The UNC men’s basketball team will host Alabama at the Dean Smith Center and the women’s team will host Kentucky at Carmichael Arena as part of the ACC-SEC Challenge next season. The men’s matchup is scheduled for December 4 and the women’s matchup for December 5.

The Tar Heels and Crimson Tide have met in each of the past two seasons, with Alabama winning both matchups. Nate Oats’ team won a four-overtime marathon as part of the Phil Knight Invitational during the Thanksgiving holiday in 2022, and then No. 4 seed Alabama sprung an upset against No. 1 seed Carolina in the 2024 NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.

The two programs are also connected on the recruiting trail, as Chapel Hill native and Seaforth High School standout Jarin Stevenson turned down a scholarship offer from Carolina to reclassify up a year and join the Crimson Tide before the 2023-24 season. UNC and Alabama both also recruited Rutgers’ Clifford Omoruyi out of the transfer portal; Omoruyi eventually picked the Tide.

Alabama returns several key members of its 2024 team which made it to the Final Four after beating the Tar Heels, such as Stevenson, guard Mark Sears and forward Grant Nelson. Nelson scored 24 points in the Sweet 16 matchup.

On the women’s side, the matchup with Kentucky will also bring familiar foes back to Chapel Hill. The Wildcats hired former Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks to the same position in Lexington this offseason, while also bringing former Hokie point guard Georgia Amoore from the transfer portal. In addition, former Tar Heel Teonni Key will be making her return to Carmichael as a member of the Wildcats.

This will be the first meeting between UNC and Kentucky since Courtney Banghart took over as head coach. The teams last met in the 2018-19 season, with the Wildcats winning 85-75.

 

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 newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Check Out the Complete Schedule for UNC's 'ACC Network Takeover' July 8
The ACC Network will feature 24 hours of Tar Heel highlights from the 2024-25 athletic year Tuesday as part of its annual “ACC Network Takeover.” Programming begins at midnight and lasts through 11:59 p.m. Featured games include the women’s basketball team’s win against No. 10 NC State at Carmichael Arena back in February. Those who […]
Chansky's Notebook: Hoops Galore
Between the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments, the Triangle will be the capital of the college basketball world this weekend.
UNC Men's Basketball in the 2024 Maui Invitational: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Times
The Tar Heels will return to the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center in Hawai’i this week. Carolina has appeared in the tournament eight previous times and won it four times, most recently in the 2016-17 season. If you aren’t making the trip to the islands with the team, here’s how you can follow […]
UNC Men's Basketball at Hawai'i (2024): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
Carolina will begin its stay on the Hawai’ian islands with a true road test in Honolulu this weekend. The Tar Heels will face the Warriors on the University of Hawai’i campus before participating in the Maui Invitational next week. If you aren’t journeying to paradise with the team, here’s how you can follow along at […]
UNC Women's Basketball vs. UConn (2024): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
Carolina will face a stern early-season test on Friday night when it faces off with No. 2 UConn at the Greensboro Coliseum. It’s the second of a two-game series with the Huskies, who defeated the Tar Heels in Connecticut last season. If you aren’t making the trip to Greensboro with the team, here’s how you […]
UNC Men's Basketball at Kansas (2024): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
Carolina will travel to Allen Fieldhouse to face top-ranked Kansas in a marquee early-season matchup on Friday night. It’s the first meeting between the Jayhawks and Tar Heels since the 2022 national championship game. If you aren’t making the trip to Lawrence with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule […]
UNC to Begin Alcohol Sales at Dean Smith Center and Carmichael Arena
UNC will begin selling beer and wine at men’s basketball games in the Dean Smith Center and women’s basketball games at Carmichael Arena this coming season. Sales at the Smith Center begin with the season opener on November 4, while sales at Carmichael will begin later in the month. “Many of our fans have asked […]
Here's a Complete Tracker of UNC Basketball Players Named to Award Watch Lists
In anticipation of the 2024-25 season, several UNC men’s and women’s basketball players have been named to award watch lists. Check back here throughout the season to see who has been nominated for what! R.J. Davis – Jerry West Award, Naismith Trophy, NABC Player of the Year Davis is coming off an outstanding 2023-24 season, […]
ACC Schedules Revealed for UNC Men's and Women's Basketball
The ACC revealed its 2024-25 regular season men’s and women’s basketball schedules on Tuesday night. Head coach Courtney Banghart and the women’s team will open their ACC schedule on Sunday, December 15 when the Tar Heels host Georgia Tech at Carmichael Arena at 2 p.m. The conference opener comes between non-conference matchups with UNC-Greensboro in […]
UNC Men's Basketball Hosting Alabama, Women Hosting Kentucky in ACC-SEC Challenge
The UNC men’s basketball team will host Alabama at the Dean Smith Center and the women’s team will host Kentucky at Carmichael Arena as part of the ACC-SEC Challenge next season. The men’s matchup is scheduled for December 4 and the women’s matchup for December 5. The Tar Heels and Crimson Tide have met in […]
›