Tar Heels, Wolf Pack Set for High-Stakes Showdown in Raleigh
The rivalry between North Carolina and NC State always brings heat, but Tuesday night’s clash at the Lenovo Center has some extra sizzle. With both teams boasting strong overall records - a combined 38-13 - and jostling for position in the ACC standings, this one goes beyond bragging rights.
Tar Heels Navigating Through the Stretch Run
North Carolina rolls into Raleigh at 20-5, fresh off a win over Pittsburgh. They’ve gone 8-4 in ACC play and are currently tied with Louisville for sixth place in the conference. Duke remains the top dog in the standings - with its only conference loss coming at the hands of these Tar Heels.
February’s been a mixed bag for UNC. They’re 3-1 this month, with the lone blemish being a road loss at Miami. Earlier in the season, they stumbled out west with back-to-back defeats against Stanford and California, but since then, Hubert Davis has his group trending in the right direction.
The Tar Heels are in solid shape for an NCAA Tournament bid, but the path to March isn’t without obstacles. After Tuesday, they stay on the road to face Syracuse before wrapping up the regular season with a four-game stretch that includes home matchups against Louisville, Virginia Tech, and Clemson - plus a massive road finale at Duke.
Short-Handed Carolina Faces a Streaky NC State Squad
North Carolina won’t be at full strength for this one. Leading scorer Caleb Wilson, who’s been putting up 19.8 points per game, is out with a hand injury.
There’s also uncertainty around Henri Veesaar, their second-leading scorer at 16.4 points per game, who’s questionable with an ankle issue. That puts added pressure on the starting five - Seth Trimble (13.9 ppg), Luka Bogavac (9.8 ppg), and Jarin Stevenson (7.6 ppg) will need to shoulder more of the offensive load.
On the other side, NC State has been a bit of a roller coaster lately. After a six-game winning streak, the Wolf Pack have dropped two straight - first a defensive collapse at Louisville, where they gave up 118 points, followed by a home loss to Miami.
Still, this is a team that can light it up. The Wolf Pack are averaging 84.5 points per game and are knocking down over 10.5 threes per contest. That perimeter firepower, especially in front of their home crowd, could be the difference-maker on Tuesday night.
Currently sitting fifth in the ACC at 9-4, NC State is trying to hold its ground in the standings. After this one, they hit the road for back-to-back games at Virginia and Notre Dame before closing the regular season at home against Duke and Stanford.
Matchup Details
- Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: FuboTV
- Betting Odds: NC State -5.5 | North Carolina +5.5
- Moneyline: NC State -260 | North Carolina +225
- Total: 158.5
Projected Starting Lineups
North Carolina Tar Heels
- #1 Zayden High - 2.2 ppg
- #7 Seth Trimble - 13.9 ppg
- #44 Luka Bogavac - 9.8 ppg
- #15 Jarin Stevenson - 7.6 ppg
- #3 Derek Dixon - 5.6 ppg
NC State Wolf Pack
- #1 Darrion Williams - 14.2 ppg
- #11 Quadir Copeland - 13.8 ppg
- #22 Ven-Allen Lubin - 13.7 ppg
- #2 Paul McNeil Jr. - 13.6 ppg
- #5 Tre Holloman - 10.0 ppg
Rivalry Recap & What’s at Stake
This is one of the ACC’s most storied rivalries, and the history leans heavily in favor of the Tar Heels. North Carolina leads the all-time series 121-51, including a commanding 97-73 win the last time these two met back in February 2025.
But don’t expect a repeat of that blowout. NC State has more firepower this time around, and with UNC missing key pieces, the margin for error is slim. For the Wolf Pack, this is about more than just rivalry pride - it’s about keeping pace in the ACC and avoiding a late-season slide.
For North Carolina, it’s a chance to prove their depth and resilience. Even without their top scorer, the Tar Heels have the tools to compete - but they’ll need to execute, especially on the defensive end, to keep NC State’s shooters in check.
Bottom Line
This one has all the ingredients of a classic: high stakes, bitter rivals, and two teams with something to prove. Expect a charged atmosphere in Raleigh and a game that could have ripple effects throughout the ACC standings.
Whether it’s NC State’s perimeter shooting or UNC’s ability to adapt under pressure, something’s got to give. And when these two meet, it usually does - loudly.