Feast Week certainly hasn't failed to deliver yet, and Thanksgiving Day should have a lot more great action in store for us all.
Hubert Davis and the No. 16-ranked Tar Heels are set for a clash with Tom Izzo and the No. 11-ranked Spartans in the Fort Myers Tip-Off finale. Both teams come in unbeaten and aim to return home with an unblemished record.
Michigan State made light work of East Carolina on Tuesday in Fort Myers, while the UNC basketball program put together a strong second half to pull away from St. Bonaventure.
It might only be November, but this game could be a major victory for whoever comes out on top.
2025-2026 Season
No. 16 North Carolina Tar Heels
Overall record: 6-0
Conference Record: 0-0
Home Record: 5-0
Away Record: 0-0
Neutral Site Record: 1-0
Top-25 Wins: 1
No. 11 Michigan State Spartans
Overall record: 6-0
Conference Record: 0-0
Home Record: 4-0
Away Record: 0-0
Neutral Site Record: 2-0
History
There's plenty of history between these two historic programs, as the two squared off in the Maui Invitational just a year ago.
While Michigan State won that game 94-91 in overtime, the Tar Heels hold the all-time advantage. North Carolina is 13-5 against the Spartans, and holds a 9-3 record in neutral site games between the two programs.
Key Players
North Carolina
Caleb Wilson (Fr. Forward)- 20.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Henri Veesaar (Jr. Center)- 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Luka Bogavac (Jr. Guard)- 12.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists
Michigan State
Jaxon Kohler (Sr. Forward)- 15.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Coen Carr (Jr. Forward)- 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Jeremy Fears Jr. (So. Guard)- 10.8, 3.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists
Keys to Victory for North Carolina
Win the rebounding battle
St. Bonaventure didn't feature the length that the UNC basketball program has, but they made life difficult on the glass due to their size and physicality.
The Bonnies were the sixth-best team in the country in terms of offensive rebounding prior to Tuesday night, as North Carolina did a good job of limiting their second chance opportunities.
Now, they will be tasked with winning the rebounding battle against a Michigan State team that features plenty of size. They also have four players averaging five or more rebounds per-contest, showing that it will need to be a full team effort to win the battle of the boards.
Have no Fears
Jeremy Fears Jr. has arguably been the best point guard in the country at this point in the early season, averaging double-digit scoring and assists numbers.
In fact, Fears Jr. has showcased an elite play making ability, as his season-low for assists is 9.
When Michigan State's offense is rolling, it's likely due to Fears Jr. finding the open man.
For North Carolina, they'd love to have Seth Trimble on the court, shadowing Fears Jr. everywhere he goes. However, Trimble won't be able to play again due to injury, so it will be up to the back court to make sure Fears Jr. doesn't get going.
Kyan Evans needs to avoid some "silly fouls" like he earned against St. Bonaventure. The Tar Heels will need him on the court as much as possible, and Derek Dixon will need to play like he did in the second half on Tuesday in order for the UNC basketball program to try and neutralize this star point guard.
Something to Watch for
Hubert Davis has tinkered a bit with his rotations, especially with Trimble being sidelined.
Playing mostly reserves, the UNC basketball program coughed up its first half lead to the Bonnies. This can't happen against the Spartans, and it's likely that Davis won't go as deep into his bench unless he has to.
Now, the question remains: how do you get the starters a breather without having to rely on a handful of reserves?
When Henri Veesaar needs a break (and North Carolina has to get him more of those), Davis should roll with the lineup that features Caleb Wilson and Jarin Stevenson in the post. Zayden High has had some positive moments, but he isn't capable yet of handling the backup center duties.
The same goes for the back court. If Kyan Evans is on the bench, Luka Bogavac has to be in the game. Bogavac can serve as a facilitator and veteran presence alongside freshman Derek Dixon.
After the St. Bonaventure game, we'll have to wait and see how that outcome impacted Davis' in-game strategy when it comes to how he plans on utilizing his bench at least on Thursday afternoon.
Projected Starters
No. 0- Kyan Evans
No. 44- Luka Bogavac
No. 8- Caleb Wilson
No. 15- Jarin Stevenson
No. 13- Henri Veesaar