North Carolina’s first roster under Michael Malone is drawing plenty of attention, and not all of it is flattering.
According to Inside Carolina, UNC’s financial commitment for the 2026-27 basketball roster topped $20 million. The report also pointed to Michael Malone’s work behind the scenes to boost support and help build out a deeper lineup.
That number sounds massive on paper. It also comes with an obvious question: if the Tar Heels spent that much, is this really the best roster Malone could put together?
There’s talent here, especially in the backcourt. Terrance Brown, Matt Able and Neoklis Avdalas give North Carolina a solid three-man group to lean on.
But the frontcourt is a different story, and the concern there is impossible to ignore. Even with Cameron Fens potentially eligible, the Tar Heels still don’t appear to have a clear answer at center.
The bigger issue is how all of this looks relative to the preseason expectations. Jeff Borzello left North Carolina out of his preseason Top 25 and placed the Tar Heels in his “next five,” which would slot them at No.
- Joe Lunardi’s early Bracketology for ESPN is a little kinder, projecting UNC as an 8-seed.
Either way, this is not the profile of a team that looks like a powerhouse built on a $20 million spend.
That stands in sharp contrast to Duke, which Lunardi has as the No. 1 overall seed. Because Duke is a private school, the amount Jon Scheyer used to assemble his roster won’t be disclosed. Still, the comparison only makes UNC’s investment look more awkward, especially when the Tar Heels’ starting five may not even match up with Duke’s bench.
North Carolina is clearly hoping the coaching change pays off. Hubert Davis “certainly wasn't the guy.”
Malone might be. He may also find a better way to squeeze value out of the money the program is pouring into the roster.
For now, though, this isn’t the kind of first roster that inspires celebration. It looks like a team that should be decent, but it also has clear flaws.
If the season goes sideways, some Tar Heels fans who helped fund Malone’s expanded NIL war chest may want their money back. And after that, getting them to buy in again could be a much tougher sell.
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There is more to the arrangement than what will be seen on the floor. Duke said the partnership will also include financial education and counseling for student-athletes, a nod to the off-court side of college sports that schools now have to treat as seriously as recruiting and competition. Duke vice president and director of athletics Nina King pointed to the shared values between the university and Edward Jones, suggesting the relationship is as much about fit as it is about visibility. [Read more 🡒]
Kon Knueppel Just Sparked A Duke Legends Debate Fans Will Love
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Duke Opener Will Reveal How Ready This New-Look Roster Really Is
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At the same time, the first game will also reveal how much stability Duke has found on offense after naming Walker Eget its starting quarterback. The line has already taken a hit with Roman Fina set to miss the season because of a lower-body injury suffered in camp, so the opener will be about more than just execution. It will show how quickly the Blue Devils can absorb a few early roster changes and still settle into something recognizable. [Read more 🡒]