ACC announces 2020-21 basketball schedule

UNC, Duke, NC State and Wake Forest will play a 20-game conference schedule with at least one league game played in December

Basketball games that can't be played because of COVID-19 will no longer be considered forfeits by the ACC (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Just over a week before the 2020-21 college basketball is scheduled to begin, the ACC finally has a basketball schedule.

The league announced its 20-game slate on Tuesday, with conference play beginning Dec. 12 and running through March 6.  North Carolina, Duke, NC State and Wake Forest will all tip their seasons off with nonconference games on Wednesday, Nov. 25.

The Tar Heels will open against College of Charleston at home in a preliminary round of the Maui Invitational, which has been moved to Asheville because of COVID-19-related travel concerns, while the Blue Devils take on Gardner-Webb. The Wolfpack and Deacons will begin their seasons by hosting their own multiteam events.

“ACC Basketball is always met with excitement, which is a tribute to the league’s rich tradition of student-athletes, coaches and championship programs,” commissioner John Swofford said. “As has been the case throughout the fall, during these unique times we will remain nimble and be as prepared as possible should adjustments be necessary.”

Conference games that aren’t able to be played because of coronavirus issues will only be rescheduled if both teams’ schedules permit it.

The ACC’s scheduling format has each team playing two primary rivals, along with four other opponents, both home and away while facing the eight other teams once each — four at home and four on the road.

All 15 teams will play at least one conference game in December, before the holiday season.

Among the highlights is a rivalry showdown between UNC and NC State at PNC Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 22. The teams will meet again in Chapel Hill on Jan. 23.

The two games between UNC and Duke will be played on Feb. 26 at Cameron Indoor Stadium and at the Smith Center on March 6 in the traditional regular-season finale. 

Coach Steve Forbes’ conference debut at Wake Forest will be on Dec. 16 at home against 2019 national champion Virginia.

Nonconference schedules, game times and television designations will be announced at a later date.

The complete conference schedules for each ACC team can be viewed by clicking here.

Here are the complete schedules for all four state teams:

Duke
UNC
NC State 
Wake Forest