The ACC basketball season is underway and for the North Carolina Tar Heels, they are off to a 1-1 start in conference play.
UNC ( suffered a 97-83 setback at SMU on Saturday, but the Mustangs (12-2, 2-0 ACC) look every bit of a conference favorite themselves. North Carolina’s schedule remains tough as it gets deeper into the 2026, with upcoming matchups against Wake Forest (January 10), at Stanford (Jan. 14), California (Jan. 17) and vs. Notre Dame (Jan. 21).
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On Monday afternoon, UNC learned the start time for its toughest remaining game this month. The Tar Heels will tip off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24 against Virginia.
The Cavaliers (12-2, 1-1 ACC) are out to a hot start in Year One under Ryan Odom, who has a proven track record of success in stops at UMBC, Utah State and VCU. Leading the on-court charge for UVA are Belgian forward Thijs De Ridder, transfer Malik Thomas and Jacari White, plus freshman Chance Mallory.
North Carolina downed Virginia at home in February last year, 81-66, as part of its late-season run to the NCAA Tournament. UNC’s last trip to Charlottesville, a 54-44 victory in February 2024, was its first road win in the “South’s Oldest Rivalry” since 2012.
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Though the Tar Heels and Cavaliers only matchup up once during regular season play, expect to see both these teams dancing come March. North Carolina knows how to beat good teams β and UVA is another one of many on the schedule.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC-Virginia basketball to get 2 p.m. tip-off on January 24
