By R.L. Bynum

Carolina will face Ohio State on Dec. 17 in Madison Square Garden in next season’s CBS Sports Classic, according to Jeff Goodman of CBS.

Kentucky will meet UCLA in the other game in the event’s ninth season.

The Tar Heels and the Buckeyes haven’t played in the event since No. 5-ranked UNC beat Ohio State 86–72 in 2017 at the New Orleans Pelicans’ home arena. The teams also met at the inaugural event in 2014 when the No. 24-ranked Tar Heels beat the No. 12 Buckeyes 82–74.

The No. 6-ranked Ohio State blew out No. 7 UNC 74–49 in their last meeting as part of the 2019 ACC/Big Ten Challenge at the Smith Center. Carolina leads the all-time series 12–3.

Carolina has the best record in the event at 5–3, followed by Ohio State (4–3), Kentucky (4–4) and UCLA (2–5).

The event hasn’t been in New York since the 2015 games were played at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Because of COVID-19 issues in the Bruins program, No. 21-ranked Kentucky’s 98–69 victory last season over UNC was the only game played for the event.

The Tar Heels, who return starters RJ Davis, Caleb Love, Leaky Black and Armando Bacot, are picked by many to be one of the top-ranked teams in the country after last season’s run to the national championship game and finishing 29–10.

The Buckeyes finished 20–12 and lost 71–61 to Villanova in the second round of the NCAA tournament.   

Photo via @UNC_Basketball