UNC Basketball hosts Elon to begin the 2024-2025 college basketball season

We've waited long enough: the UNC basketball program is BACK!

Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels begin the 2024-2025 season on Monday night as they host Elon in some late night basketball at the Dean Smith Center. This marks the first of two games the Tar Heels will play during opening week, as they'll travel to Lawrence to take on the No. 1-ranked Kansas Jayhawks on Friday night.

Before the Tar Heels hit the road, they have a clash with the Phoenix to worry about. As we already know: you can't look too far ahead, the business ahead of you needs to be taken care of first.

Last Season In Review

North Carolina Tar Heels

Overall Record: 29-8
Conference Record: 17-3 (ACC Regular Season Champions)
Home Record: 14-1
Away Record: 8-2
Neutral Site Record: 7-5
No. 1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament (lost to Alabama in the Sweet 16)

Elon Phoenix

Overall Record: 13-19
Conference Record: 6-12 (11th place)
Home Record: 8-6
Away Record: 3-12
Neutral Site Record: 2-1

Key Returners (with 2023-2024 stats)

North Carolina

RJ Davis (Gr. Guard)- 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists
Elliot Cadeau (So. Guard)- 7.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Seth Trimble (Jr. Guard)- 5.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists

Elon

TK Simpkins (So. Guard)- 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists
Sam Sherry (Sr. Forward)- 9.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks
Nick Dorn (So. Guard)- 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds

Keys to Victory for North Carolina

The Tar Heels were dominant in front of the home crowd in Chapel Hill a season ago, recording a 14-1 record at the Dean Smith Center.

Hubert Davis and North Carolina hope to replicate that success this season.

The Dean Smith Center will be rocking on Monday night, as the UNC basketball program must take advantage of that energy. If the Tar Heels are able to get off to a hot start, that energy will carry throughout the game.

Let's face it: we've all missed watching UNC basketball! We're fired up for their return to action!

Something to Watch For

There are 10 newcomers on this year's UNC basketball team (which coincides with the new world of college athletics). North Carolina has a new look, one that should be on display early and often throughout the 2024-2025 season.

This team will succeed if they play at their pace: fast. As we saw during the Tar Heels exhibition contests against Memphis and Johnson C. Smith, the Tar Heels have no trouble getting out in transition, a trait that should help them score a lot of points.

The thing to watch for here is how the Tar Heels come out of the gate. Opening night at the Dean Smith Center could bring some jitters out for the newcomers, but the hope is that the Tar Heels will come out firing right out of the gate and take advantage of this game from the onset.

Projected Starters

No. 3 Elliot Cadeau (So. 6'1)
No. 4 RJ Davis (Gr. 6'0)
No. 5 Cade Tyson (Jr. 6'7)
No. 7 Seth Trimble (Jr. 6'3)
No. 13 Jalen Washington (Jr. 6'10)