One of the starting guards for the North Carolina men’s basketball team will miss its final exhibition.
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NC State transfer Matt Able is not in uniform and will not play against Charlotte on Tuesday at the Dean E. Smith Center, according to UNC. There was no reason given for Able’s absence. The 6-foot-5 guard has started both of the Tar Heels’ previous two exhibitions, and was seen pregame sitting on the bench and smiling as he chatted with teammates, without any noticeable indicators of injury on his upper or lower body.
Freshman guard Malloy Smith, and fifth-year forward Cameron Fens, who remains ineligible as he continues his fight for a fifth season in the court system, will also miss Tuesday’s game.
Able, a Baltimore native, joined the Tar Heels after a promising freshman season with the Wolfpack. He averaged 8.8 points per game in his first college campaign, and said part of joining UNC was to explore more of what he can do with the ball in his hands. There have been mixed results through two exhibition games.
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The sophomore was held scoreless in UNC’s exhibition against USC before bouncing back with 11 points against Indiana on Oct. 18 in Indianapolis; he was among the only players to perform admirably in a 76-58 loss for the Tar Heels.
Sophomore guard Isaiah Denis, who missed UNC’s second exhibition, is available to play on Tuesday, according to a team spokesperson.
This story was originally published October 27, 2026 at 7:04 PM with the headline “UNC men’s basketball guard won’t play in exhibition vs. Charlotte.”
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