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Matt Able ruled out for UNC basketball's preseason finale against Charlotte

The Tar Heels will be down a starter for its final preseason tune up on Tuesday night.
ByNick Delahanty
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Oct 18, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Matt Able (3) dribbles against Indiana Hoosiers guard Bryce Lindsay (2) during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Matt Able (3) dribbles against Indiana Hoosiers guard Bryce Lindsay (2) during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In what will be their final preseason tune-up, the Tar Heels will unfortunately be missing a key contributor.

Prior to tip-off, UNC announced that starting guard Matt Able is not in uniform and will not play when the Tar Heels close out the preseason at home against Charlotte.

Able's absence will leave Michael Malone and the Tar Heels without one of their projected starters as they make their final preparations for the beginning of the regular season.

This is unfortunate news for UNC, especially since the hope was that Able, along with the new-look Tar Heels, could keep building chemistry ahead of next week's regular-season start. While the NC State transfer struggled to make much of an impact in the Tar Heels' exhibition win over USC, he responded with a much stronger performance against Indiana, scoring 11 points and making 3 of 5 shots from beyond the arc.

Although the Tar Heels wish Able could play, his absence gives Malone an unexpected chance to see what the backcourt looks like without him.

With the regular-season opener against Western Carolina less than a week away, Able's absence could open the door for the likes of Isaiah Denis, Jaydon Young, and Angelo Brizzi to take on an expanded role against the 49ers.

For an exhibition game, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

While the starting lineup (if healthy) is pretty much set, there still are questions surrounding how the rotation will play out. This game could be a great opportunity for some players to earn more trust from the coaching staff, showcasing what they can do when they get on the court.

Sometimes, all you need is an opportunity.

The hope is that Able is okay and that this move is one of precaution, especially this close to the start of the regular season. However, there has to be a level of concern, given that the games start to count less than a week away.

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