UNC vs. SMU: Three Things to Watch

The North Carolina Tar Heels appear on the hardwoods for the first time in 2026 on Saturday in Dallas.

SMU’s high-powered offense presents a stiff test for a Tar Heel defense that has held 14 consecutive opponents under 75 points, the longest streak to open a season since the 1981-82 championship season.

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Here are a few key factors during Saturday afternoon’s ACC road opener against the Mustangs.

Who Starts on Time?

After the East Tennessee State game, Coach Hubert Davis expressed frustration with the team’s energy, saying, “I don’t want to get off to slow starts. I felt like we did.”

Against Ohio State, Carolina did not reach double digits until the 11:23 mark, and versus Florida State, it took UNC nearly three minutes to get their first basket and another three to get their next point.

Fortunately, the Tar Heels are averaging a scoring margin of 10 points in the second half this season.

SMU has faced Butler and four SEC teams this season, and has trailed at the half in four of those five games. The Mustangs have had sluggish starts and put themselves in a first-half hole.

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In two of those games, SMU earned come-from-behind victories.

For the Tar Heels, avoiding a slow start on the road against a high-powered offense will put them in a much better position down the stretch.

Neutralize the Home Court Advantage

As of writing, the odds for this game are not yet on the major sportsbooks. However, ESPN’s Basketball Power Index favors SMU at 54.4 percent, and Polymarket gives a slight advantage to the Mustangs at 51 percent.

A major factor for this is the Moody Coliseum advantage. The 7,000-seat barn will no doubt be packed for Saturday afternoon’s ACC opener for SMU, especially with the no. 12 Tar Heels in town. Looking at the aftermarket listings, a ticket this Saturday is nearly triple the next-highest home game.

The Mustangs are 9-0 this season at home, with their best win coming against Butler on November 15.

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Publish date : 2026-01-01 14:00:00

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