Michael Malone’s first exhibition in Chapel Hill gave him a little of everything - a comfortable 88-70 win over USC, a look at the pieces he’s trying to mold, and a reminder that this roster is still very much a work in progress.
After an offseason that was difficult enough to navigate, Malone’s early return with North Carolina had the kind of tone coaches usually want: a statement win, a promising start, and a few clear teaching points. In his postgame press conference, Malone zeroed in on several takeaways from Friday night’s opener.
One of the biggest was the play of the backcourt. Malone built this team around the trio of Brown, Able, and Neoklis Avdalas, but Brown and Able were quiet against USC.
The two combined for five points and finished 2-of-8 from the floor, including 0-of-4 from three. For a roster that needs that group to drive its ceiling, that line stands out for the wrong reasons.
The first half, in particular, showed how North Carolina can make life easier on a defense if it settles too quickly. The Tar Heels drifted into threes, which USC was happy to live with, and the pick-and-roll defense on the other end didn’t hold up well enough.
After halftime, the response was more encouraging. North Carolina attacked the rim with more purpose, created better spacing on the perimeter, and on defense the guards and wings fought over ball screens before steering USC’s handlers toward Sayon Keita and Jarin Stevenson in the paint.
That kind of adjustment wasn’t something this team routinely showed last season.
The frontcourt remains the biggest uncertainty on the roster, and that was true long before Friday’s exhibition. North Carolina overhauled the backcourt through the portal, but the options up front were thinner by the time Malone took over. That pushed the staff overseas to help patch the roster, which led to the additions of Keita and Alexandros Samodurov.
The Heels also brought in Northwestern transfer center Cade Bennerman early in the offseason, then added South Dakota transfer Cameron Fens later. Fens’ availability for this season is still unclear. If he can’t suit up, Keita is the projected starter at center.
Keita flashed real value as a rim protector and help defender, but the offensive side showed why he is still a developing piece. His rawness was obvious there, even as his defensive upside stood out.
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