The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team opens the 2025-26 season against the Central Arkansas Bears on Monday, Nov. 3 (7 p.m., ACC Network ), at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill.

The 25th-ranked Tar Heels and the Bears are playing for the first time. According to documents obtained by The Fayetteville Observer/USA TODAY Network through a public records request, Central Arkansas is receiving a $90,000 guaranteed payment for the "buy game" at UNC .

UNC split a pair of preseason exhibition games, losing vs. No. 8 BYU in Utah before a rout of Division II foe Winston-Salem State in Chapel Hill.

Fifth-year coach Hubert Davis has a roster that includes 11 new players around senior guard Seth Trimble . UNC added transfers Henri Veesaar (Arizona), Jarin Stevens

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