No. 25 North Carolina fixed on fast start vs. Central Arkansas

When the light goes green on the 2025-26 college basketball season, North Carolina plans to go with an all-gas approach to eliminate a recent history of starting slow.

Expect the No. 25 Tar Heels to be fully attentive when their schedule begins with a Nov. 3 game against Central Arkansas in Chapel Hill, N.C. The motivation and message from North Carolina coach Hubert Davis are definitely there.

"I've picked that up and noticed that this is a very competitive group," Davis said. "It's a team that I don't have to poke and prod to get after it."

This matchup likely will conjure memories of the Chicago Bulls' glory days because of alums who played for that NBA team. Legends Michael Jordan (North Carolina) and Scottie Pippen (Central Arkansas) were groomed with their respective college teams.

Seth Trimble has taken a leadership role for the Tar Heels, who have 11 new players. Among the newcomers, freshman Caleb Wilson is perhaps in line to be the newest star in North Carolina's program. Davis isn't shying away from the hyperbole around Wilson after his matchup with BYU in an exhibition game in late October.

Wilson had 22 points, 10 rebounds and added three blocks, even swatting BYU freshman AJ Dybansta on one possession before the Cougars' preseason All-American returned the favor.

"The hype is real," Davis said. "But the biggest thing for me, if he ran for student body president, he might win. He loves Carolina. He's the best teammate. ... He's very confident. He cares. He's very comfortable."

Central Arkansas coach John Shulman said he wants his team to be tested.

"(Our schedule) will prepare us for a huge challenge in our last year with the Atlantic Sun Conference," Shulman said. "There are 11 teams on our schedule that participated in postseason play. We start the season with two Top 25 teams on the road at the University of North Carolina and the University of Arkansas to challenge a group of newcomers."

Central Arkansas was picked eighth among 12 teams in the conference's preseason coaches' poll and selected 11th in the preseason media ratings. Shulman said the Bears will want to prove others wrong, perhaps no better time than at the start of the season.

"Preseason honors and predictions are exactly that -- preseason predictions," Shulman said.

Central Arkansas guard Cam Hunter, a former Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year with the Bears, is back with the team after spending last season with Wisconsin. He was named to this season's All-Atlantic Sun preseason first team.

Adding a pair of Australians -- guard Harrison Beauchamp and forward Truman Byrne -- could be boosts as well for the Bears. Shulman said the duo's shooting and passing skills often stand out.

North Carolina holds a Top 25 ranking to begin a season for the 20th consecutive year. But the Tar Heels had a shaky status last March as a controversial inclusion into the NCAA Tournament.

Davis points to defense as the area that must show an upgrade with this season's team.

"I've been clear and definitive, we've got to be a really good defensive team, good rebounding team, for us to have a chance to be the best team that we can possibly become," Davis said.

--Field Level Media