The New Era of UNC-NC State Men’s Hoops

The 2025-2026 UNC-NC State matchup will look a lot different than before.

Feb 19, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis reacts in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The battles between North Carolina and NC State, which featured head coaches Roy Williams of the Tar Heels, and then Mark Gottfried and Kevin Keatts of the Wolfpack, are long gone. Williams has retired, and Gottfried is out of college basketball, too. Keatts was recently fired by NC State, ending his tenure in Raleigh. Now, the Tar Heels and Wolfpack have entered a new era with two head coaches who with contrasting backgrounds to act as the spearhead for whenever the two schools meet.

Mar 16, 2024; Washington, D.C., USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis during the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Head coach Hubert Davis is entering his fifth season in Chapel Hill, a place where he has been both a student and player, and then an assistant, before advancing to the head coach position, as he had previously promised when first hired. In Raleigh, it has faced numerous down seasons over the years, except for its magical run to the Final Four during the 2023-2024 campaign, where it also became ACC Champions, beating the Tar Heels.

Then, that was all left in the tank from Keatts. Insert: Will Wade.

Mar 22, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; McNeese State Cowboys head coach Will Wade during the second half of a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Hubert Davis and Will Wade’s First Showdown

The Tar Heels and Wolfpack will only have one matchup throughout the 2025-2026 season, an unusual occurrence given the history and how close in proximity both universities are to one another. But it will be the first time Davis and Wade square off. Wade goes into the ACC with experience being the head coach of the LSU Tigers, followed by time at McNeese State. earlier this year, Wade had his last victory as a Cowboy by upsetting the Clemson Tigers in the first round of March Madness — one of, if not the, more notable upsets.

Mar 16, 2024; Washington, D.C., USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

North Carolina and NC State will continue to fight it out on the hardwood floor for years to come; that will not change (unless something happens that would force the two schools not to). But this time around, it will be featuring two head coaches working toward rebuilding basketball at their respective schools. Davis and Wade are going to provide highlights over the years, and perhaps, memories that will have both Tar Heel and Wolfpack fans talking about for ages.

Mar 17, 2025; Dayton, OH, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis coaches during the First Four Practice at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

This is the new era of UNC-NC State men's basketball; same teams, new players each year, but with a whole different vibe.

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