Men’s Basketball Faces #8 BYU in Friday Night Showdown
The University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels will face the #8 Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars on Friday night, October 24, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. This matchup is part of the team’s preseason schedule and marks UNC’s first game in Salt Lake City since 1988.
Game Details
- Date: Friday, October 24
- Time: 9 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Mountain
- Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Streaming: Available on ESPN+
Historical Context
In their NCAA tournament history, the Tar Heels have a successful track record in Salt Lake City, holding a 4-1 record. Their last appearance was in 1988, when they won against North Texas and Loyola Marymount.
Carolina is also 6-1 overall in Utah, with previous victories over teams including Utah and UAB during the NCAA Tournament. In contrast, the Tar Heels have faced the Cougars five times, with an unbeaten record of 5-0.
Previous Matchups Against BYU
| Date | Result | Location | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/20/1976 | W 113-93 | Carmichael Auditorium | – |
| 12/28/1977 | W 94-81 | Honolulu | – |
| 12/4/1993 | W 97-65 | Charlotte | – |
| 11/22/2004 | W 86-50 | Maui | – |
| 11/24/2007 | W 73-63 | Las Vegas | – |
Preseason Insights
North Carolina has been picked to finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) following a successful preseason media day. Notably, Caleb Wilson earned a spot on the preseason All-ACC second team and the All-Freshman team.
UNC’s roster features five returning players and 11 newcomers, with only Seth Trimble having significant experience from last season’s lineup. The Tar Heels plan to continue their tradition of competitive play as they prepare for their second preseason game against Winston-Salem State on October 29.
Key Players
- Seth Trimble: Averaged 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds last season.
- Caleb Wilson: Recent Gatorade Player of the Year in Georgia.
- Jonathan Powell: Transferred from West Virginia, has previous experience against BYU.
- Henri Veesaar: Averaged 9.4 points with a strong shooting percentage at Arizona.
As the Tar Heels prepare for their exciting encounter with BYU, fans can expect a thrilling display of collegiate basketball. Tune in to see if UNC can maintain its perfect record against the Cougars in what promises to be a competitive showdown.
