Carolina opened its exhibition season with a convincing 88-70 win over Southern Cal in Greensboro, and the box score told the story of a team that can survive different kinds of nights from its top players.
Matt Able and Terrence Brown, who figure to be two of Carolina’s most important pieces, were scoreless for the first 32 minutes and combined for six turnovers. Even so, the Tar Heels still pushed out to a 61-53 lead during that stretch. When Able and Brown weren’t carrying their usual load, Carolina found production from just about everywhere else.
Jarin Stevenson was at the center of that response. He played with aggression all night and finished with 17 points, including four three-pointers, along with nine rebounds. That is the kind of line Malone wants from him.
The bigger surprises came from Isaiah Denis and Maximo Adams. Denis, who never got into the rotation after a finger injury last year, scored 14 points.
Adams, a freshman, added 11 points and six rebounds, and he was especially assertive early when Carolina needed it. After Denis left the floor, Malone gave him a big hug and told him, "I'm proud of you."
Denis is also taking on a new responsibility as a ballhandler, and he’s making steady progress in that role.
Neo Avdalas delivered the sort of all-around stat line that should become familiar quickly. The Virginia Tech transfer posted 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists in only 24 minutes, giving Carolina a little bit of everything on both ends.
The game also offered a first look at how a Michael Malone bench operates. Malone called timeout early in both halves after transition and defensive breakdowns, and in most cases he spent the first few seconds talking with his staff before taking control of the huddle.
There were a few crisp execution moments, too. Late in the first half, Carolina had a 2-for-1 chance and used it right away, with Malone alerting Avdalas to the situation before Avdalas finished the basket.
The Tar Heels didn’t fully cash in because of an offensive foul on the second possession, but it was still a clean example of something they had worked on. Stevenson also took advantage of Alijah Arenas’ foul trouble, posting him up and scoring over him on a couple of key late possessions.
Southern Cal was shorthanded as well. KJ Lewis, Eric Reibe and Christian Collins were out with injuries, leaving the Trojans without three players who are expected to be in their rotation. Carolina also was missing Cameron Fens, who is awaiting eligibility clearance and would be a meaningful part of the post rotation for Malone.
The night had its loudest moment in the second half, when Sayon Keita picked off a steal and raced in for a two-handed dunk with nobody in front of him. The bench exploded, and Keita was smiling as he came back to the huddle after a Trojan timeout. He finished with eight points, six rebounds and four fouls in 19 minutes in his first college game, and it was a demanding debut against a big, athletic opponent.
Malone also drew a strong ovation when he emerged from the tunnel a couple of minutes before tipoff for his first game as Carolina’s head coach. The crowd wasn’t huge, but the people who showed up were loud and locked in for an October 9 exhibition against Southern Cal.
Several Carolina basketball lettermen were there too, including Ty Lawson, who wore a Ty Lawson jersey. The 2009 national champion doesn’t come around often, so it was a welcome sight to see him back at the building where he had his memorable 2009 NCAA Tournament game against LSU, when he scored 21 of his 23 points after halftime.
This is also a reminder not to use Epsom salts on your toe injuries without doctor approval.
In Other News...
UNCs First Malone Rotation Hint Should Grab Tar Heels Fans Attention
Michael Malone wasted little time using North Carolinas exhibition against USC to see what kind of combinations might actually fit once the games start counting. The Tar Heels cycled through 24 different five-man lineups, a clear sign that the new coach is still probing the edges of his roster and trying to figure out which groups can provide the best balance. The starting five of Terrence Brown, Matt Able, Neo Avdalas, Jarin Stevenson and Sayon Keita saw the most action, with a version that included freshman Maximo Adams close behind.
Even in a night filled with experimentation, Jarin Stevenson stood out as the one constant, logging the most minutes and showing up in the majority of the lineups Malone tried. Isaiah Denis also earned significant run, another clue that the rotation picture is still very much taking shape. For a team in search of early identity under a new coach, the exhibition offered a useful first look, but it also left the most important question hanging: which of these combinations will still matter when the season truly begins? [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Denis Just Gave UNC Fans A Reason To Reconsider Him
Isaiah Denis used an exhibition game to make his case for a bigger role in a Carolina rotation that still has plenty of questions under new coach Michael Malone. In 20 minutes, Denis delivered 14 points, four rebounds and a pair of 3-pointers, a sharp showing from a player whose minutes were limited last season because of injury and who now looks much more like part of the conversation than an afterthought.
Denis said the game felt personal, and his response fit the moment. He pointed to Malones trust and coaching style as part of the reason for the jump, while Malone praised Denis development and his choice to stay with the program through the coaching changes. For Tar Heel fans trying to figure out which returning pieces can matter in this new era, Denis just gave them one name worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Needs More From Edwards Jr. Before This Season Slips Away
North Carolina heads into its Week 6 matchup with Pittsburgh trying to stop a two-game skid before the season drifts any further off course. The Tar Heels are already staring at the wrong side of .500, and the pressure on Bill Belichick has only grown after last seasons 4-8 finish. The offense has been the biggest issue, and it has left little margin for error as the schedule tightens.
A lot of the spotlight is on Edwards Jr., whose play has not matched what North Carolina needs from the quarterback position. The Tar Heels do catch a break in that Pittsburgh starter Mason Heintschel is dealing with an injury, but UNC cannot count on the Panthers to hand them anything. If Edwards Jr. cant give the offense more, this stretch of the season could get away from the Tar Heels in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]