UNC-NC State Announce Neutral-Site Rivalry Series

Last year was the first season since 1919 that the North Carolina Tar Heels and NC State Wolfpack played in just one regular-season college basketball matchup.

Key points

• But on Wednesday, the two schools confirmed a neutral-site Tobacco Road Classic that will take place in Greensboro, NC, over the next two seasons.
• The Tar Heels and Wolfpack are both entering new eras under new program leaders.
• "This is all brand new to me, " Malone remarked of the UNC-NC State rivalry on Wednesday.
• Due to ACC expansion and a reduction of conference games, the in-state rivals played just one time in Raleigh last season.
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By Matt Audilet Contributing Sports Writer. Newsweek is a Trust Project member.

Due to ACC expansion and a reduction of conference games, the in-state rivals played just one time in Raleigh last season. This upcoming season, they were scheduled for just one clash in Chapel Hill.

This year's edition of the game will be played on Dec. 15 – recognized as a non-conference game.

Notably, the Tar Heels and Wolfpack are both entering new eras under new program leaders. Justin Gainey took over for NC State after the departure of Will Wade, and Michael Malone replaced Hubert Davis after his dismissal at the end of the season.

"This is all brand new to me, " Malone remarked of the UNC-NC State rivalry on Wednesday. "I'm coming from 25 years in the NBA, and you didn't not have these type of rivalries very often."

In short, UNC-NC State Announce Neutral is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.