North Carolina will play eight nonconference regular-season games against teams from power basketball leagues in coach Michael Malone’s first season with the Tar Heels.

Malone, who led the NBA’s Denver Nuggets to a championship in 2023, was hired in the offseason to replace UNC alum Hubert Davis.

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His first preseason game will be against Southern California on Oct. 9 in Greensboro. The Tar Heels’ regular-season opener is Nov. 6 against Wofford in Chapel Hill.

“I’m not afraid to play people,” Malone said Wednesday. “We’ll play the best teams. I’m looking forward to scheduling those types of games because … we want to compete against the best.”

The Tar Heels have games against Georgia (SEC), West Virginia (Big 12), Arkansas (SEC), Butler (Big East), Georgetown (Big East), NC State (ACC), Kentucky (SEC) and Illinois (Big Ten) in nonconference.

UNC and NC State scheduled a nonconference game in Greensboro because they are only slated to play one time in the ACC regular season. The teams will meet again in Greensboro in the 2027-28 season.

The Tar Heels also have neutral site games against West Virginia (in Charlotte), Kentucky (in New York City) and Illinois (in Nashville).

In addition to the opener against Southern California, the Tar Heels visit Indiana and host Charlotte in the preseason. UNC’s first six games and eight of its first nine are in Chapel Hill with the other game in Charlotte vs. West Virginia.

The Tar Heels return five players (three scholarship players) from last year's team, which lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Malone has added 11 freshmen and transfers to the roster. Guards Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young and forward Jarin Stevenson are the scholarship returners. Matt Able (NC State), Terrence Brown (Utah) and Neoklis Avdalas (Virginia Tech) are among the top transfers.

Malone said Wednesday that the roster is complete, even as hundreds of players are being granted an additional year of eligibility in courts around the country.

UNC schedule

Preseason Games

Oct 9 vs. Southern California in Greensboro, N.C.

Oct 18 vs. Indiana in Indianapolis, Ind.

Oct 27 vs. Charlotte

Regular-season Games

Nov 2 vs. Western Carolina

Nov 6 vs. Wofford

Nov 10 vs. Wyoming

Nov 13 vs. Georgia

Nov 20 vs. Marshall

Nov 23 vs. Monmouth

Nov 27 vs. West Virginia in Charlotte (Dick Vitale Invitational)

Dec 1 vs. Arkansas (ACC-SEC Challenge)

Dec 6 vs. Butler

Dec 12 at Georgetown

Dec 15 vs. NC State in Greensboro, N.C. (Tobacco Road Classic presented by Old Dominion Freight Line)

Dec 19 vs. Kentucky in New York City (CBS Sports Classic)

Dec 21 vs. The Citadel

Jan. 30 vs. Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. (Nashville Hoops Showdown)