Michael Malone’s first preseason practice at North Carolina arrives with the spotlight already burning hot.
A new chapter is underway in Chapel Hill, and it comes with the kind of expectations that never really go away at North Carolina. Malone steps into the job with NBA championship experience, but the challenge in front of him is a college roster that looks almost nothing like the one that finished 24-9 last season.
That uncertainty is baked into the Tar Heels’ preseason standing. Two major preseason rankings have North Carolina at No. 25 - a solid place for a team coming off a winning season, but also a clear sign that the market is still trying to figure out what this group actually is.
The roster explains a lot of that hesitation. North Carolina brings back only three of its top 11 scorers from last season: Jarin Stevenson, Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young. That’s not much of a returning base, and it leaves Malone and his staff with a team that has been rebuilt largely through the transfer portal.
Among the additions are Neoklis Avdalas from Virginia Tech and Terrence Brown from Utah. The talent is there. The bigger question is how quickly all of those pieces can start functioning like one team once ACC play rolls around.
That’s where the college game becomes a different animal from the NBA. Malone no longer gets the luxury of time, and the portal has changed roster building into a race to create chemistry before the season gets away from you. North Carolina’s ranking reflects that split reality: the program’s name, resources and coaching cachet push the ceiling up, while the lack of shared experience keeps the projections cautious.
There’s work to do immediately once practice begins. Malone has to figure out which guards can steady the offense, which lineups can space the floor and how hard this team can play on defense. Those early decisions will shape everything that comes next.
Stevenson stands out as one of the key returning voices. On a roster still learning the expectations that come with wearing North Carolina across the chest, his familiarity with Chapel Hill matters.
Avdalas, meanwhile, may be the newcomer with the biggest chance to change the team’s trajectory. His versatility gives Malone options, especially if the Tar Heels lean into bigger lineups and flexible positions.
So the No. 25 ranking is fair enough, but it doesn’t define the season. North Carolina has too many questions to be slotted with the obvious national favorites right now, yet that number also shouldn’t be mistaken for the final word.
Malone was brought in to get the Tar Heels back into championship territory. That kind of turnaround can take patience, but Chapel Hill has never been a place where patience lasts long. Practice is here, the season is still ahead, and the pressure is already in the building.
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 🡒]