It still feels extremely weird that the UNC basketball program, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, has to travel to the West Coast for a pair of conference games.
However, in 2026, anything in college athletics goes!
After a nail-biting victory at home over Wake Forest, Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program are heading out west for a two-game road trip. Their first stop takes them to Stanford, California, where they will square off against a Cardinal team with a 13-4 record during the 2025-2026 season.
Since the conference added three teams not geographically located near the previous conference borders, programs like North Carolina have to make cross-country trips to compete against ACC foes. After hosting both Stanford and Cal a season ago, now it's the Tar Heels turn to visit their respective campuses, a test that will open up a stretch in which the UNC basketball program will play four of their next five contests on the road.
2025-2026 Season
North Carolina Tar Heels
Overall record: 14-2
Conference Record: 2-1
Home Record: 11-0
Away Record: 1-1
Neutral Site Record: 2-1
Top-25 Wins: 2
Stanford Cardinal
Overall record: 13-4
Conference Record: 2-2
Home Record: 8-3
Away Record: 2-1
Neutral Site Record: 3-0
History
The UNC basketball program has dominated the all-time series, holding a 13-1 advantage against Stanford.
However, last season, a Jaylin Blakes' bucket with 1.5 seconds remaining gave the Cardinal a 72-71 victory at the Dean Smith Center in the first meeting between the two squads as ACC foes.
Key Players
North Carolina
Caleb Wilson (Fr. Forward)- 19.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Henri Veesaar (Jr. Center)- 16.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Seth Trimble (Sr. Guard)- 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists
Stanford
Ebuka Okorie (Fr. Guard)- 22.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Chisom Okpara (Sr. Forward)- 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Benny Gealer (Sr. Guard)- 10.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Keys to Victory for North Carolina
Feed the man!
Get the ball in Caleb Wilson's hands.
Each member of the UNC basketball program should have to write that 100x to ensure that they understand the assignment.
At least one of (or both of) Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar should touch the ball on every single possession. There should be no excuses.
The offense is better when the ball is being pushed through the front court. Hubert Davis and his staff need to find ways to not only get the dynamic duo open opportunities to work with, but for them both to spearhead facilitating the basketball when those opportunities aren't there.
The Tar Heels can't afford to have a repeat of the last two games where Wilson was essentially a non-factor in the second half. Let your best players cook.
Something to Watch For
The Tar Heels last two opponents have had no issues knocking down three pointers.
SMU connected on 14 triples and then Wake Forest did the same, making it 28 three-pointers that opponents have scored in two games.
That trend can NOT continue!
Can North Carolina close out better against three point shooters in this one, or will the nightmarish defense we've seen the Tar Heels display while recently defending the perimeter continue to be a brutal trend?
Projected Starters
No. 0- Kyan Evans
No. 7- Seth Trimble
No. 15 Jarin Stevenson
No. 8- Caleb Wilson
No. 13- Henri Veesaar