Kansas Jayhawks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels, Picks and Prediction, Friday, November 7, 2025
Use Code WWWC The No. 19 Kansas Jayhawks (1-0) visit the Dean Smith Center on Friday for a 7pmET tip-off against No. 25 North Carolina (1-0). Last season, the Jayhawks edged the Tar Heels 92-89 at home but didn't cover the 8 points. Both teams had comfortable wins to tip off the season on Monday. Do you need a boost in your handicapping? Try our College Basketball Betting Picks
Bidunga and Peterson lead KU over Green Bay
Kansas finished a very disappointing 21-13 record last season and went 11-9 in the conference. They lost Hunter Dickinson (17.4ppg, 10rpg), Zeko Mayo (14.6ppg), KJ Adams (9.4ppg, 5rpg), and Dajuan Harris Jr. (9.2ppg, 5.7apg) from last season's team. Did Bill Self lose his fastball? He might have this back in contention because he brought in one of the top recruits in the nation in freshman Daryn Peterson (6-5, 195), a potential top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Peterson had 21 points and three assists (3-7 3pt) in the Jayhawks' 94-51 home win over Green Bay on Monday night. The leading scorer was 6-9 sophomore Flory Bidunga, who was the team's top returner with 23 points, adding three blocks and six boards (9-of-11 shooting).
One of the major concerns about last season was that KU shot 35.4% from three-point range (94th) and went 10-of-27 (37%) against the Phoenix. They shot 57% from the field and outrebounded the Phoenix 44-26. Point guard Melvin Council Jr. led KU in assists with four. He's a transfer from St. Bonaventure, who averaged 14.6 points per game for the Bonnies last season and led the A-10 in steals.
Senior wing Tre White (6-7, 210) comes over from Illinois, where he averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. Freshman Kohl Rosario (6-5, 185) is another top 30 prospect who reclassified late and just joined the team in late June. He started and scored six points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out three assists in 21 minutes (shot 1 of 6 3pt).
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UNC Hopes Wilson can bring the Heels back to contention
Kansas and North Carolina are similar. They are blue blood programs that are coming off disappointing seasons. UNC finished 24-13 last season and 13-7 in an underwhelming ACC. The Tar Heels did rank second in the ACC in scoring at 80.7 points per game and shot a solid 47.5% from the field (3rd in ACC). They struggled on the boards, ranking 98th in the nation in rebounding margin at -2.9.
Head coach Hubert Davis went to work, replacing nearly everyone with freshmen and transfers. The only starter returning is guard Seth Trimble, who averaged 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season. In their opening win over Central Arkansas, 94-54, the start was highly decorated recruit Caleb Wilson (6-9, 205), who had 22 points and three rebounds, while shooting 8-of-10 from the field in 25 minutes. Kyan Evans (6-2, 175), a freshman point guard, added 15 points, five assists and six boards, while shooting 4-of-7 from three-point range. The Heels started two transfers in Jarin Stevenson, from Alabama, a 6-11 post player and 7-0 Henri Veesaar, an Arizona transfer who had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the opener.
UNC certainly addressed the boards by also adding High Point transfer Ivan Matlekovic (7-0, 245). Guard Luka Bogavac (6-5, 201), a freshman wing from Montenegro, had 10 points in 20 minutes along with five assists against Central Arkansas.
Kansas vs. UNC pick
Spread Pick for Kansas vs. North Carolina
- UNC -1.5
Both teams are basically brand new. There should be a full house in Chapel Hill and while Kansas might be improved, I like the fact that North Carolina has a veteran guard in Seth Trimble to run the show and Wilson is going to be an impact player on both ends. UNC rarely has issues with the pace of play and offense. That shouldn't be an issue here, though they should be improved on the boards and at least adequate defensively here. It's always tough for freshmen to play on the road this early in the season. Take the Tar Heels.
Over 154.5
It's a little too early for starts, but when you look at last season, Kansas was 114th in Adjusted Tempo according to KenPom and that should increase this season with better guards and athletes. They were also 52nd in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. North Carolina was 21st in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and 34th in Adjusted Tempo last season. It doesn't matter who is on the floor. Both teams will want to push the ball and try and score off of deflections, blocks and steals.
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