RADFORD, Va. – The Radford men's basketball team will be put to the test right away in the 2023-24 when it takes on the 19^th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in the Smith Center on Monday night.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: North Carolina Tar Heels
Date/Time: Monday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Location: Dean E. Smith Center

FOLLOW THE ACTION
TV: ACC Network
Streaming: CLICK HERE
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Radio: CLICK HERE or on WRAD 101.7/103.5 FM

SERIES HISTORY
Radford has gone head-to-head with UNC twice in program history, with the Tar Heels coming out on top on both occasions.
 
The first of those two matchups came on March 19, 2009 when the Highlanders earned their second-ever NCAA Tournament bid and dropped a 101-58 decision in the first round between the 16^th and 1^st seeds. Art Parakhouski (10 points, 10 rebounds) and Joey Lynch-Flohr (12 points, 11 rebounds) posted double-doubles, Wayne Ellington (25 points), Tyler Hansbrough (22 points), Danny Green (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Ed Davis (15 points) were all too much to overcome.
 
North Carolina then hosted the Highlanders on Dec. 4, 2016, winning once again by a score of 95-50. A number of players who would go on to lead Radford to another NCAA Tournament one season later were in the starting lineup that night, including Ed Polite, Jr., Donald Hicks, Christian Bradford, Randy Phillips, Caleb Tanner, Devonnte Holland and Justin Cousin.
 
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
There's no way around it – the Tar Heels have one of the best teams in the nation and are expected to compete for an ACC title this upcoming season. UNC was picked third in the ACC Preseason Poll while Armando Bacot (All-ACC First Team) and Elliot Cadeau (ACC Rookie of the Year) picked up their first awards of the year.
 
Needless to say, the Highlanders will have their work cut out for them.
 
The 2022-23 season didn't go the way the Tar Heels expected (20-13 overall, 11-9 ACC), but now in Head Coach Hubert Davis' third season at the helm, the program expected to get back to its winning ways. Veterans Bacot and RJ Davis anchor the squad that added Cormac Ryan from Notre Dame as one of five transfers, as well as the five-star freshman prospect, Cadeau.
 
EXHIBITION TAKEAWAYS
In its first taste of game action against an opposing team this season, the Highlanders pulled away late to defeat Roanoke College, 89-72, inside the Dedmon Center this past Monday. Kenyon Giles and Chandler Turner joined DaQuan Smith, Bryan Antoine and Justin Archer in the starting lineup and combined for 43 points.
 
Newcomer Truth Harris came off the bench while TJ NeSmith and Josiah Harris both sat out with injuries. Even with a size deficit compared to what's expected, Radford tallied seven blocks, a total which matched their season high from the entire 2022-23 season.
 
POWER 5 WINS
Radford has earned eight wins over current members of Power 5 conferences, beginning with a 73-72 victory against LSU in 1993. It would be until 2014 that the Highlanders would add another to their ledger, besting Oregon State in the CBI.
 
The Highlanders do have one win against a nationally ranked Power 5 team as well. On Nov. 11, 2018, Radford went down to Austin and defeated the No. 17 Texas Longhorns, 62-59.
 
YEAR THREE OF THE NICHOLS ERA
Head Coach Darris Nichols enters his third season at the helm of the Radford men's basketball program. He's guided the Highlanders to a 32-33 record overall, but the team took a huge leap forward last season, winning 21 games and earning a third-place finish in the Big South regular season.
 
Nichols and his entire coaching staff return after Radford won two games in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) to close out the season in 2022-23 – the first time in program history the Highlanders have won multiple postseason tournament matchups. Radford also drew three ESPNU national broadcasts to the Dedmon Center, the most in single-season program history.
 
PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS
The Radford men's basketball team was picked to finish second in the Big South Preseason Poll while DaQuan Smith and Bryan Antoine were tabbed for the First Team All-Big South Preseason Team. Field of 64's The Almanac also tabbed the Highlanders to place second in the Big South this season, and KenPom's preseason rankings have Radford third in the conference.

FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
To follow the Radford men's basketball team throughout the season, visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordHoops on Twitter, 'radfordhoops' Instagram or Radford Men's Basketball on Facebook.