Technically, the North Carolina men's basketball season started Monday when the Tar Heels dusted off Central Arkansas 94-54. But for most fans, the real basketball season starts tonight when No. 19 Kansas comes into the Dean Dome for an early showdown of blueblood programs looking to get back to their elite status this season.
Monday's game against Central Arkansas went about as well as could've been expected. It was an early showcase for superstar freshman Caleb Wilson, who had 22 points and four rebounds. The back court of Seth Trimble and Kyan Evans controlled the game and Arizona big man transfer Henri Veesaar controlled the boards.
Caleb Wilson was dunking everything and even cashed in a triple in his Tar Heel debut 😤
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) November 4, 2025
🔥 22 PTS | 4 REB | 8/10 FG pic.twitter.com/Mz6UdaslK5
Kansas had a similar opening-night showcase, beating Green Bay 94-51 at the Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks also have a superstar freshman in 6-foot-6 guard Darryn Peterson, who some consider the best recruit out of the 2025 class. He had 21 points, four rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes.
Betting odds for UNC vs. Kansas
Odds courtesy of FanDuel, and as of 1:30 pm ET on Friday, Nov. 7.
Spread: UNC -1.5
Moneyline: UNC -137, Kansas +114
Over/Under: 158.5
Final Prediction from Keepin' It Heel
It's just the second game of the season, but it feels so much bigger because both teams are trying to re-establish themselves as powers in college basketball's ecosystem. The battle of the bigs is going to be exciting with Wilson and Veesaar going up against Kansas sophomore Flory Bidunga, who had 23 points against Green Bay on Monday.
Just as exciting will be what happens in the back court. You know Peterson is going to want to put on a show, and it's going to be on Trimble to keep him contained. Also keep an eye on Kansas senior Melvin Council Jr., a crafty, experienced guard that arrived from St. Bonaventure over the summer.
This is everything basketball fans want in an early-season showdown. Two hungry teams with exciting freshmen that will be lottery picks next summer in front of a raucous crowd on a Friday night. Last year Kansas won 92-89 in an instant classic. Expect another classic tonight but with a different result. North Carolina 84, Kansas 79.