UNC Faces Cal in High-Stakes ACC Showdown

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The University of North Carolina Tar Heels (11-6, 4-1 ACC) will host the California Golden Bears (8-8, 1-4 ACC) in a pivotal ACC matchup Wednesday night at the Smith Center. The game, set to tip off at 7 p.m., will feature two of the conference’s rising stars: Cal’s Andrej Stojakovic and UNC‘s Ian Jackson.

Stojakovic, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, is the ACC’s second-leading scorer, averaging over 20 points per game. The son of NBA legend Peja Stojakovic, he has significantly improved his free-throw shooting from 53% last season to 84% this year. Meanwhile, Jackson, a 6-foot-5 freshman, has emerged as a key player for the Tar Heels, averaging 15.4 points per game and scoring 20 or more points in five of his last six games.

UNC coach Hubert Davis emphasized the importance of defensive preparation against Cal’s strong offensive rebounding. “They do an excellent job of getting second-chance opportunities,” Davis said. “Defending without fouling is going to be huge for us.”

The Tar Heels are coming off a hard-fought 63-61 victory at NC State, where Jalen Washington delivered a game-winning dunk and a crucial blocked shot. Washington, a 6-foot-10 junior, has emerged as a rim protector, totaling 12 blocks in his last three games.

Cal, led by second-year coach Mark Madsen, has struggled on the road this season, posting a 1-4 record in true away games. The Golden Bears’ roster underwent a massive overhaul in the offseason, with 10 transfer additions among 16 newcomers. Despite their challenges, Cal’s offense is fueled by Stojakovic and freshman guard Jeremiah Wilkinson, who averages 12.5 points per game off the bench.

This marks the first meeting between the two teams in 26 years. UNC leads the all-time series 4-1, with their last matchup resulting in a 78-71 loss to Cal in December 1998. The Tar Heels will look to extend their home dominance, having gone 6-1 at the Smith Center this season.

Projected starters for UNC include Elliot Cadeau, R.J. Davis, Drake Powell, Ian Jackson, and Jalen Washington. Cal will counter with Stojakovic, DJ Campbell, Jovan Blacksher Jr., Mady Sissoko, and Rytis Petraitis.

The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network, with radio coverage on the Tar Heels Sports Network.