UNC is adding another high-level non-conference matchup to its 2026-27 schedule. The Tar Heels will face Illinois in the Nashville Hoops Showdown on Saturday, Jan. 30. The matchup has been confirmed by both programs and by Bridgestone Arena, which will host the game.

The non-conference matchup will come during the middle of UNC’s ACC schedule, though the practice of scheduling a high-quality non-conference regular season game after the New Year has become more common among power conference programs in recent years. This is the first time the Tar Heels have scheduled such a game.

The Illini join a UNC non-conference slate which already includes a visit to Georgia (Nov. 13), a reported matchup with West Virginia in Charlotte (Nov. 27), a home matchup with Arkansas (Dec. 1) as part of the ACC-SEC Challenge, a home game against Butler (Dec. 6), a visit to Georgetown (Dec. 12) in the second game of a home-and-home series and a neutral-site game against Kentucky (Dec. 19) as part of the CBS Sports Classic. Carolina has also scheduled a preseason exhibition against Indiana in Indianapolis, with the game set for Oct. 18. In addition, Inside Carolina reported Thursday morning UNC is currently finalizing an agreement to play a non-conference game against NC State at the Greensboro Coliseum on Dec. 15.

Illinois finished the 2025-26 season with a 28-9 record, earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advancing to the program’s first Final Four in 21 years, where the Illini eventually lost to national runners-up UConn. Ironically, UNC and Illinois would have played in the tournament’s second round in Greenville, S.C. had the Tar Heels defeated VCU in the opening round. The teams have met eight previous times, with the two sides splitting those meetings 4-4. Illinois has won the last two games, most recently winning 79-67 in Champaign in 2010. UNC’s last win came in the 2005 national championship game.

Carolina has never won a game in Nashville, though the Tar Heels have not played there since 1987. UNC is 0-3 all time in the city, with all three losses coming in true road games at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Coliseum. UNC has never played in Bridgestone Arena, which is the home venue for the NHL’s Nashville Predators and often hosts the SEC Basketball Tournament.

The 2026-27 season will be UNC’s first under the leadership of head coach Michael Malone, who was hired in April. Brad Underwood is entering his 10th season as Illinois head coach.

Fans who are interested in attending will have the opportunity to purchase official travel packages when they go on sale in August. For more information, click here.

 

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
‹
UNC's Henri Veesaar Drafted by Los Angeles Clippers, Traded to Atlanta Hawks
Henri Veesaar is league-bound. The seven-foot center, who spent the 2025-26 season with UNC after committing to the Tar Heels out of the transfer portal, was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 52 overall pick in the NBA Draft, who then traded that pick to the Atlanta Hawks. Veesaar spent the first […]
UNC's Caleb Wilson Selected by Chicago Bulls with No. 4 Overall Pick in 2026 NBA Draft
Caleb Wilson is headed to the Windy City. The Chicago Bulls selected the star UNC freshman forward with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round of Tuesday’s NBA Draft. Wilson is the highest-picked Tar Heel in the NBA Draft since Marvin Williams went No. 2 overall to the Atlanta Hawks in 2005. Carolina […]
UNC Men's Basketball to Host Arkansas, Women to Host LSU in 2026 ACC-SEC Challenge
The matchups have been set for both the UNC men’s and women’s basketball programs in the upcoming ACC-SEC Challenge: the men will host Arkansas on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at the Smith Center, while the women will host LSU on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at Carmichael Arena. ACC/SEC challenge is set 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/AWzBSN1Cbv — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) […]
Greek Prospect Alexandros Samodurov Commits to UNC Men's Basketball
Another international prospect is making his way to Chapel Hill. Alexandros Samodurov, who has played professionally in Greece since 2022, announced his commitment to head coach Michael Malone and UNC Saturday. Samodurov, a 6-foot-11 forward, has played his entire professional career with the Greek club Panathinaikos. The club has seen sustained success during his time […]
ACC Opponents Set for 2026-27 UNC Men's Basketball Season
The UNC men’s basketball program revealed its ACC opponents for the 2026-27 season. It will be the second since the league shifted from a 20-game schedule to an 18-game schedule. Like in 2025-26, the Tar Heels will play two opponents twice, 14 opponents once and not play one other league school at all during the […]
Matt Able Withdraws From NBA Draft, Will Play for UNC Men's Basketball Next Season
Matt Able, who committed to UNC out of the transfer portal in April after playing his freshman season at NC State but also went through the NBA Draft Combine process, withdrew his name from the draft Monday. Able has already signed with the Tar Heels, meaning he is locked in to playing for the program […]
Report: UNC Men's Basketball Hiring Former Tar Heel Brandon Robinson to Staff
According to a report from Inside Carolina, former UNC men’s basketball player Brandon Robinson is set to join head coach Michael Malone’s staff in Chapel Hill for the upcoming season. Robinson played four years in Chapel Hill and was a freshman on UNC’s 2016-17 national championship team. He played in 130 total games during his […]
Former LSU Signee Kevin Thomas Commits to UNC Men's Basketball
Kevin Thomas, a four-star recruit who initially signed with LSU but decommitted in March, has now committed to head coach Michael Malone and UNC. View this post on Instagram Thomas, a 6-foot-6 wing from Fort Lauderdale, FL, committed to and signed with LSU last fall. But following the Tigers’ firing of head coach Matt McMahon, […]
Freshmen, Transfers and More: Every Newcomer Joining UNC Men's Basketball for the 2026-27 Season
As Michael Malone embarks on his first season as the head coach of the UNC men’s basketball program, he’s gotten busy securing the additions of several newcomers to the program. Malone and his staff have mined from traditional high school recruiting and the transfer portal to fill out Carolina’s roster, and that work is continuing […]
Report: UNC Men's Basketball Hiring Bryan Tibaldi as Assistant Coach
According to a report from Inside Carolina, Bryan Tibaldi, who spent the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at Providence, will join head coach Michael Malone’s UNC staff in the same position. Prior to arriving at Providence, Tibaldi had spent several years in the Cleveland Cavaliers organization in the NBA. Cleveland initially hired Tibaldi as […]
›