North Carolina is set to look a lot different this season, and Michael Malone is already leaving his mark.
The new Tar Heels head coach has been pushing a standard that starts on defense and carries straight into transition. Malone has said this offseason that the team’s success will begin with getting stops, and that approach is built to fuel the fast pace he wants to play at.
That shift matters because UNC’s roster is changing too. Last season, the Tar Heels’ offensive identity leaned heavily on the frontcourt.
In 2026, the balance tilts the other way. Through the transfer portal, North Carolina added Terrence Brown, Neoklis Avdalas and Matt Able, giving the program a backcourt trio with plenty of upside.
Brown spoke about that adjustment last week during an appearance with Jones Angell and Adam Lucas, offering a look at Malone’s coaching style and the early impact it has had on the team. The Utah transfer fits the new setup well. At 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, Brown brings the kind of burst and athleticism that can thrive in a system built around speed and pressure.
He was productive last season, averaging 19.9 points per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three-point range. In Malone’s structure, that efficiency could climb.
With Avdalas able to handle the offense, Brown should get more chances to work off the ball and find easier baskets at the rim. If he also grows as a creator for others, it should only make driving lanes easier to attack.
In Other News...
Belichicks Comments Just Turned Up The Heat On UNCs Quarterback
North Carolinas Week 3 loss to Clemson had the familiar feel of a game that slipped away after a solid start, and Bill Belichicks postgame assessment only sharpened the focus on what went wrong. The Tar Heels led in the first half but couldnt hold it, and the head coachs takeaway suggested the issue was less about Clemson springing surprises and more about North Carolina failing to capitalize when it mattered.
Billy Edwards Jr. ended up at the center of that conversation after completing 13 of 30 passes for 135 yards with one touchdown and one interception. With Belichick saying Clemsons defense did not make major changes beyond blitz looks the Tar Heels were ready for, the questions around quarterback execution and how much of the loss can be traced back to the offense are now front and center. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Suddenly Faces A Bigger Question Than One Bad Loss
North Carolina had control early against Clemson, but the game slipped away in the second half and left the Tar Heels with a 2-1 record. The loss was more than just a bad result on the schedule. It exposed issues that had already been lurking, especially inside the red zone, where drives stalled and momentum never seemed to turn back their way.
The bigger concern now is whether the offense can clean that up quickly enough for what comes next. UNC already looked too static at times against Clemson, and the play-calling questions only get louder with Notre Dame and its strong defense looming. After a game like this, the Tar Heels are not just looking for a rebound. They are looking for signs that the offense can function more consistently against a real test. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Suddenly Has A Problem Fans Didn't Want To See
North Carolinas Week 3 conference opener against Clemson served as a sharp reminder that the Tar Heels still have a lot to sort out before the heart of league play. Drake Maye got the offense moving early, but his night settled into inconsistency, as he finished 13-of-30 for 135 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Against a higher-end opponent, the margin for error shrank quickly, and UNC paid for it.
The bigger concern for the Tar Heels may be on the other side of the ball, where the absence of pass rusher Abou Jaoude because of injury left a hole that was hard to ignore. With more important games ahead, his availability becomes a real question for a defense that could use all the disruption it can get. UNC has already taken its first conference loss, and now it has to manage both the pressure of the schedule and the uncertainty around a key defender. [Read more 🡒]