There's no place like the Dean Dome: UNC's non-conference slate mostly home games

Oh, there's no place like home (or in this case, the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill).

The UNC basketball program released its official non-conference schedule for the 2025-2026 season, one that is jam-packed with games at home. Before the ACC conference play kicks off in the new year, North Carolina will have already played 9 games on its home court.

Here's the list of non-conference games, including some information regarding one of the UNC basketball program's two exhibition games:

Of the 13 non-conference games that the Tar Heels will play, only four will be on the road. North Carolina will play only one true road game during this period, as they'll travel to take on Kentucky in the ACC/SEC Challenge in early December.

The other three road games will be held at neutral sites: two at the Fort Myers Tip-Off and one in Atlanta for the annual CBS Sports Classic).

While the lack of road games in non-conference play is interesting, what makes it more intriguing is the fact that the UNC basketball program has a two-week road trip. After hosting Navy on November 18, the Tar Heels won't play at home again until December 7, as the Fort Myers Tip-Off and the ACC/SEC Challenge will all take place within seven days.

North Carolina's regular season begins on November 3 when they host Central Arkansas. Four days later, Hubert Davis' team will welcome Bill Self and Kansas to the Dean Smith Center, marking the first-time ever that the two historic programs will play against each other in Chapel Hill.

One part of the schedule is now officially revealed, as we'll await the release of the ACC scheduling over the next couple of weeks. With the new format in place, it will be interesting to see if there will be one random conference game mixed into non-conference action, or will the new schedule hold all conference play until after the new year begins.