UNC basketball vs. Louisville: Game preview, info, prediction, more

No. 16 North Carolina will take on No. 21 Louisville on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Dean Smith in Chapel Hill.

The Tar Heels are coming off of a 77-64 win over Syracuse in a bounceback game after its loss to NC State earlier in the week. It also marked the return of star big man Henri Veesaar who scored 19 points and had three blocks in his first game since Feb. 10. Seth Trimble ad Luka Bogavac both scored 13 points. Zayden High had nine points and a career-high 11 rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.

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Like UNC, Louisville is coming off a 1-1 week after losing to SMU in its midweek game and defeating Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Cardinals have one of the top offenses in the country, ranking 14th nationally in scoring offense (86.8 points per game), 21st in assists per game (17.8) and 21st in effective field-goal percentage (56.9).

Keep reading for our full game preview of North Carolina’s matchup with Louisville, including the Tar Heels’ keys to victory, what to watch, statistical leaders for each team, streaming information and the complete schedule.

Keys to Victory

Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) dunks during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Win the war in the paint

After recent struggles inside, North Carolina reversed course against Syracuse. The Tar Heels outscored the Orange 42-32 in the paint and held a 38-34 edge on the glass, finally flipping their frustrating frontcourt narrative.

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They now face one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Louisville leads the ACC in defensive rebounds (27.8, 17th nationally) and ranks second in total rebounds per game (39.4, 33rd nationally).

Against an elite interior team like the Cardinals, Carolina must win rebounding battles, generate efficient scoring inside and limit Louisville’s second-chance points.

What to Watch Out For

Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0)…

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Publish date : 2026-02-23 14:01:00

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