College basketball is officially back! On Monday night, the North Carolina Tar Heels officially begin their Michael Malone era with a 7 p.m. tip-off against Western Carolina.

UNC experienced mixed results across its three preseason games. North Carolina won comfortably in Malone's coaching debut, beating the Top-25 USC Trojans 88-70 on October 9 in Greensboro, then losing by 18 at Indiana and needing overtime to beat Charlotte on October 27.

WCU won each of its two preseason games, winning by seven at App State and dominating USC Upstate by 30. The Catamounts, who play in the Southern Conference with teams like Wofford and UNC-Greensboro, are looking for their first winning season in three years.

The Tar Heels tasked Malone with re-shaping their entire roster from a season ago, an offseason assignment he thoroughly exceeded expectations with. Malone landed three experienced, Power Four transfers in Terrence Brown, Matt Able and Neo Avdalas, all of whom are expected to start Monday night. Jaydon Young, Isaiah Denis and Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson stayed, while Sayon Keita headlines a deep, unproven frontcourt. Maximo Adams leads North Carolina's 3-man recruiting class, which includes Malloy Smith and former LSU commit Kevin Thomas.

Western Carolina enters Year Three of the Tim Craft era, hoping for a SoCon tournament title and its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1996. The Catamounts lost their top three scorers from a season ago, making that postseason task far from east.

If you're in Chapel Hill today, make college basketball a part of your evening plans. If you're watching this clash on TV, your favorite streaming device, listening on the radio or somewhere else, keep reading below for more information.

What channel is North Carolina vs. Western Carolina on Monday night? Time, TV schedule, radio

Where to watch UNC-WCU basketball on live stream

UNC vs. WCU prediction, picks, odds

The Tar Heels have a golden chance in front of their home crowd on Monday night, welcoming a historically mediocre Western Carolina team. The Catamounts won both their preseason games, though, while North Carolina delivered mixed results across three exhibitions.

UNC will start slow, like it typically does against lesser competition. These new-look Tar Heels have a sizable talent advantage and, unlike their 2025-26 squad, depth.

North Carolina wins in blowout fashion for a positive start in the Malone era.

All College Basketball Odds via BetMGM

UNC men's basketball 2026-27 schedule

October 9: Exhibition vs. USC Trojans in Greensboro, N.C. (W, 88-70)

Oct. 18: Exhibition at Indiana Hoosiers in Indianapolis (L, 76-58)

Oct. 27: Exhibition vs. Charlotte (W, 89-82 in OT)

November 2: Season opener vs. Western Carolina (7 p.m.)

Nov. 6: vs. Wofford (7 p.m.)

Nov. 10: vs. Wyoming (7 p.m.)

Nov. 13: vs. Georgia (7 p.m.)

Nov. 20: vs. Marshall (9 p.m.)

Nov. 23: vs. Monmouth (8 p.m.)

Nov. 27: Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C. (7 p.m.)

December 1: ACC-SEC Challenge vs. Arkansas (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 6: vs. Butler (3 p.m.)

Dec. 12: at Georgetown (Noon)

Dec. 15: Tobacco Road Classic vs. NC State in Greensboro (7 p.m.)

Dec. 19: CBS Sports Clasic vs. Kentucky in New York, N.Y. (2:30 p.m.)

Dec. 21: vs. The Citadel (8 p.m.)

Dec. 30: vs. Cal (4 p.m.)

January 2, 2027: at Boston College (4 p.m.)

Jan. 5: at Louisville (9 p.m.)

Jan. 9: vs. NC State (Noon)

Jan. 13: at Florida State (7 p.m.)

Jan. 16: vs. Stanford (2:15 p.m.)

Jan. 19: vs. Virginia (9 p.m.)

Jan. 23: at Syracuse (12 p.m.)

Jan. 26: vs. SMU (7 p.m.)

Jan. 30: Nashville (Tenn.) Hoops Showdown vs. Illinois in Bridgestone Arena (6 or 6:30 p.m.)

February 2: at Notre Dame

Feb. 6: vs. Georgia Tech (2:15 p.m.)

Feb. 8: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)

Feb. 13: at Duke (5:30 p.m.)

Feb. 20: at Wake Forest (7 p.m.)

Feb. 22: vs. Miami (7 p.m.)

Feb. 27: at Virginia Tech (7 p.m.)

March 2: at Pitt (9 p.m.)

March 6: vs. Duke (6 or 6:30 p.m.)

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: What channel is UNC basketball's 2026-27 season-opener on?

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