After two wildly different preseason results, the UNC men's basketball team has one final tune-up on Tuesday night at home.
At 7 p.m., North Carolina will host Charlotte in a battle of in-state teams. The Tar Heels opened their preseason schedule with an 88-70 win over USC in Greensboro, then struggled during a 76-58 loss at Indiana on October 18.
Tonight's game means a little more within the UNC circles, as former players Wes Miller and Marcus Paige make their returns to Chapel Hill. A 2005 National Champion under Roy Williams' guidance, Miller developed himself into a solid, mid-major coach with previous stops at UNC-Greensboro and Cincinnati. Paige (2012-2016) is one of the best 3-point shooters in recent memory, holding the program record until RJ Davis broke it.
Michael Malone is everything North Carolina needs in its next head coach, a no-nonsense guy who cares for his players and knows how to develop talent. Malone landed most of the Tar Heels' 2026-27 roster via transfer portal activity, while snagging international big men, flipping recruits and getting guys to stay after the coaching change.
UNC doesn't have a proven go-to scorer yet, but Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson showed he can be that guy in the preseason opener. Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young will play plenty more off the bench. Sayon Keita is a tall, athletic center with a well-rounded game. Malone is still discovering his best rotations and likely won't finalize them until the regular season, but North Carolina has a depth it struggled with last season.
If you're in the Triangle today, strongly consider a drive over to the Dean Dome and watching the Tar Heels' final tune-up in person. If you're watching this clash on TV, your favorite streaming device, listening on the radio or somewhere else, keep reading below for more information.
What channel is North Carolina vs. Charlotte on Tuesday? Time, TV schedule, radio
TV Channel: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX)
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio: GoHeels.com
Website: WatchESPN
Where to watch UNC-Charlotte basketball on live stream
Stream UNC-Charlotte basketball
UNC vs. Charlotte prediction, picks
Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time since March, the Tar Heels should thrive in their final preseason tune-up. Malone will likely empty North Carolina's bench, including the walk-ons.
Charlotte will play in its first preseason game, so expect some rust from Miller's squad. The former UNC player has a transfer-heavy team, bringing several guys with him from Cincinnati.
The Tar Heels will rebound from their loss at Indiana, showing their home crowd how good they can be come regular season time.
Score prediction: UNC 82, Charlotte 71
UNC men's basketball 2026-27 schedule
October 9: Exhibition vs. USC Trojans in Greensboro, N.C. (W, 88-70)
Oct. 18: Exhibition at Indiana Hoosiers in Indianapolis (L, 76-58)
Oct. 27: Exhibition vs. Charlotte (7:30 p.m.)
November 2: Season opener vs. Western Carolina (7 p.m.)
Nov. 6: vs. Wofford (7 p.m.)
Nov. 10: vs. Wyoming (7 p.m.)
Nov. 13: vs. Georgia (7 p.m.)
Nov. 20: vs. Marshall (9 p.m.)
Nov. 23: vs. Monmouth (8 p.m.)
Nov. 27: Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C. (7 p.m.)
December 1: ACC-SEC Challenge vs. Arkansas (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 6: vs. Butler (3 p.m.)
Dec. 12: at Georgetown (Noon)
Dec. 15: Tobacco Road Classic vs. NC State in Greensboro (7 p.m.)
Dec. 19: CBS Sports Clasic vs. Kentucky in New York, N.Y. (2:30 p.m.)
Dec. 21: vs. The Citadel (8 p.m.)
Dec. 30: vs. Cal (4 p.m.)
January 2, 2027: at Boston College (4 p.m.)
Jan. 5: at Louisville (9 p.m.)
Jan. 9: vs. NC State (Noon)
Jan. 13: at Florida State (7 p.m.)
Jan. 16: vs. Stanford (2:15 p.m.)
Jan. 19: vs. Virginia (9 p.m.)
Jan. 23: at Syracuse (12 p.m.)
Jan. 26: vs. SMU (7 p.m.)
Jan. 30: Nashville (Tenn.) Hoops Showdown vs. Illinois in Bridgestone Arena (6 or 6:30 p.m.)
February 2: at Notre Dame
Feb. 6: vs. Georgia Tech (2:15 p.m.)
Feb. 8: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)
Feb. 13: at Duke (5:30 p.m.)
Feb. 20: at Wake Forest (7 p.m.)
Feb. 22: vs. Miami (7 p.m.)
Feb. 27: at Virginia Tech (7 p.m.)
March 2: at Pitt (9 p.m.)
March 6: vs. Duke (6 or 6:30 p.m.)
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: What channel is UNC's Tuesday basketball exhibition vs. Charlotte on?
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