We're not even a full week into the 2025-2026 season and already have a marquee matchup on the slate in Chapel Hill on Friday night.
For the first time, the No. 19-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will visit the Dean Smith Center to take on the No. 25 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Both teams cruised to victory in their respective season openers and now face a tough early season test to wrap up the first week of action.
The two programs met essentially a year ago in Lawrence, a thrilling game that resulted in a Kansas victory at home. Elliot Cadeau's three-point attempt at the buzzer just rimmed out, a bucket that would've forced overtime and even more craziness in this epic matchup.
Now, the home-and-home series shifts to Chapel Hill, a game that the UNC basketball program desperately wants to win. Whichever team comes out on top will earn a quality win that will help boost their NCAA Tournament resume.
2025-2026 Season
North Carolina Tar Heels
Overall record: 1-0
Conference Record: 0-0
Home Record: 1-0
Away Record: 0-0
Neutral Site Record: 0-0
Kansas Jayhawks
Overall record: 1-0
Conference Record: 0-0
Home Record: 1-0
Away Record: 0-0
Neutral Site Record: 0-0
Key Players
North Carolina
Caleb Wilson (Fr. Guard)- 22.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Kyan Evans (Jr. Guard)- 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists
Henri Veesaar (Jr. Center)- 14.0 points,10.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Kansas
Flory Bidunga (So. Forward)- 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Darryn Peterson (Fr. Guard)- 21.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Melvin Council Jr. (Sr. Guard)- 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Keys to Victory for North Carolina
Make life difficult for Darryn Peterson
Darryn Peterson has the potential to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He's coming off a strong 21-point performance in his college debut, a game in which he also recorded four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
The question remains: how will North Carolina try to slow him down?
For the Tar Heels, the good news is that they have plenty of options to throw at him, and likely will throw a variety of different looks his way in an effort to slow him down. Seth Trimble will likely draw the assignment to at least start the game, but don't be shocked if the likes of Jarin Stevenson and Caleb Wilson (among others) get a crack at him, looking to utilize the team's size and versatility to limit Peterson's production.
While the emphasis on Peterson will be the center point of the defensive approach, the Tar Heels also have to make sure that others don't end up beating them in the process.
Flory Bidunga proves to be a tough matchup for Henri Veesaar in the post, while the likes of Melvin Council, Tre White and Bryson Tiller can also score the basketball. The guy to watch is Kohl Rosario, a re-classified freshman who struggled mightily in his Kansas debut- it's safe to say he'll be poised for a breakout effort at some point in the near future.
For North Carolina, this game will be decided on the defensive end, as the Tar Heels must string together a strong effort on that end of the floor in order to defend its home court.
Something to Watch for
The Jayhawks aren't the only team with a stud true freshman on the roster.
Caleb Wilson rightfully is included among the upper echelon of freshman on the college basketball circuit this season, and we will see how a top-tier program tries to attack him when he's trying to make something happen with the basketball.
How will Kansas try to attack Wilson when they are on the defensive side of the floor, and how will the true freshman respond/adjust his game?
Projected Starters
No. 0- Kyan Evans
No. 7- Seth Trimble
No. 8- Caleb Wilson
No. 15- Jarin Stevenson
No. 13- Henri Veesaar