-state Phoenix to the Smith Center for what will serve as a chance to iron out some early kinks before they head to Lawrence. The Phoenix are coming off of a season where they finished 11th in the CAA, posting a 13-19 (6-12) record.
November 8th: @ Kansas
It might feel a little strong, but this is one of the biggest non-conference matchups that the Tar Heels have ever played. This will be just the second time in program history that the program will head to Lawrence to face their fellow blue blood and it will pose a stiff test early in the season. After a down season a year ago (23-11 (10-8) record), the Jayhawks are positioned to return to national prominence this coming season, meaning the Tar Heels will have to be in top form to leave with a victory.
November 15th: American
The Tar Heels will get a week off following the Kansas game before returning home for their first ever meeting with American University. The Eagles are coming off a pretty solid first season under coach Duane Simpkins where they finished second in the Patriot Conference with a 16-16 (10-8) record.
November 22nd: @ Hawai’i
Following another week in between games, this overnight visit to Hawai’i set the table for a loaded week of action. This is the second time that the Tar Heels will do this in their last three trips to the island prior to the Maui Invitational, with them having won 83-68 back in 2016. The Tar Heels are 5-0 all-time against the Rainbow Warriors. Hawai’i is coming off another solid season under longtime coach Eran Ganot where they finished 4th in the Big West with a 20-14 (11-9) record.
November 25th, 26th and 27th: Maui Invitational
It’s the preseason tournament that the Tar Heels have had the most success in historically and they are back again. The program is 22-4 all-time in the tournament, taking home four championships in their eight appearances which includes each of the last three times the program has won the national championship at the end of the season (2004, 2008 and 2016). This year’s field will feature seven tournament teams from a year ago as well as Memphis. The Tar Heels are likely staring down a finals matchup with UConn if they can find a way to get there.
December 4th: Alabama
Things don’t get any easier when the team returns from Maui as they face the team that eliminated them from last year’s NCAA Tournament and the team that might be the highest-ranked team on their schedule at the beginning of the year, the Alabama Crimson Tide. The team that gave UConn their stiffest test during the run to a title brings back its best player and has reloaded through the transfer portal to have a case to be the No. 1 team in the country to start the year. Even with trips to Phog Allen Fieldhouse and Cameron Indoor on the schedule, this might just be the toughest game on the schedule.
December 14th: La Salle
With the exam break, there will be a needed break here before the Tar Heels head back to the friendly confines of the Smith Center to face La Salle. This will be the fourth time in program history that the two teams will meet, with the Tar Heels holding the 2-1 series advantage. The Explorers are coming off a season where they took a small step forward under second year head coach Fran Dunphy where they finished 10th in the A-10 with a 16-17 (6-12) record.
December 17th: vs. Florida (Charlotte, NC)
The Tar Heels return to Charlotte for the third annual Jumpman Invitational and will face Florida for the first time in this event. This will be the fifth time that the program have met with both teams having won two apiece so far. The Gators went 24-12 (11-7) in Todd Golden’s second season in Gainesville, earning a 7-seed in the tournament before they bowed out to a tough Colorado team in the first round. Similar to Oklahoma last year, this is a team that could be ranked at the time of this game and provide another solid test.
December 21st: vs. UCLA (New York, NY)
The Tar Heels have been the most successful team in the ten years of the CBS Sports Classic and they’ll look to continue that success against UCLA. The Tar Heels are 2-0 in this event against the Bruins and 11-3 all-time against them. Mick Cronin’s squad had a major setback last season after he revived the once great program during his tenure, but many expect them to be back to contributing this season. This will be another tough test for the Tar Heels.
December 29th: Campbell
The Tar Heels will close out the non-conference slate at home against another in-state foe. This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools on the basketball court and should give the Tar Heels a chance to ease into the full conference slate. This past season, the Fighting Camels finished 14-18 (8-10) on the way to a 9th place finish in the CAA.
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