UNC Basketball: 5 hardest games on 2014-15 schedule

Jan 20, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard

(23) dribbles the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels guard

(2) defends in the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers won 76-61. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

5. vs. Virginia on February 2nd at 7:00 p.m.

The Tar Heels will host the Cavs on February 2nd, with a very short turnaround time between the Louisville game on the road and this one back in Chapel Hill. Tony Bennett‘s Virginia teams are known for their stout defenses and slow pace. UVA�loses Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell but everyone else returns from last year’s number one seed in the East regional of the NCAA tournament.

Key players for Virginia include Malcolm Brogdon, London Perrantes, Justin Anderson and Anthony Gill. Brogdon led the Cavs last year in points scored with 12.6 per game on 42% field goal shooting. The recruiting class for Virginia is solid but not a Top-25 class. Marial Shayok and B.J. Stith headline the four man class that will help the Cavaliers reload on the wing.

This game will be a test for Carolina and it comes at a tough time on the schedule. It could be a battle of Top-1o teams if both Carolina and Virginia�can live up to their potential in the first half of the season.