UNC was picked fifth in the ACC men’s basketball preseason poll Monday afternoon.

Two-time reigning conference champion Duke comes in at No. 1, taking home 45 of a possible 48 first-place votes. No. 2 Virginia, No. 3 Louisville and No. 4 Miami each followed with one first-place vote each. Below UNC, No. 6 Clemson, No. 7 Florida State, No. 8 NC State, No. 9 Virginia Tech and No. 10 SMU round out the top 10.

No Tar Heels were named to the ACC’s preseason all-conference first team or second team. The only UNC player to earn any sort of individual recognition was Maximo Adams, who received three votes for preseason rookie of the year. Duke’s Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje received 34. Virginia’s Thijs De Ridder was voted ACC Preseason Player of the Year. To view the full preseason standings and awards voting results, click here.

UNC will continue preseason action Sunday when it visits Indiana in Indianapolis at 5 p.m. The Tar Heels have one more preseason fixture against Charlotte at the Dean Smith Center Tuesday, Oct. 27 before beginning the season in earnest Monday, Nov. 2 against Western Carolina. The 2026-27 season is the program’s first under the leadership of head coach Michael Malone.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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
‹
UNC Men's Basketball vs. Indiana (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC will continue preseason action Sunday when it travels to Indianapolis to face Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. If you aren’t making the trip with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen on the radio can do so at 97.9 FM and […]
'You Want to Win for Him': Michael Malone's Unofficial UNC Welcome is a Hit
UNC head coach Michael Malone drew rave reviews after his Tar Heels beat USC 88-70 in a preseason exhibition Friday night.
UNC Men's Basketball Beats USC in Greensboro Preseason Exhibition
UNC outscored USC 51-31 in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit and beat the Trojans 88-70 in a preseason exhibition in Greensboro.
Breaking Down Michael Malone's Challenge to Jarin Stevenson, UNC's Gentle Giant
Earlier in the offseason, a fellow reporter and I were discussing Tar Heel senior forward Jarin Stevenson. As the team’s only returning starter and one of the only familiar faces fans can latch on to after an offseason of upheaval, he projects to be a key player for UNC in 2026-27. That prominent role, plus […]
UNC Men's Basketball Releases 2026-27 ACC Schedule
The ACC revealed the men’s basketball league schedule for the 2026-27 season Wednesday afternoon. UNC’s league games begin Dec. 30 and end March 6. Mark your calendars 📅 pic.twitter.com/BXaZ7OHdJd — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 9, 2026 The Tar Heels will begin conference play by hosting Cal at the Smith Center Wednesday, Dec. 30. Carolina is […]
Michael Malone Announces Full UNC Men's Basketball Coaching Staff
Michael Malone and the UNC men’s basketball program have officially announced the full coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, Malone’s first as head coach of the Tar Heels. Official. pic.twitter.com/KmX5Ct793x — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 3, 2026 The staff features three holdovers from former head coach Hubert Davis’ staff: Sean May and Pat Sullivan will […]
'Something Much Bigger than Myself': Highlights from Michael Malone's Sep. 3 Press Conference
UNC men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone met with the media at the Dean Smith Center Thursday morning. In his comments, Malone addressed eligibility issues around center Cameron Fens, the shifting legal landscape around college sports, his coaching style and more. Read highlights from the press conference, which have been lightly edited for clarity, below: […]
UNC Men's Basketball Unveils Complete Non-Conference Schedule for 2026-27 Season
UNC published its full non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 season Thursday. Though several games on the schedule had already been confirmed earlier, Thursday marked the first time the full list of games had been unveiled. Non-conference schedule is set 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/2IHQK7XHnC — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) August 20, 2026 Carolina will start with three exhibition games: […]
This Week in UNC Sports: October 12-18
More and more of UNC's winter sports are beginning their seasons as we hit the middle of October, and "crossover season" is upon us.
UNC Men's Basketball vs. USC (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC fans will get their first look at head coach Michael Malone’s Tar Heels Friday night when Carolina takes on USC in a preseason exhibition at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. It’s UNC’s first game of any kind in Greensboro since the 2023 ACC Tournament. If you aren’t making the trip to the game, here’s […]
›