Bill Belichick is trying to steady North Carolina after a bruising stretch, and the Tar Heels head to East Hartford with plenty still hanging in the balance.
UNC, sitting at 4-4, visits UConn, also 4-4, in a non-conference matchup Saturday afternoon. The trip sends Belichick farther into New England than he has been in his two seasons at North Carolina, a notable return to familiar ground after his long run with the Patriots.
The Tar Heels have lived through a rough three-game run. They pulled out a 24-20 win at Duke on Oct. 17, then dropped a 31-30 overtime decision to Syracuse before taking No. 1 Miami to the wire in a 38-35 loss on Halloween.
Belichick said Monday that the challenge now is keeping the group locked in after the emotional swings.
"Whether you win by one or win by 20 or you lose by one or lose by 20, it is what it is," Belichick said Monday. "When it's done, it's done. ... It's just part of preparation for the next game, mental toughness and putting it all together as a team."
North Carolina got a big night from Billy Edwards Jr. against Miami. He threw for 341 yards and a career-high four touchdowns without an interception, and the Tar Heels were in position late before the game slipped away. After Miami moved ahead 31-28, Edwards was stripped on a sack, and the Hurricanes quickly stretched the margin to 10.
The bigger concern for UNC has been on defense. That side of the ball had been the team’s strength, but the Tar Heels have now allowed more than 31 points in back-to-back games. They also failed to force a turnover against Syracuse or Miami.
"We got a couple of key ones against Duke and against Pitt to help in those games, but we need to start to create more negative plays and more turnovers," Belichick said.
UConn coach Jason Candle knows exactly who he’s dealing with on the other sideline, even if he tried to keep the focus on the players.
"Thank God Tom Brady is not walking out of that locker room Saturday," Candle said. "We've got to focus on them and their players and what they do and what they do well."
For North Carolina, the pressure on opposing quarterbacks starts with defensive ends Leroy Jackson and Xavier Lewis. Lewis has seven sacks, tied for second in the ACC, and Candle singled out both edge rushers as major problems to solve.
"Two elite defensive ends, both guys I think are game-changers, and you can't let them wreck the game," Candle said. "You try to do that each and every week, you try to make sure that the other team's strength is neutralized the best you can."
UConn comes in after a 35-26 loss at Air Force, a game in which the Falcons did not complete a pass, going 0-for-3, yet still piled up 366 rushing yards on 74 attempts.
The Huskies’ Kalieb Osborne threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns in that defeat. On the season, he has 14 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.
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Tar Heels Win Still Left One Early Concern Hard To Ignore
Carolina opened the season with an 80-72 win over Western Carolina, and there were enough encouraging signs to leave the Tar Heels feeling good about the start. Matt Able led the way with 18 points, Neo Avdalas added 13 points and six rebounds, and Maximo Adams chipped in 10 points and four rebounds as the new-look group showed some early scoring balance.
Still, the opener also exposed a problem that will not be easy to brush aside. Western Carolina controlled the glass and outrebounded Carolina 41-32, a gap that stood out even in a victory, and it comes at a time when the Tar Heels are also waiting on an eligibility ruling for Cameron Fens. For a team trying to settle into its rotation early, both issues linger as the schedule moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Former UNC Star Caleb Wilson Sent A Strong Message After Brutal Loss
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That frustration was on display after Chicagos loss to the Boston Celtics, when Wilson sent a clear message in the aftermath of a brutal defeat. He already entered the league with a strong foundation, having trained with LeBron James before his rookie season, and nights like this only sharpen the spotlight on how much the Bulls are asking of him as they try to keep moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Malone Is Already Changing UNC's Recruiting Ceiling
The early returns on Michael Malones arrival in Chapel Hill keep looking bigger than just a coaching hire. Demarcus Henry, the No. 2 player in the 2027 high school class, has committed to North Carolina, giving the Tar Heels another major recruiting win and a clear sign that Malones reputation is already carrying weight on the trail.
Henry pointed to Malones vision and winning mentality as key reasons for choosing UNC, and the NBA championship-winning coach made it clear the interest was personal. Malone attended many of Henrys games and repeatedly stressed that the forward was a priority for the program, a level of attention that can matter when elite prospects are weighing their next step. [Read more 🡒]