UNC basketball vs. ETSU game preview, info, prediction and more

North Carolina is back on the court Tuesday night, just a few days after picking up their ninth win of the season on Saturday over USC Upstate. They now enter a week in which they have two games with one at home and then one at a neutral site as part of the CBS Sports Classic.

But before UNC meets Ohio State this weekend, they have to take care of business against East Tennessee State University on Tuesday.

Hubert Davis' team will host ETSU on Tuesday night looking to earn their 10th win. While UNC is coming off a win on Saturday, the Buccaneers are coming off a tough 76-75 loss to Appalachian State. The Buccaneers are 8-3 on the year and 1-3 on the road. They can score the basketball, averaging 80.7 points per game compared to the 81.1 points per game from UNC.

This is another game UNC should win as they are favored by 15 and are on their home court. They just can't overlook this matchup with Saturday's non-conference game against a Big Ten opponent.

Key to Victory

Rebounding. Hubert Davis wasn't happy with UNC's performance on the defensive glass against USC Upstate on Saturday, allowing the Spartans some second chances on their end. UNC did outrebound them and were good on the glass but they can't allow that many second chance opportunities happen as they get into conference play.

Backed by Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, UNC is a good rebounding team. They need to establish that dominance on the glass early and often on Tuesday.

Something to watch

Will Jonathan Powell build on his big performance? The forward had a big game against USC Upstate, scoring 17 points in the win off the bench. He provided a big spark for the Tar Heels, which is a huge bonus for them on the offensive end. He made three of his six three-pointers in the game as well, which is also something UNC has struggled with this year.

Let's hope he can put together another impressive performance and build on the consistency.

Statistical leaders

Points

UNC: Caleb Wilson (19.4)

ETSU:  Cam Morris III (14.2)

Rebounds

UNC: Caleb Wilson (10.6)

ETSU: Blake Barkley (4.2)

Assists

UNC: Kyan Evans (4.1)

ETSU:  Allen Strothers (4.1)

What you need to know

WHAT? East Tennessee State Buccaneers (8-3) AT North Carolina Tar Heels (9-1)

WHEN? Tuesday, December 16 at 8 p.m.

WHERE? Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.

TV? ACC Network

RADIO? SiriusXM (Channel 371)

LINE? UNC -15.5

LAST MEETING? UNC 77, ETSU 58 on Dec. 8, 2012.

ALL-TIME SERIES: UNC leads 1-0.

PREDICTION? UNC 82, ETSU 67

UNC basketball 2025-26 schedule

October 4: Blue-White Scrimmage (White 55, Blue 50)

Oct. 24: at BYU (preseason, L 78-76)

Oct. 29: vs. Winston-Salem State (preseason, W 95-53)

Nov. 3: vs. Central Arkansas (W, 94-54)

Nov. 7: vs. Kansas (W, 87-74)

Nov. 11: vs. Radford (W, 89-74)

Nov. 14: vs. NC Central (W, 97-53)

Nov. 18: vs. Navy (W, 73-61)

Nov. 25: vs. St. Bonaventure in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (W, 85-70)

Nov. 27: vs. Michigan State in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (L, 74-58)

December 2: at Kentucky (W, 67-64)

Dec. 7: vs. Georgetown (W, 81-61)

Dec. 13: vs. USC Upstate (2 p.m.)

Dec. 16: vs. ETSU (8 p.m.)

Dec. 20: vs. Ohio State in CBS Sports Classic (3 p.m. in Atlanta, Ga.)

Dec. 22: vs. East Carolina (8 p.m.)

Dec. 30: vs. Florida State (2:15 p.m.)

January 3, 2026: at SMU (2:15 p.m.)

Jan. 10, 2026: vs. Wake Forest (6 p.m.)

Jan. 14, 2026: at Stanford (9 p.m.)

Jan. 17, 2026: at California (4 p.m.)

Jan. 21, 2026: vs. Notre Dame (7 p.m.)

Jan. 24, 2026: at Virginia (TBA)

Jan. 31, 2026: at Georgia Tech (2 p.m.)

Feb. 2, 2026: vs. Syracuse (7 p.m.)

Feb. 7, 2026: vs. Duke (6:30 p.m.)

Feb. 10, 2026: at Miami (FL) (7 p.m.)

Feb. 14, 2026: vs. Pitt (2 p.m.)

Feb. 17, 2026: at NC State (7 p.m.)

Feb. 21, 2026: at Syracuse (1 p.m.)

Feb. 23, 2026: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)

Feb. 28, 2026: vs. Virginia Tech (TBA)

March 3, 2026: vs. Clemson (7 p.m.)

March 7, 2026: at Duke (6:30 p.m.)

March 10-14, 2026: ACC Tournament in Spectrum Center (Charlotte, N.C.)

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball vs. ETSU: Game preview, info, prediction, more