UNC and NC State's men's basketball teams will return to historical roots this season.Â
People are also reading…
First-year NC State head coach Justin Gainey discusses the December matchup between the Wolfpack and Tar Heels. Both teams will meet in a nonconference game on Dec. 15 in Greensboro's First Horizon Coliseum.
See photos of North Carolina, NC State coaches at announcement of Tobacco Road Classic
Greensboro city council member Hugh Holston laughs with NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey before an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Greensboro city council member Hugh Holston laughs with NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey before an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey shakes hands with North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone before an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey hugs North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone before an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Scott Johnson, general manager of First Horizon Coliseum, speaks during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Chip Overbey, senior vice president of strategic planning at Old Dominion Freight Line, speaks during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Chip Overbey, senior vice president of strategic planning at Old Dominion Freight Line, during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
N.C. Rep. Kyle Hall speaks during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Scott Johnson, general manager of First Horizon Coliseum, speaks during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone speaks during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone speaks during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Dereck Whittenburg, former NC State basketball player, is greeted as he walks into the arena for an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone speaks during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey speaks during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey speaks during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Phil Ford, former North Carolina basketball player, laughs during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Dereck Whittenburg, former NC State basketball player, laughs during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Scott Johnson, general manager of First Horizon Coliseum, speaks during an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone and NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey shake hands following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone and NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey laugh following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Officials pose for a photo with North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone and NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Dereck Whittenburg, former NC State basketball player, speaks with NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone is interviewed following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone is interviewed following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone is interviewed following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey is interviewed following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Dereck Whittenburg, former NC State basketball player, and Phil Ford (foreground), former North Carolina basketball player, are interviewed following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Michael Malone is interviewed following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
NC State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey is interviewed following an announcement of the Tobacco Road Classic on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. The Tobacco Road Classic will feature a nonconference basketball game between NC State and North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15.
Caroline Wills is a sportswriter for the Winston-Salem Journal and Greensboro News & Record, primarily covering college and high school sports. She is a 2025 graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and first worked as an intern for the N&R (2024) and Hickory Daily Record (2023).Â
Why I Cover This Beat: I cover sports in order to tell the stories beyond the court and field that teach people lessons about the human experience. My reporting focuses on relatable storytelling and answering the pressing questions readers have about the sports they watch on TV or sign their child up for.Â
