The wait is officially over.
The UNC basketball program begins the 2026-27 regular season on Monday night, as the Tar Heels welcome Western Carolina to the Dean E. Smith Center for the first official game of the Michael Malone era.
After a three-game preseason slate that included wins over USC and Charlotte and a loss to Indiana, the results now officially count. Here's everything you need to know to watch the Tar Heels' season opener.
How to watch UNC basketball vs. Western Carolina
Date: Monday, November 2
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Dean E. Smith Center — Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV: ACC Network
Streaming: ESPN app/ESPN.com with an eligible TV provider
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network
Announcers: Jay Alter (play-by-play), Cory Alexander (analyst)
What to know about UNC vs. Western Carolina
Monday night's matchup marks the beginning of a new chapter for Carolina basketball.
Michael Malone will coach his first official game as the Tar Heels' head coach. Western Carolina comes to Chapel Hill for its own season opener, hoping to spoil Malone's debut.
Similar to UNC, Western Carolina has a new-look roster as well. They are projected to start four transfers, but of the seven transfers they reeled in this offseason, four averaged less than five points-per-game a season ago.
The Catamounts are banking on these transfers to be breakout stars for their new team.
For the first time in more than seven decades, North Carolina has handed the keys to its storied men's basketball program to someone with no prior connection to the Carolina basketball family. Malone is the first person to become UNC's head coach without having played for the Tar Heels or served as an assistant coach since Frank McGuire took the job in 1952.
The matchup also marks the start of an unusual stretch for North Carolina. The Tar Heels will play their first six regular-season games at the Smith Center, marking the first time in program history that they've opened a season with six consecutive home games.
Now, it's time to see what the Michael Malone era looks like when the games officially count.
Projected UNC Starters (with preseason stats):
Terrence Brown (Sr., 6-3, 180) — 13 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.7 apg
Matt Able (So., 6-5, 200) — 5.5 ppg, 2 rpg, 1.5 apg (2 games)
Jarin Stevenson (Sr., 6-10, 220) — 13.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg
Neo Avdalas (So., 6-9, 220) — 12.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.3 apg
Sayon Keita (Fr., 7-1, 205) — 10 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.6 bpg
Projected Western Carolina Starters (with 2025-26 stats):
Travelle Bryson (Jr., 6-5, 195) — 8.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg (at Howard)
Isaiah Manning (Sr., 6-8, 225) — 10.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg (at Sam Houston State)
Donovan Raymond (Sr., 6-10, 225) — 1.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg (at Old Dominion)
Samuel Dada (So., 6-9, 225) — 6.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg
Malachi Brown (Sr., 6-1, 175) — 12.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3 apg (at Georgia State)
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