Could a winter storm postpone the NC State-UNC men's basketball game? What we know.

Chip Alexander, The News & Observer on Feb 18, 2025

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RALEIGH, N.C. — For the second time this year, the forecast of wintry weather in the Triangle is causing concerns about the playing of an N.C. State-North Carolina men’s basketball game.

The Wolfpack and Tar Heels are scheduled to play Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill. But the forecast calls for snow to begin falling Wednesday morning, with a mixture of sleet and freezing rain and a possible accumulation of one to six inches.

Gov. Josh Stein, in a media briefing Tuesday, announced a state of emergency had been declared, saying the winter storm should affect most of North Carolina. Stein said everyone is urged to “avoid traveling unless it is necessary to travel.”

The ACC has protocols in place that determine whether the games are postponed. According to the ACC, every effort will be made to play if the teams, officials and essential game management personnel can make it to the playing facility.

No decision about the game has been made, UNC athletic spokesman Steve Kirschner said Tuesday morning.

In January, a winter storm warning was issued a few days before the Tar Heels and Pack were to play a Saturday game at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Stein also declared a state of emergency.

The bad weather did not materialize and the game was played as scheduled, UNC winning, 63-61.

If the State-UNC game cannot be played Wednesday or Thursday, a postponement could prove to be problematic in terms of fitting in an extra game into the UNC and NCSU schedules. Both have six games remaining in the regular season, which ends March 8 for both schools.

Both the UNC women’s basketball team and the Pack’s women’s team are on the road this week — UNC at Syracuse and N.C. State at Georgia Tech, both in Thursday games.

The Carolina Hurricanes are resuming practice this week after a break for the 4 Nations Face-Off international event in Montreal and Boston. The Canes’ next home game is Feb. 27 against the Buffalo Sabres.