Carolina’s Preseason Countdown: Tar Heels Face Last Preseason Opponent Before Opening Night

With regular-season opener set for November 2 against Western Carolina—the first time the Tar Heels will begin six straight home games—UNC enters week two of the ACC preseason calendar under head coach Michael Malone. The program’s third preseason contest against Charlotte at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday will draw attention not only for competitive stakes but because it streams live on ACC Network Extra, giving college basketball watchers another notch to watch during the preseason window.

The Carolina matchup signals a transitional period in program history. Malone, hired as the Tar Heels’ 21st head coach on April 7, 2026, represents the first departure from the tradition of coaching returnees since Frank McGuire, who led the program from 1952–61 and won the Tar Heels’ first NCAA championship in any sport in 1957.

A Third Preview Before Season Begins

Tuesday’s game against ...