UNC-BYU Preview: Overhauled Heels Open with Marquee Road Exhibition

No. 25 North Carolina vs. No. 8 BYU
Salt Lake City, Utah — Delta Center
Friday, Nov. 4 — 9 p.m. ET
ESPN+ (Dave McCann, Blaine Fowler, Jarom Jordan)

>>> Welcome to the new home of Inside Carolina! Reactivate your account for $1 <<<

Quotables

“There are huge benefits in playing games like this. Obviously playing against such a really good opponent in BYU, it gives us an opportunity to be able to take a clear look at us and things that we’re doing well, things that we need to improve on before the regular season starts. … I think it’s also really beneficial for us to go on the road — a true road game. There’s a lot that you can learn about your team…” — UNC coach Hubert Davis on Wednesday.

Pregame Notes

Overhaul of New Faces: UNC underwent full roster reconstruction this offseason, following a turbulent year in which the Tar Heels tumbled from a preseason top-10 ranking to becoming the last team in the NCAA Tournament field. The host of newcomers come in the form of six transfer additions, one international import and three freshmen.

Obtaining more positional size was a clear point of emphasis for Hubert Davis and Co. this offseason. Transfers Henri Veesaar (7-foot), Jarin Stevenson (6-foot-10), and Jonathan Powell (6-6), and international addition Luka Bogavac (6-6) and five-star freshman Caleb Wilson (6-10) figure to offer the Tar Heels more length and versatility. Last season, Carolina was the second-shortest among all major-conference teams, per Ken Pomeroy’s basketball database.

Seth Trimble is the lone UNC returner with meaningful playing experience. He’s in his fourth season with the Tar Heels, and averaged 11.6 points and five rebounds per game last year. Carolina also returns big men Zayden High and James Brown.

Looking at BYU: The Cougars are coming off a 26-10 season that saw them advance to the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA Tournament. BYU finished tied for third place in the loaded Big 12 with a 14-6 record in conference play. The Cougars are under the direction of second-year coach Kevin Young. He came to BYU after spending 18 years coaching professional basketball, which included stints as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers (2016-20) and Phoenix Suns (2021-21), and as an associate head coach with the Suns (2021-24).

BYU lost, 90-89, at Nebraska in an exhibition last weekend. The Cornerhuskers rained in 16 made 3-pointers as a team, including seven made triples from big man Rienk Mast.

The Cougars were picked to finish second in the Big 12 preseason Coaches’ Poll, behind only defending two-time champion Houston. BYU’s revamped and retooled roster is led by the dynamic trio of freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa, transfer guard Rob Wright and returner Richie Sauders. BYU also returns the 6-foot-8, 231-pound Keba Keita, the team’s leading rebounder last year (7.9 rebounds per game).

Prized Portal, Freshman Additions: The superstar Dybantsa undoubtedly headlines the Cougars. He was the top overall high school prospect and is the early favorite to be selected No. 1 in next year’s NBA Draft. He pumped in 30 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the loss to Nebraska.

The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa was named a preseason All-American by the Associated Press. He’s only the second player in program history to be named to this list, along with Jimmer Fredette, who’s arguably the greatest player in BYU history. Dybantsa is the ninth true freshman to be named to a preseason All-American by the AP, joining an esteemed list that includes Andrew Wiggins, Jahlil Okafor, Ben Simmons, Cade Cunningham and Cooper Flagg, among others.

The Cougars also reeled in Wright, one of the top guards available on the transfer portal market. The sophomore Wright joins BYU after spending one year at Baylor. He was tabbed the fourth-best point guard and No. 9 overall player available in the portal, according to On3. Wright averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 assists per game at Baylor, earning honorable mention Big 12 honors. He broke Baylor’s freshman single-season assist record (148). Wright did not play in the second half of the exhibition against Nebraska.

Lights-Out Shooter Returns: The senior Saunders was one of the top shooters in college basketball last season. He was one of 13 players in the country to shoot at least 50 percent from midrange (minimum 25 attempts) and 40 percent from 3-point range (minimum 30 attempts), per CBB Analytics. He earned first team All-Big 12 honors and was named Big 12 Most Improved Player.

The 6-foot-5 Saunders led the Cougars’ in scoring last year, pumping in 16.5 points per game on 51.8 percent shooting from the field and 43.2 percent shooting from deep. He’s finished in double figures in 12 consecutive games dating back to last season. Saunders provided 11 points and three made 3-pointers in the exhibition loss at Nebraska.

Last Meeting: Top-ranked UNC knocked off BYU 73-63 in the Las Vegas Invitational title game in November 2007. Tyler Hansbrough led the way with 21 points and eight rebounds. Wayne Ellington provided 15 points and six rebounds, while Danny Green supplied 14 points off the bench. It was tied up at 59 apiece with just over six minutes to play, before Carolina closed on a 14-4 run.

Series History: Carolina leads the all-time series 5-0. Friday marks the first time these teams will face off in Utah. Four of the five meetings between these programs have been at neutral site. The lone exception came in UNC’s 113-93 win over BYU inside Carmichael Arena in 1976.

BYU assistant Chris Burgess faced UNC six times as a player at Duke (1997-99). He went 4-2 against Carolina over that stretch.

UNC Info
Schedule/Results
Roster & Bios
Stats

BYU Info
Schedule/Info
Roster & Bios
Stats