The draw for the eight-team Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas has been revealed, and Tar Heel fans will note some familiar opponents among the field.

Carolina will face Northern Iowa in the opening game of the tournament on November 22. UNC last faced the Panthers during the 2017-18 season and took a decisive 86-69 win in Chapel Hill. But Northern Iowa has experience beating the Tar Heels, having upset No. 1 Carolina early in the 2015-16 season.

The winner of the opener will face either Villanova or Texas Tech in the tournament semifinals the next day. Carolina’s most recent meetings with both schools came in the NCAA Tournament; the Tar Heels last saw the Wildcats in the 2016 national championship, and last faced the Red Raiders in the 1996 round of 32. Both resulted in UNC losses, though Carolina holds a winning record against both programs since 1950.

The other side of the bracket features Michigan, Memphis, Arkansas and Stanford. Should the Tar Heels face the Wolverines during the tournament, it would be the sixth meeting in the last seven seasons (UNC holds a 3-2 advantage over that span). The Tar Heels haven’t seen the Razorbacks since the 2017 PK80 tournament, when Carolina defeated Arkansas to advance to the championship round.

Stanford would be a personal matchup for multiple reasons; both Cormac Ryan and Harrison Ingram were a part of the Cardinal program before coming to Chapel Hill, and Stanford head coach Jerod Haase was a longtime assistant coach for Roy Williams at both Kansas and UNC. Haase was on the bench for both the 2005 and 2009 national championships. Memphis is the only team in the field Carolina has never played in men’s basketball.

UNC has played in the Battle 4 Atlantis two previous times but has yet to win the event. The Tar Heels finished in fifth place in 2014 and third place in 2019. The 2023 edition of the tournament is scheduled for November 22-24 on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Report: UNC Basketball to Play in 2023 Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament
According to multiple sources, the UNC men’s basketball team will be going to Paradise for the holidays next year. Jon Rothstein of College Hoops Today is reporting the Tar Heels are scheduled to take part in the 2023 Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas, which will be played over Thanksgiving weekend at the Atlantis […]
UNC's Seth Trimble Named ACC Player of the Week
After scoring 30 points in a win against Louisville and 20 in a win against Virginia Tech, UNC senior guard Seth Trimble was named the ACC Player of the Week Monday. Your ACC Player of the Week 🗣️ 🔗 https://t.co/4n6zsuhmPT pic.twitter.com/XwEMWKctA6 — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) March 2, 2026 In addition to averaging 25 points per […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Up to No. 17, Women Up to No. 16
The UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams both rose in the latest editions of the AP Poll, which were released Monday. The men’s team rose one spot to No. 17, while the women’s team rose five spots to No. 16. The No. 17 Tar Heel men won a pair of home games last week, defeating […]
Chansky's Notebook: Bigger Challenges
The UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams took important steps forward on Saturday and Sunday and have positioned themselves well for March.
UNC Men's Basketball vs. Clemson (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC will host its final home game of the 2025-26 season Tuesday night when Clemson visits the Smith Center. It will also be senior night for Seth Trimble and Elijah Davis, who are playing their final home games as Tar Heels. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how to follow along at […]
Contributions from Kyan Evans, Zayden High Key in UNC Men's Basketball's Win vs. Virginia Tech
In UNC’s win against Duke in Chapel Hill Feb. 7, Kyan Evans played six minutes off the bench and Zayden High didn’t play at all. That was less than a month ago, but it may as well have been ancient history Saturday night. Evans and High both played more than 20 minutes in Carolina’s 89-82 […]
UNC Men's Basketball Fights Off Virginia Tech, Remains Unbeaten in Chapel Hill
UNC shot better than 60 percent from the field in the second half and Henri Veesaar matched a career high with 26 points as the Tar Heels beat Virginia Tech 89-82 at the Smith Center Saturday night. HEELS WIN.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/4CY8U0PT1X — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) March 1, 2026 UNC’s win came after the two […]
UPDATE: R.J. Davis' Jersey Ceremony Scheduled for March 3 Game vs. Clemson
Davis’ jersey ceremony, originally scheduled for Feb. 23 and then postponed due to a severe winter storm in the northeast, is now scheduled for halftime of UNC’s game vs. Clemson at the Smith Center Tuesday, March 3. Tip-off with the Tigers is scheduled for 7 p.m. 🚨 RJ’s ceremony moved to Tuesday 🚨 The […]
UNC Men's Basketball vs. Virginia Tech (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC will be back in action at the Smith Center Saturday night when the Tar Heels host Virginia Tech. Carolina has won nine consecutive home games against the Hokies. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen on the radio can […]
Chansky's Notebook: Free Throw Follies
UNC is still riding high after its win against Louisville, but one glaring flaw could be its downfall: free throw shooting.
›