What Do We Know About UNC's Non-ACC Slate So Far?
With matchups for this coming seasons ACC/Big Ten Challenge finally announced on June 28, a bit more of North Carolinas nonconference schedule for the 2021-22 campaign came into focus. But it remains unfinished and likely will not be completed and revealed until the end of August, which has been the standard in recent years. The Tar Heels are coming off an 18-11 season that included a 10-6 ACC mark. UNC advanced to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament and were eliminated by Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Carolina returns four starters from last years team plus a few scholarship reserves in addition to adding Oklahoma transfer Brady Manek, who is the Sooners 14th all-time leading scorer, and Justin McKoy, who spent two seasons at Virginia. Also, the Heels have freshman DMarco Dunn and Dontrez Styles. While some things about UNC basketball are changing under new coach Hubert Davis, other traditions will not, particularly scheduling. Dean Smith and Roy Williams strongly believed in playing challenging slates outside of the ACC schedule, and so does Davis. "I agree a lot with Coach Williams. He wanted to play anybody, anywhere, Davis said in May on Andy Katz March Madness 365 Podcast. I really feel the same way. I love competition. I love putting our guys and our team in situations to compete. Whether it's at home or on the road, we're looking for opportunities to get better as a team and be challenged individually out there on the floor. Armando Bacot is one of four UNC starters back from last year's team. (ACC Media)  Our schedule this year is very challenging. We're playing UCLA in the Champions Classic in Las Vegas, we're in a tournament at Mohegan Sun with Tennessee, Butler and Villanova. The ACC-Big Ten Challenge is always going to be against a team that has a chance to win a national championship. And then you throw in the ACC. Michigan is heading to the Smith Center to take on the Tar Heels on Dec. 1 for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Wolverines are coming off a 23-5 season that saw them earn a No. 1 seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament and advance to the regional final before falling to UCLA. Like Michigan, UCLA is in many preseason top five rankings and will face UNC in the CBS Sports Classic in Las Vegas. This will be the eighth year of the event that has seen the Tar Heels go 5-2 so far, including 2-0 versus the Bruins beating them in Brooklyn in December of 2015 and Las Vegas two years ago. UNC will take part in the Hall of Fame Tip Off Classic in Connecticut where it will open with Purdue and then face either Villanova or Tennessee. The Boilermakers were 18-10 overall and 13-6 in the Big Ten last season and are ranked among the top 10 in many preseason polls. Villanova was 18-7 overall and 11-4 in the Big East last season and is currently No. 2 in ESPNs early poll. The Volunteers were 18-9 overall and 10-7 in the SEC, plus they are at No. 16 in the early ESPN poll. Anthony Harris and the Tar Heels beat UCLA in Las Vegas two years ago. (USA Today)