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Men's college basketball returns tonight. Here's when the 'Big Four' NC schools play

UNC, Duke, NC State and Wake Forest all play at home Monday.

NORTH CAROLINA, USA — Men's college basketball is officially back tonight, and several teams across the state are in action for the first time in 2024-25.

Here's a look at each game on the slate tonight:

Duke vs. Maine (7 p.m.)

The No. 7 Blue Devils open with the University of Maine on Monday night. Maine is actually the home state of top Duke recruit Cooper Flagg, who many people project to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Outside of Flagg, Duke has a few other star-studded freshmen in Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel. Returning from last year's Elite Eight squad are guards Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster.

N.C. State vs. South Carolina Upstate (7 p.m.)

Last season was a magical one for N.C. State, which won the ACC Tournament and made a run all the way to the Final Four under head coach Kevin Keatts. The Wolfpack open the year Monday against South Carolina Upstate.

It might be difficult for the Wolfpack to repeat last year's success, as they've lost big contributors in D.J. Horne, D.J. Burns, Casey Morell and Mohammed Diarra. Back for another year are Jayden Taylor, Michael O'Connell and Ben Middlebrooks.

The Wolfpack do have a number of new faces by way of transfers, including forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Mike James, who both came from Louisville.

Wake Forest vs. Coppin State (8 p.m.)

Wake Forest hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 2017, but there's reason for optimism around this year's squad led by head coach Steve Forbes as it enters its season opener Monday against Coppin State.

The Demon Deacons were projected to finish third in the ACC in the conference's preseason rankings behind Duke and UNC and even received a first-place vote. This was Wake Forest's highest preseason ranking since 2009.

Expected to lead Wake on the court this year are senior guards Hunter Sallis and Cam Hildreth, along with senior center Efton Reid and sophomore guard Parker Friedrichsen. The Demon Deacons also added a high-level transfer in former Louisville guard Ty-Laur Johnson.

UNC vs. Elon (9 p.m.)

A pair of North Carolina teams face off in Chapel Hill as the UNC men's basketball team hosts Elon. Head coach Hubert Davis is in his third season leading the Tar Heels.

UNC will be led by preseason All-American guard R.J. Davis, as well as returning players Elliot Cadeau, Seth Tremble and Jalen Washington. Added to the mix are two high-rated freshmen in Drake Powell and Ian Jackson, along with transfers Cade Tyson and Ven-Allen Lubin.

Last year, the Tar Heels made it to the Sweet 16 before losing to Alabama. 

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