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UNC basketball at Miami (FL): Game preview, info and more
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- UNC basketball at Miami (FL): Game preview, info and more
Are you still dreaming from the storybook ending on Saturday night in Chapel Hill ? In the best finish to a college basketball game this season, UNC and Duke delivered in an instant classic.
North Carolina, trailing the whole game, tied it late on a Henri Veesaar three. After Blue Devils superstar Cameron Boozer missed a layup, the Tar Heels secured a rebound and called timeout.
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Seconds later, freshman point guard Derek Dixon drove the paint, kicking the basketball out to a wide-open Seth Trimble in the corner. Trimble swished the three and – 0.4 seconds later after one court storm – UNC emerged victorious in a 71-68 thriller.
The celebration is still flowing as of Sunday morning, but there's also a quick turnaround. North Carolina will hit the road this week, with a Tuesday night trip to face Miami (FL) at 7 p.m.
The Tar Heels (19-4, 7-3 ACC) and Hurricanes (18-5, 7-3 ACC) will play for sole possession of third place in the conference, so expect a packed Watsco Center. Miami is having a rebirth under first-year head coach Jai Lucas, a former Duke assistant, enjoying its best season since the 2023 Final Four run.
UNC has three straight wins in this annual series, including a 92-73 win on March 1 last season in Chapel Hill . North Carolina won its last matchup in Coral Gables, too, a 75-72 victory exactly two years ago Tuesday.
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The Tar Heels are rolling, but the Hurricanes are hungry. Keep reading below for our game preview about Tuesday's can't-miss ACC, including UNC's key to victory, their full schedule, something to watch, statistical leaders for each team, streaming information and odds
Key to Victory
Jan 24, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; Miami Hurricanes forward Malik Reneau (right) drives against Syracuse Orange forward Tyler Betsey (left) during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
Find a way to neutralize Miami's offense.
The Hurricanes have one of college basketball's best offenses, ranking 32nd amongst all Division-I teams with 84.2 points per game. Miami is also extremely efficient from the field, ranking 12th in field goal percentage (51.1%).
North Carolina will have to pick its poison when defending the Hurricanes, who featured four double-digit scorers in Indiana transfer Malik Reneau (20 points per game), Michigan transfer Tre Donaldson (15.9 PPG), star freshman Shelton Henderson (14.5 PPG) and New Mexico transfer Tru Washington (11.9 PPG), who hasn't played since January.
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If the Tar Heels can take one of Miami's stars out of their offensive equation, winning in Florida becomes much easier.
Something to Watch
If there's any hangover from beating Duke on Saturday.
There's a very real chance this happens for UNC, which – as of Sunday morning – is still riding high from a cinematic finish against its archrival.
In his postgame interview, Caleb Wilson said North Carolina has to quickly shift its focus to Miami, which is hungry for an upset. Will the Tar Heels come ready to play, or start slow and watch their winning streak end?
Statistical leaders
Feb 2, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) passes the ball as Syracuse Orange forward Donnie Freeman (1) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
(Bob Donnan, Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)
Points
UNC: Caleb Wilson (20.2)
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Miami: Malik Reneau (20.0
Rebounds
UNC: Caleb Wilson (9.6)
Miami: Ernest Udeh Jr. (9.6)
Assists
UNC: Kyan Evans (2.9)
Miami: Tre Donaldson (6.2)
What you need to know
TarHeelsWire How to Watch
WHAT? North Carolina Tar Heels (19,4, 7-3 ACC) at Miami (FL) Hurricanes (18-5, 7-3 ACC)
WHEN? Tuesday, February 10 at 7 p.m. ET
WHERE? Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
TV? ESPN
RADIO? SiriusXM (Channels 145 and 193)
LINE?N/A
LAST MEETING? UNC 92, Miami 73 on March 1, 2025 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
ALL-TIME SERIES: UNC leads, 29-10
PREDICTION? Miami 82, UNC 78
UNC basketball 2025-26 schedule
October 4: Blue-White Scrimmage (White 55, Blue 50)
Oct. 24: at BYU (preseason, L 78-76)
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Oct. 29: vs. Winston-Salem State (preseason, W 95-53)
November 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 (W, 71-70)
Dec. 22: vs. East Carolina (W, 99-51)
Dec. 30: vs. Florida State (W, 79-66)
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January 3: at SMU (L, 97-83)
Jan. 10: vs. Wake Forest (W, 87-84)
Jan. 14: at Stanford (L, 95-90)
Jan. 17.: at California (L, 84-78)
Jan. 21: vs. Notre Dame (W, 91-69)
Jan. 24: at Virginia (W, 85-80)
Jan. 31: at Georgia Tech (W, 91-75)
February 2: vs. Syracuse (W, 87-77)
Feb. 7: vs. Duke (W, 71-68)
Feb. 10: at Miami (FL) (7 p.m.)
Feb. 14: vs. Pitt (2 p.m.)
Feb. 17: at NC State (7 p.m.)
Feb. 21: at Syracuse (1 p.m.)
Feb. 23: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)
Feb. 28: vs. Virginia Tech (TBA)
March 3: vs. Clemson (7 p.m.)
March 7,: at Duke (6:30 p.m.)
March 10-14: ACC Tournament in Spectrum Center (Charlotte, N.C.)
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball: Previewing Tuesday night road ACC battle at Miami (FL)
