Preview: East Carolina at North Carolina CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Interstat) — The fourth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, riding high after a dramatic road win, return home to face in-state foe East Carolina on Monday night at the Dean Smith Center. North Carolina (11-1) is coming off a 71-70 victory at then-Ohio State on Saturday, a resume-boosting result that showcased the team’s resilience. Sophomore forward Caleb Wilson was dominant in the win, posting 20 points and 15 rebounds. Wilson has scored at least 15 points in seven straight games, averaging a double-double over that stretch and establishing himself as a national player of the year candidate. The Tar Heels, whose only loss came against Michigan State last month, have since reeled off six consecutive victories. Their balanced attack, which also features consistent contributions from Henri Veesaar and Seth Trimble, will be heavily favored against an ECU squad that has struggled for consistency. East Carolina (5-7) has alternated wins and losses over its past six games. The Pirates are led by the high-scoring guard Jordan Riley, who is averaging 24.3 points over his last seven contests. Riley poured in 31 points in a win over Buffalo and 24 in Wednesday’s 74-53 victory over Presbyterian, where Giovanni Emejuru added 21 points. However, the Pirates have faced only one power-conference opponent this season, a 33-point loss to Michigan State. Their defense, allowing an average of 71.2 points per game, will be severely tested by a deep and efficient North Carolina offense averaging 78.8 points. This marks the first meeting between the programs since 2021. North Carolina holds a 15-2 all-time series advantage and has never lost to the Pirates in Chapel Hill. For East Carolina, a competitive performance would provide a significant momentum boost before American Athletic Conference play begins next week. For the Tar Heels, it represents a final tune-up before ACC competition resumes against Florida State on Dec. 30. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST.