The UNC basketball team passed its opening test with flying colors, dominating Central Arkansas by a 94-54 mark Monday night.
North Carolina’s (1-0) second test will be significantly tougher, with the Kansas Jayhawks coming to town Friday Night for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
The Tar Heels lost a close, 92-89 clash with Kansas (1-0) in Lawrence last year. UNC led by two points with time winding down, thanks to a Jalen Washington layup, but suffered through a scoreless drought in the final two minutes.
The Jayhawks are one of four Power Four opponents North Carolina will battle in non-conference play, along with Michigan State (November 27), Kentucky (December 2) and Ohio State (Dec. 20). UNC struggled in non-conference play during its 2024-25 campaign, with its lone Power Four victory coming against UCLA before Christmas.
Kansas has plenty of starpower scattered across its roster, with Flory Bidunga and Darryn Peterson the two names to watch. Those watching Friday night, whether on TV or in person, will quickly learn more about the Jayhawks’ top dogs.
The Tar Heels sport a new-look, talented lineup led by post duo Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar. Seth Trimble is poised to absorb a leadership role in his final year of college basketball, while Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans and international wing Luka Bogavac are expected to be regular starters. Jarin Stevenson returns to his hometown after two seasons at Alabama, but North Carolina’s roster reinforcements span far greater past the aforementioned names.
Keep reading below for our game preview, which includes UNC’s key to victory, something to watch, odds, statistical leaders and a season schedule.
Key to Victory
Out-shoot the Jayhawks from deep. If Monday’s season-openers are a telling sign of Friday’s result, fans will be in for a high-scoring treat. UNC beat Central Arkansas by 40 points, while Kansas bested Green Bay by 43.
The Tar Heels and Jayhawks each have post players who succeed at generating high-percentage looks. Friday’s game will come down to who can shoot the deep ball better, something North Carolina did well Monday night.
Something to watch
Caleb Wilson vs. Darryn Peterson. Both are Top-10 recruits from the 2025 class – and both showed out in their collegiate openers.
Wilson scored a UNC-best 22 points on Monday night, shooting 80 percent from the field while adding four rebounds, three assists, a steal and block apiece.
Peterson nearly recorded an identical statline, scoring 21 points on 63.6% shooting while snagging four rebounds, dishing out three assists, stealing the ball twice and blocking a shot.
Statistical leaders
Points
UNC: Caleb Wilson (22 ppg)
Kansas: Flory Bidunga (23 ppg)
Rebounds
UNC: Henri Veesaar (10 ppg)
Kansas: Flory Bidunga (6 ppg)
Assists
UNC: Kyan Evans (5 apg)
Kansas: Melvin Council Jr. (4 apg)
What you need to know
WHAT? North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Kansas Jayhawks
WHEN? Monday, November 7 at 7 p.m. ET
WHERE? Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
TV? ESPN
RADIO? SiriusXM (Channel 193 and 198)
WEATHER? 58 degrees, partly cloudy
LINE? UNC-1.5
LAST MEETING? Kansas 92, UNC 89 on 11/8/24 in Allen Fieldhouse
ALL-TIME SERIES: Kansas leads, 7-6
PREDICTION? UNC 78, Kansas 75
UNC Basketball 2025-26 schedule
October 4: Blue-White Scrimmage (White 55, Blue 50)
Oct. 24: at BYU (preseason, L 78-76)
Oct. 29: vs. Winston-Salem State (preseason, W 95-53)
Nov. 3: vs. Central Arkansas (W, 94-54)
Nov. 7: vs. Kansas (7 p.m.)
Nov. 11: vs. Radford (7 p.m.)
Nov. 14: vs. NC Central (9 p.m.)
Nov. 18: vs. Navy (7 p.m.)
Nov. 25: vs. St. Bonaventure in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (6 p.m.)
Nov. 27: vs. Michigan State in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (4:30 p.m.)
December 2: at Kentucky (9:30 p.m.)
Dec. 7: vs. Georgetown (5 p.m.)
Dec. 13: vs. USC Upstate (2 p.m.)
Dec. 16: vs. ETSU (8 p.m.)
Dec. 20: vs. Ohio State in CBS Sports Classic (3 p.m. in Atlanta, Ga.)
Dec. 22: vs. East Carolina (8 p.m.)
Dec. 30: vs. Florida State (2:15 p.m.)
January 3, 2026: at SMU (2:15 p.m.)
Jan. 10, 2026: vs. Wake Forest (6 p.m.)
Jan. 14, 2026: at Stanford (9 p.m.)
Jan. 17, 2026: at California (4 p.m.)
Jan. 21, 2026: vs. Notre Dame (7 p.m.)
Jan. 24, 2026: at Virginia (TBA)
Jan. 31, 2026: at Georgia Tech (2 p.m.)
Feb. 2, 2026: vs. Syracuse (7 p.m.)
Feb. 7, 2026: vs. Duke (6:30 p.m.)
Feb. 10, 2026: at Miami (FL) (7 p.m.)
Feb. 14, 2026: vs. Pitt (2 p.m.)
Feb. 17, 2026: at NC State (7 p.m.)
Feb. 21, 2026: at Syracuse (1 p.m.)
Feb. 23, 2026: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)
Feb. 28, 2026: vs. Virginia Tech (TBA)
March 3, 2026: vs. Clemson (7 p.m.)
March 7, 2026: at Duke (6:30 p.m.)
March 10-14, 2026: ACC Tournament in Spectrum Center (Charlotte, N.C.)
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC-Kansas basketball: Game preview, info, prediction, etc.
