The North Carolina Tar Heels didn't get the 2025 calendar year off to a good start. Instead, they found themselves searching for more answers following a tough loss on the road at Louisville. With North Carolina's struggles starting to mount,

Louisville outscored UNC 13-1 in the game’s final three minutes to pull away and beat the Tar Heels in ACC basketball on Wednesday night.

As things stand, the UNC basketball recruiting team has extended offers to seven 2026 prospects. Reidsville High School (N.C.) power forward Kendre Harrison, who recently committed to Oregon, remains the only Tar Heel target in the cycle to announce a decision or even eliminate Hubert Davis & Co. from contention.

The North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program doesn't appear to have the "new year, new me" mindset as the calendar has flipped to 2025. The Tar Heels struggled to open up the 2025 calendar year, falling to Louisville 83-70 on the road Wednesday night.

Before we arrive in 2025, let's take a look at what UNC basketball did in the 2024 portion of its schedule and what's ahead for the Tar Heels.

North Carolina returned to action on Wednesday night for a New Year's Day clash at Louisville, their second Atlantic Coast

The host Cardinals kept missing the front ends of one-and-ones, allowing UNC golden transition opportunities. North Carolina couldn't make perimeter shots once again, but neither could Louisville. The Tar Heels continued getting to the rim against a taller Cardinals team,