North Carolina’s overhaul reaches well beyond the roster. The Tar Heels brought in Michael Malone as their next head coach, and around college basketball, that move is drawing real respect.
Earlier this week, CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander surveyed roughly 100 coaches from across the country about this year’s crop of new hires. In that polling, Malone was viewed as one of the best additions in the class, with 16 percent of the coaches saying he was the best high-major hire in the country.
That kind of reception matters because Malone’s fit at UNC was never just about reputation. When he first got to Chapel Hill, the obvious question centered on whether he could handle the recruiting side of the job. But he quickly showed an ability to connect with players and sell them on the idea that their development would be maximized at North Carolina.
One move that helped that process was Malone bringing former Arkansas assistant Chuck Martin onto the staff. It was an important offseason decision, and one that could easily get overlooked. Martin had spent time at Kentucky and Arkansas, where he was involved with top recruiting classes, and Malone has also said he is still learning the college recruiting landscape.
Even with that, the Tar Heels have been treated like a team flying under the radar all offseason. Their transfer haul was solid, headlined by Terrence Brown, Matt Able, and Neoklis Avdalas, but they still haven’t gotten the kind of attention that usually follows a major roster reset.
That’s part of why North Carolina stands out heading into the 2026-27 season. The roster may not feature a top-five pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, but the talent is spread more evenly across the group. Put that together with a coach known for developing players into NBA stars, and it’s easy to see why Malone’s hire has been so well-regarded.
In Other News...
Bill Belichick Is Already Facing Pressure After TCU Warning Sign
Bill Belichicks first season at North Carolina has already been framed by urgency, and the opener in Dublin only sharpened that feeling. The Tar Heels opened against TCU in Ireland as the program tries to find its footing under one of the sports most scrutinized coaches, while also dealing with off-field turbulence around general manager Mike Lombardi being placed on administrative leave and defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick going on medical leave.
ESPN analyst Booger McFarland added to the pressure with a blunt read on the situation, saying Belichick may be running out of time to get the program headed in the right direction. With a younger roster and expectations for immediate improvement, UNC is already in a spot where patience can feel thin, and every early misstep only makes the next stretch feel more important. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Win Exposed An Early Question About Which Transfers Are Ready
North Carolinas 15-10 win over TCU in Ireland offered an early look at how the Tar Heels transfer class is settling in, and the answers were mixed in a way that should matter as the season builds. Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. drew attention for his role in the victory, while defensive lineman Xavier Lewis stood out on the other side of the ball, giving UNC some immediate production from newcomers in a game where every clean snap mattered.
Pro Football Focus grades pointed to a clearer split between the two units, with the defense generally landing higher marks than the offense. A few offensive names, including linebacker Peyton Seelmann and several members of the offensive line, were near the bottom of the grading chart, which suggests the Tar Heels still have some sorting to do as they figure out which transfers are ready to carry bigger roles right away. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Entered A Recruiting Battle Fans Will Watch Closely
Michael Malone is still sorting through the kind of roster-building every new era demands, and Beckham Black has quickly become one of the names worth tracking. The top-ranked high school guard has made noticeable strides in his recent performances, and that rise has only sharpened the attention around his recruitment as North Carolina works to stay in the mix with the best programs in the country.
Black is expected to visit several schools, including North Carolina, Texas, Miami and Duke, which gives this race the feel of one that could stretch on for a while. For the Tar Heels, the appeal is obvious: landing a player of that caliber would give Malone a major boost, but for now the bigger story is simply how much traffic this battle is already drawing. [Read more 🡒]