Basketball

Jan 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; SMU Mustangs guard Boopie Miller (2) shakes hands with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis after the Mustangs defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Here is a look at several factors that will prove to be the deciphering case for the Tar Heels winning or losing on Saturday.

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Jan 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) looks on during the game between the Mustangs and the Tar Heels at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Which players on Wake Forest's roster will the Tar Heels have to give more attention to on Saturday?

Jan 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Kyan Evans (0) and center Henri Veesaar (13) and guard Derek Dixon (3) and forward Caleb Wilson (8) and guard Seth Trimble (7) come back on the court during the second half against the SMU Mustangs at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

UNC will take on Wake Forest at the Dean Smith Center.

Dec 30, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis with guard Seth Trimble (7) and guard Derek Dixon (3) in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Here is what the 55-year-old head coach said about the Tar Heels' contest against Wake Forest.

Dec 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis talks with guard Kyan Evans (0) and guard Derek Dixon (3) in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Will the Tar Heels' supporting cast step up against Wake Forest on Saturday?

Jan 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis yells to his team during the game between the Mustangs and the Tar Heels at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Here is a look at who the Tar Heels will be able to consistently rely on Saturday against Wake Forest.

The Tar Heels' loss over the weekend was a pivotal result in the national rankings. How do they fare in the power rankings?

Jan 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; SMU Mustangs guard Jaron Pierre Jr. (5) controls the ball in front of North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jarin Stevenson (15) during the game between the Mustangs and the Tar Heels at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Here is an evaluation of how the Tar Heels' junior forward has played against ACC competition.

Dec 2, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Luka Bogavac (44) fives forward Jarin Stevenson (15) during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

How did the overseas transfer perform in his first-ever games in conference play against ACC competition?

Jan 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Kyan Evans (0) looks to move the ball past SMU Mustangs guard B.J. Edwards (0) during the game between the Mustangs and the Tar Heels at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Here is an evaluation of how the Colorado State transfer has been able to make an impact for the Tar Heels against ACC competition.

Jan 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) looks on during the game between the Mustangs and the Tar Heels at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Wilson has been superb for the Tar Heels this season

Dec 30, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) on the fast break as Florida State Seminoles guard Martin Somerville (1) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Here is how the senior guard has been able to make an immediate impact in his return from injury.

Here is a look at how the star freshman has performed in the first two games of conference play.

Jan 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) looks on during the game between the Mustangs and the Tar Heels at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Here is how the Arizona transfer has performed in the opening conference games.

The North Carolina Tar Heels' loss to the SMU Mustangs this past weekend was alarming on multiple fronts. Some of those concerns had been bubbling under the sur

Here is what the 55-year-old head coach explained the status of the role players' production and how he communicates with the players.

Jan 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jarin Stevenson (15) and guard Luka Bogavac (44) and SMU Mustangs forward Corey Washington (3) look on during the game between the Mustangs and the Tar Heels at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Here is where the Tar Heels are slotted in on one of the marquee bracketologists assessments.

The Tar Heels' head coach explained on Monday how his team will use the extra practice time to address things.

The Alabama transfer described how the Mustangs made life difficult for the Tar Heels on Saturday.

North Carolina showed up here in the latest AP Poll, which was released on Monday.

Jan 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis yells to his team during the first half against the SMU Mustangs at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The 55-year-old head coach spoke with the media on Monday, restating his displeasure in North Carolina's performance in the loss against SMU this past weekend.