The University of North Carolina’s men’s basketball team is set to open its preseason with two high‑profile exhibition games that will serve as a laboratory for a roster that looks markedly different from a year ago. On October 9 the Tar Heels will welcome the USC Trojans to the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, before heading west to Indianapolis for a second test against the Indiana Hoosiers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 18.
A Test Against the Trojans
Coach Eric Musselman will use the Greensboro matchup to experiment with lineups, giving minutes to a mix of newcomers and holdovers. The game, scheduled for 7 p.m., will be the first public glimpse of how the new rotation meshes against a Big Ten opponent that brings its own depth and experience.
Road Test in Indianapolis
Just nine days later the team will travel to Indianapolis, where the atmosphere at Gainbridge Fieldhouse promises a different set of challenges. The exhibition against Indiana will continue the evaluation process, allowing the coaching staff to fine‑tune chemistry before the official season begins.
Beyond these early contests, the schedule includes a slate of non‑conference games against familiar foes such as N.C. State in December, as well as matchups with Western Carolina, Wofford and Georgia. The regular season will also feature ACC battles at home against Duke and Louisville, with road trips to Boston College and Florida State.
Coaching Continuity
The bench staff remains anchored by longtime assistants Michael Malone, Chuck Martin, Bryan Tibaldi, Sean May, Pat Sullivan, as well as graduate assistants Deon Thompson and Brandon Robinson. Their experience provides a stable backdrop for Musselman’s new ideas and helps integrate the influx of talent.
New Faces on the Roster
Freshmen Maximo Adams, Malloy Smith and Sayon Keita arrive with high expectations, while transfers John Holbrook and Cameron Fens bring additional depth. Their performances in the exhibition games will be closely watched as the staff decides how much playing time to allocate early in the season.
Departures and Transfers
The roster also saw several players enter the transfer portal, including Luka Bogavac, James Brown and Derek Dixon. Their exits open additional scholarship opportunities for the newcomers and reshape the team’s dynamics heading into the fall.
The venue for the first exhibition, First Horizon Coliseum, is still commonly referred to by its former name, the Greensboro Coliseum, and will host several more non‑conference contests throughout the year, underscoring its continued role as a central hub for the program’s early schedule.