Kansas vs. North Carolina: How to watch college basketball free today

LAWRENCE, Kansas – College basketball blue bloods collide as the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks host the No. 9 North Carolina Tarheels today – Friday, Nov. 8 – at historic Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. The matchup is available to watch on multiple streaming services.

This top-10 matchup will broadcast live on ESPN2 with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern. (6 p.m. Central). Fans who have parted ways with their cable provider can catch the game at no cost by taking advantage of streaming alternatives like DirecTV Stream, which offers a free trial. FuboTV is also offering a free trial and $20 off your first month.

Sling TV has promotional offers for new customers.

Revamped and ready to move past an uncharacteristic 11-loss season, the Jayhawks (1-0) cruised past Howard in their season opener and are one of the most talented teams in the country, guided senior paint pariah Hunter Dickinson, senior forward KJ Adams Jr. and freshman big Flory Bidunga.

Dickinson nabbed 16 points and six rebounds while Adams had seven points, four rebounds and three assists. Bidunga went a perfect 6-for-6 with 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

Dickinson’s presence presents problems across the court. The methodical style chips away at defenses, but also opens up swing opportunities for some streaky shooting.

South Dakota State grad transfer Zeke Mayo had a game-high 19 points off the bench.

Kansas’ biggest concern could be its ability to stay healthy. The lineup is already thin after losing Elmarko Jackson for the season. Sophomore guard Jamari McDowell is redshirting while senior Shakeel Moore missed opening night.

The Jayhawks and Tarheels have not played since the 2022 National Championship. Kansas won that meeting, 72-69. The Jayhawks have won the last four meetings. The two programs have combined for 37 Final Fours and 10 national titles.

Watch Kansas vs. North Carolina for free on DirecTV Stream

Despite a scare against Elon in their season opener, the Tarheels (1-0) have high expectations with All-Amercian candidate RJ Davis leading the charge. He can burn the opposition with a silky-smooth jumper and carves through defenses with blazing speed.

Davis rescued the Tarheels with 24 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals. He will likely see perimeter specialist Dajuan Harris Jr. as his assignment.

The Phoenix fiasco was a small sample size, but still concerning. North Carolina trailed 71-69 with less than seven minutes left before turning on the afterburners to a 14-point victory.

The Tarheels shot 40% from the field in the uphill climb. While they outscored Elon 34-22 in the paint, there were some glaring mishaps that could spell doom against a potent interior Jayhawk lineup. They also only claimed a 44-40 advantage on the glass against a much smaller team.

Those numbers are troubling against the likes of Dickinson, Adams and Bidunga. North Carolina will need to be much more physical, so they are not swallowed up inside.

If initial play is any indication, senior forward Jae’Lyn Withers will have his hands full. He tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds with one assist on opening night.

North Carolina has a collection of guards to offset their weakness inside, including sensational sophomore Elliot Cadeau, who tallied 17 points, eight assists and four rebounds while shooting 57.1% from the field.

Seth Trimble, Cade Tyson, along with freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell are also capable of putting up points.

Both teams excel in transition, which makes for a back-and-forth affair in what is UNC’s first game in Kansas since 1960.

Watch Kansas vs. North Carolina for free on FuboTV

Who is announcing Kansas vs. North Carolina?

Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) will be on the call.

What are the latest odds for Kansas vs. North Carolina?

Moneyline: KU: (-345), NC: (+275)

Spread: KU: -7.5, NC: +7.5

Over/Under: 160

Odds from DraftKings

Here’s more information on how to watch Kansas-North Carolina on TV or streaming services:

What: College basketball: Kansas vs. North Carolina

When: Friday, Nov. 8, 2024

Time: 7 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. Central)

Where: Allen Fieldhouse | Lawrence, Kansas

Channel: ESPN2

Best streaming options: FuboTV (free trial and $20 off first month), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and Sling TV (half off first month)

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