North Carolina doesn’t have much room for another flat outing, and Friday night against Wofford gives the Tar Heels a chance to reset after a disappointing season opener. There were a few encouraging signs in the first game, but this group still looks like a work in progress. With that in mind, three players stand out as the ones most worth watching.
The biggest name in the bunch is Brown, and the expectations around him have been heavy from the start. He was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal, with Kansas and Kentucky among the programs chasing him before North Carolina won out for the Utah transfer.
In 2025, Brown put up 19.9 points per game in the Big 12, which is arguably the best conference in college basketball. The scoring is real, but so are the efficiency issues.
He shot 32.7 percent from three-point range last season, and those problems have carried over into Chapel Hill through the three preseason games and the opener.
What has been even more concerning is the finishing around the basket. On Monday night, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard went 3-of-11 from the field and finished with 14 points, most of that damage coming at the line, where he was 8-of-10.
That kind of production won’t be enough if the shot volume comes with that level of inefficiency. Brown needs a cleaner night on Friday, and Michael Malone using him as an on-ball guard could help.
Keita is another player who needs a stronger showing. He barely made an impact in the win over Western Carolina, finishing with four points and two rebounds.
North Carolina lost the rebounding battle, and the former Barcelona center was part of that problem. Keita has the kind of ceiling that makes him intriguing, but his development is clearly still in progress.
He looked underwhelming in the opener, and another rough night could cost him minutes to someone else.
That someone is Adams, who flashed in his Tar Heel debut. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench, and that performance was enough to earn him a look with the starting group, with Jarin Stevenson at center.
If Friday night follows the same script, Malone could lean even more heavily on the small-ball lineup. And if rebounding remains an issue, North Carolina may as well go with the five best offensive players.
Adams also brings a sneaky edge on the glass.
In Other News...
Tar Heels Face A Quick Gut Check With Duke Suddenly Next
No. 20 Carolina volleyball ran into a buzz saw against No. 2 Pitt, dropping the match in straight sets by scores of 20-25, 14-25 and 19-25. Safi Hampton, Chelsea Thorpe, Bridget Malone, Laynie Smith and Meghan Clifford were among the key Tar Heels trying to steady things, but Pitts level of play left little room for Carolina to settle in.
The timing makes the loss sting a little more, because the schedule does not offer much breathing room. Duke is next, and the Tar Heels will see the Blue Devils twice, on Nov. 12 and Nov. 15, turning this into a quick gut check for a Carolina team that has to reset fast and carry something useful out of a tough night. [Read more 🡒]
Leaky Black Just Gave UNC Fans A New Reason To Believe
Leaky Black got his first start of the 2026-27 NBA season for the Sacramento Kings and made the most of the opening, finishing with 12 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The former UNC wing also showed a more aggressive scoring approach, taking all of his shots from beyond the arc and knocking down four of seven attempts, the kind of efficient perimeter night that can turn a temporary opportunity into something more lasting.
Blacks chance came after a teammate was ruled out because of illness, but the bigger takeaway for Tar Heels fans is how well he handled the moment. A player long valued for his defense and versatility is now giving Sacramento a stronger reason to keep him in the rotation, and if this is the start of a larger role, it could be a development worth watching closely from Chapel Hill. [Read more 🡒]
UNC May Have Found A Frontcourt Option Wyoming Has To Worry About
North Carolinas lopsided win over Wofford offered a useful glimpse of a bench piece that could become more than a situational option. Alexandros Samodurov gave the Tar Heels a strong lift with 13 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes, showing enough touch and versatility on offense to stand out in a game where the reserves helped tilt the night early.
The bigger question now is how much more Carolina can ask of him, especially with Wyoming on deck. Samodurovs skill set is intriguing, but there are still real questions about whether he can hold up at center against more physical play, which makes his usage worth watching as the schedule tightens and the staff looks for answers in the frontcourt. [Read more 🡒]