After Tuesday’s thrilling, 77-58 win over ETSU, the North Carolina Tar Heels (10-1) are back on the basketball court. This time, UNC faces its final, Power Four non-conference test in Ohio State.
North Carolina will battle the Buckeyes (8-2) in Atlanta, Ga. at 3 p.m. Saturday, returning to Caleb Wilson’s hometown for the CBS Sports Classic. Ohio State enters this weekend clash with an 89-88, double-overtime win over West Virginia.
You can bet Wilson, who won a state championship at Holy Innoncents Episcopal School earlier in 2025, will have plenty of family and friends in the State Farm Arena stands. Wilson is one of college basketball’s best players right now, averaging a 19.5-point, 10.4-rebound double-double per game, while showcasing plenty of highlight-reel dunks and athleticism.
The Tar Heels are quickly starting to find rotations that work best for them, with Henri Veesaar providing their latest start performance. Veesaar netted a career-high 26 points Tuesday night against ETSU, taking advantage of a much-smaller Buccaneers squad in the paint, while finally providing that tall, productive center UNC hasn’t enjoyed in a while.
The Buckeyes will search for another exciting finish, playing their second-straight game away from Columbus. Ohio State needs another win to boost its NCAA Tournament resume, but North Carolina needs to continue showcasing it can beat challenging opponents.
Keep reading below for our game preview about Saturday’s Power Four matchup, including the Tar Heels’ key to victory, something to watch, statistical leads for each team, streaming information and their full schedule.
Key to Victory
Set the tempo early.
ETSU gave North Carolina plentiful fits early Tuesday night. The Bucs slowed tempo, using the shot clock and prevented UNC from getting out and running.
The Tar Heels quickly changed gameplay early in second-half action, bursting out to a 7-0 run. Ohio State is a much tougher opponent, so North Carolina needs quick responses to any changes.
Something to Watch
How much trouble Bruce Thornton gives UNC’s defense.
What North Carolina has in Wilson, Ohio State has in Thornton, a 6’2″ in his fourth and final year as a Buckeye. Thornton averages 21.8 points per game, which is eighth-best in the nation.
Wilson scored 23 points in the Buckeyes’ double-overtime win last weekend, which followed a 34-point performance against Illinois.
Statistical leaders
Points
UNC: Caleb Wilson (19.5)
Ohio State: Bruce Thornton (21.8)
Rebounds
UNC: Caleb Wilson (10.4)
Ohio State: Christoph Tilly (5.9)
Assists
UNC: Kyan Evans (4.3)
Ohio State: Bruce Thornton (4.4)
What you need to know
WHAT? North Carolina Tar Heels (10-1) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-2)
WHEN? Saturday, December 20 at 3 p.m. ET
WHERE? State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga.
TV? CBS
RADIO? SiriusXM (Channel 193)
LINE? UNC -1.5
LAST MEETING? UNC 89, Ohio State 84 on 12/17/22 in New York City
ALL-TIME SERIES: UNC leads, 13-3
PREDICTION? UNC 78, Georgetown 67
UNC basketball 2025-26 schedule
October 4: Blue-White Scrimmage (White 55, Blue 50)
Oct. 24: at BYU (preseason, L 78-76)
Oct. 29: vs. Winston-Salem State (preseason, W 95-53)
Nov. 3: vs. Central Arkansas (W, 94-54)
Nov. 7: vs. Kansas (W, 87-74)
Nov. 11: vs. Radford (W, 89-74)
Nov. 14: vs. NC Central (W, 97-53)
Nov. 18: vs. Navy (W, 73-61)
Nov. 25: vs. St. Bonaventure in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (W, 85-70)
Nov. 27: vs. Michigan State in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (L, 74-58)
December 2: at Kentucky (W, 67-64)
Dec. 7: vs. Georgetown (W, 81-61)
Dec. 13: vs. USC Upstate (W, 80-62)
Dec. 16: vs. ETSU (W, 77-58)
Dec. 20: vs. Ohio State in CBS Sports Classic (3 p.m. in Atlanta, Ga.)
Dec. 22: vs. East Carolina (8 p.m.)
Dec. 30: vs. Florida State (2:15 p.m.)
January 3, 2026: at SMU (2:15 p.m.)
Jan. 10, 2026: vs. Wake Forest (6 p.m.)
Jan. 14, 2026: at Stanford (9 p.m.)
Jan. 17, 2026: at California (4 p.m.)
Jan. 21, 2026: vs. Notre Dame (7 p.m.)
Jan. 24, 2026: at Virginia (TBA)
Jan. 31, 2026: at Georgia Tech (2 p.m.)
Feb. 2, 2026: vs. Syracuse (7 p.m.)
Feb. 7, 2026: vs. Duke (6:30 p.m.)
Feb. 10, 2026: at Miami (FL) (7 p.m.)
Feb. 14, 2026: vs. Pitt (2 p.m.)
Feb. 17, 2026: at NC State (7 p.m.)
Feb. 21, 2026: at Syracuse (1 p.m.)
Feb. 23, 2026: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)
Feb. 28, 2026: vs. Virginia Tech (TBA)
March 3, 2026: vs. Clemson (7 p.m.)
March 7, 2026: at Duke (6:30 p.m.)
March 10-14, 2026: ACC Tournament in Spectrum Center (Charlotte, N.C.)
