By R.L. Bynum
Charlotte at North Carolina exhibition
When: 7:30 Tuesday
Where: Smith Center
TV: ACC Network Extra (streaming through the ESPN app or ESPN.com with an eligible TV subscription; no traditional television broadcast); Matt Krause play-by-play, former UNC assistant coach Brad Frederick analyst (Krause is the radio voice of UNC women’s basketball, and will work with Frederick for home women’s games)
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (affiliates list; streams on the Varsity Network app); Jones Angell play-by-play, Tyler Zeller analyst
Coaches: Charlotte coach Wes Miller (285–209 career record; first season at Charlotte; previously coached UNC Greensboro, 185–135, and Cincinnati, 100–74) and UNC coach Michael Malone (first college head-coaching season; 510–394 in NBA regular-season games, 44–36 in NBA playoff games in 12 seasons)
Series: UNC leads 2–0, both overtime games: 93–83 in 1998 NCAA tournament on March 14, 1998, in Hartford, Conn., and 75–73 on Dec. 12, 1998, in the Smith Center.
Previous exhibitions: Charlotte lost 87–67 at Georgia on Oct. 16; UNC beat Southern Cal 88–70 on Oct. 9 in Greensboro and lost 76–58 to Indiana on Oct. 18 in Indianapolis. Charlotte won a closed scrimmage against East Tennessee State.
Projected Charlotte starters
No. 11 | G | Keyshuan Tillery (top photo) | 6–0, 190 | sophomore Cincinnati transfer
— Followed Miller from Cincinnati after averaging 3.8 points in 12.4 minutes over 31 games as a freshman last season.
— Was a four-star prospect at New Hampton School in New Hampshire, ranked among the nation’s top point guards in the 2025 recruiting class.
— Played the most minutes of any Charlotte player in the Georgia exhibition and attempted 13 shots.
— Has developed a close relationship with Miller, who sees him as an important leader. Miller said, “It is nice when your leader plays the quarterback position.”
— Is learning from two former UNC point guards, Miller and Charlotte assistant Marcus Paige.
No. 2 | G | Chaze Harris | 6–6, 190 | fifth-year South Alabama transfer
— Was the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year last season, averaging 19.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists.
— Arrived at South Alabama after playing at the junior-college and NAIA levels.
— Gives Charlotte an experienced scorer and playmaker with size in the backcourt.
— Joined the team later than some other newcomers, and Miller expects his best basketball to come as he becomes more comfortable in the system.
No. 12 | F | Arden Conyers | 6–7, 204 | redshirt junior
— Was the only returning Charlotte player in the starting lineup against Georgia.
— Averaged 7.5 points last season, shooting 35.8% from 3-point range.
— Miller said Conyers was shooting better than 40% from behind the arc for much of last season before a late slump.
— Miller identified Conyers as one of his top priorities to retain, praising his perimeter shooting, length and experience in the American Conference.
No. 0 | F | Jayden Fort | 6–9, 200 | redshirt sophomore Georgetown transfer
— One of Charlotte’s new frontcourt additions.
— Gives the 49ers length and athleticism at forward.
— Part of a roster featuring eight players listed at 6–8 or taller.
No. 6 | C | Peyton Marshall | 7–0, 300 | junior Georgia Tech transfer
— Former highly regarded recruit with ACC experience.
— Was ranked No. 85 nationally in the 2024 recruiting class by the RSCI composite.
— Did not attempt a field goal against Georgia in Charlotte’s exhibition loss.
— His size makes him an important interior presence against a UNC team that struggled badly on the boards against Indiana.
Other key 49ers
No. 3 | C | Michael Walz | 6–11, 250 | fifth-year Richmond transfer
— Brings additional frontcourt size and college experience.
— Joined Charlotte later than some teammates, and Miller said he expects Walz to improve as the season progresses.
No. 8 | G | Frank Oguche | 6–8, 210 | redshirt freshman
— Australian guard who is among Charlotte’s returning players.
— Miller praised his length, athleticism and basketball IQ during preseason workouts.
— Provides unusual size for a perimeter player.
No. 24 | F | Tyler McKinley | 6–9, 240 | junior Cincinnati transfer
— Another player who followed Miller from Cincinnati.
— Former top-75 national recruit in the 2024 class.
— Adds depth and size to Charlotte’s frontcourt.
No. 7 | G | Jordi Rodriguez-Stegemeijer | 6–6, 195 | sophomore Louisiana transfer
— Barcelona, Spain, native with a background in Spanish basketball.
— Gives the 49ers another tall perimeter option.
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
Notes
— Tuesday’s game will be the first at the Smith Center for Michael Malone as UNC’s head coach. Carolina opens the regular season Monday, Nov. 2, against Western Carolina at 7 p.m., the first of six consecutive home games.
— UNC’s two previous meetings with Charlotte both went to overtime. The Tar Heels won 93–83 in the second round of the 1998 NCAA tournament in Hartford, Conn., behind a combined 75 points from Shammond Williams (32), Vince Carter (24) and Antawn Jamison (19). Carolina also won 75–73 at the Smith Center on Dec. 12, 1998, with Ed Cota and Kris Lang scoring 17 points apiece to lead four Tar Heels in double figures.
— Wes Miller returns to the Smith Center, where he played three seasons under Roy Williams after transferring from James Madison and joining UNC as a walk-on. He was a reserve on Carolina’s 2005 national championship team and started 16 games the following season, averaging 7.2 points and shooting 44.1% from 3-point range. He was a captain in 2006–07, when UNC went 31–7, won both ACC championships and reached the Elite Eight.
— Miller compiled a 285–209 record in 15 seasons at UNC Greensboro and Cincinnati. He was 185–135 in 10 seasons at Greensboro, earning two Southern Conference Coach of the Year awards, and 100–74 in five seasons at Cincinnati. His Bearcats reached two NIT quarterfinals but never made the NCAA tournament.
— Former UNC point guard Marcus Paige is an assistant on Miller’s Charlotte staff after spending three seasons as an assistant under Coach Hubert Davis. Paige played at Carolina from 2012–16 and helped lead the Tar Heels to the 2016 national championship game. Both Paige and UNC assistant Sean May have their jerseys honored in the Smith Center rafters.
— Miller said he looks forward to returning to Chapel Hill, but his priority is preparing the 49ers for the regular season. “It’s always special to go back,” he said last week. He added that “99.99 percent of my focus and energy and attention will be on preparing our team for this season.”
— Charlotte went 17–17 overall and 9–9 in the American Conference last season. The 49ers were picked fifth in the league’s preseason poll for 2026–27. Miller inherited a roster that required considerable rebuilding and brought three players from Cincinnati.
— Charlotte lost 87–67 at Georgia on Oct. 16, allowing the Bulldogs to make 17 3-pointers. The 49ers shot only 4 of 19 from behind the arc but outscored Georgia 40–22 in the paint. Twelve Charlotte players logged at least 10 minutes. Georgia visits UNC on Nov. 13.
— The 49ers also won a closed, 60-minute scrimmage against East Tennessee State. Miller said playing outside competition is especially valuable for his rebuilt roster, estimating that each preseason game against another opponent is worth about 10 practices.
— Charlotte’s size could present another rebounding challenge for Carolina. Eight of the 49ers’ 14 rostered players are listed at 6–8 or taller, including two 6–11 or taller . UNC was outrebounded 53–31 by Indiana, including a nine-rebound performance from freshman Sayon Keita, who was the only Tar Heel to collect more than four rebounds.
— Against Indiana, UNC surrendered 47 combined points to guards Markus Burton, Darren Harris and Bryce Lindsay. Charlotte has experienced guards in Chaze Harris and Keyshuan Tillery, but won’t offer nearly the same test.
— UNC’s starters against Indiana were Terrence Brown, Matt Able, Neo Avdalas, Jarin Stevenson and Keita. Their scoring averages through the first two exhibitions were Stevenson 14.0, Avdalas 10.5, Keita 10.0, Brown 6.0 and Able 5.5. Keita averaged 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks.
— Carolina’s 76–58 loss to Indiana followed an 88–70 victory over Southern Cal. The Tar Heels scored only 19 bench points against Indiana, with all five starters playing at least 23 minutes. Isaiah Denis, who scored 14 points against USC, did not play against Indiana, listed then as “day-to-day.”
— Malone emphasized accountability after the Indiana defeat, saying the Tar Heels would review the film, stay together and challenge themselves to improve before their final exhibition. The Charlotte game will be UNC’s last opportunity to test its rotations before the regular season.
— Charlotte opens its season Monday at Indiana State.
Box scores from UNC’s exhibitions
UNC 88, Southern Cal 70
Indiana 76, UNC 58
There is no publicly available box score for Georgia’s 87–67 exhibition win over Charlotte on Oct. 16.
| Date | Time/ scores | Month/day | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |||
| 9 | W, 88–70 | Friday | vs. No. 21 USC in Greensboro | |
| 18 | L, 76–58 | Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis | |
| 27 | 7:30 | Tuesday | vs. Charlotte | ACCN Extra |
| November | Regular season | |||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Western Carolina | ACCN |
| 6 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Wofford | ACCN |
| 10 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming | ACCN |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Georgia | ESPN2 |
| 20 | 9 p.m. | Friday | vs. Marshall | ACCN |
| 23 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Monmouth | ACCN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Friday | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte | ESPN |
| December | ||||
| 1 | 7:30 | Tuesday | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 12 Arkansas | ESPN |
| 6 | 3 p.m. | Sunday | vs. Butler | ESPN2 |
| 12 | Noon | Saturday | at Georgetown | Peacock |
| 15 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro | ESPN2 |
| 19 | 2:30 | Saturday | CBS Sports Classic vs. No. 23 Kentucky in New York | CBS |
| 21 | 8 p.m. | Monday | vs. The Citadel | The CW |
| 30 | 4 p.m. | Wednesday | vs. California | ACCN |
| January | ||||
| 2 | 4 p.m. | Saturday | at Boston College | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 5 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at No. 11 Louisville | ESPN or ESPNU |
| 9 | Noon | Saturday | vs. N.C. State | ESPN2 |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Wednesday | at Florida State | ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| 16 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Stanford | The CW |
| 19 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. No. 9 Virginia | ESPN |
| 23 | Noon | Saturday | at Syracuse | ESPN or 2 or U |
| 26 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. SMU | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 30 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 3 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. | ESPN |
| February | ||||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | at Notre Dame | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Georgia Tech | The CW |
| 8 | 6 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 11 Louisville | ESPN |
| 13 | 5:30 | Saturday | at No. 2 Duke | ABC |
| 20 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 22 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 14 Miami | ESPN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Virginia Tech | ESPN |
| March | ||||
| 2 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at Pittsburgh | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | vs. No. 2 Duke | ESPN |
| 9–13 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament in Greensboro |
Photo via gobearcats.com
