North Carolina is heading into Michael Malone’s first season with a prediction that feels more measured than flattering. ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf placed the Tar Heels in March Madness Tier V, a group they defined as teams that “can win a tournament game.”
That’s not exactly the kind of ceiling UNC fans are used to hearing attached to this program, especially with Malone stepping into a high-pressure debut. But that’s where the Tar Heels sit right now in the eyes of the national analysts: good enough to matter, not yet built like a true March force.
The early part of the schedule gives Malone a chance to settle in without too much turbulence. UNC has one final exhibition on Tuesday, Oct. 27 against Charlotte, then opens the 2026-27 regular season on Monday, Nov. 2 against Western Carolina.
After that comes a stretch that includes Wofford, Wyoming, Marshall and Monmouth, with Georgia as the fourth opponent. The Tar Heels are also set to play six straight home games before the schedule starts to sharpen.
A 6-0 start would look strong on paper, but last season is a reminder that a fast opening doesn’t guarantee a deep run. Caleb Wilson led UNC to a 13-1 start before the Tar Heels were upset by No.
11 VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. VCU won that game 82-78 in overtime, and that result brought the Hubert Davis era to a close.
Now the challenge belongs to Malone, and the difficulty rises quickly once the nonconference cushion disappears. Arkansas, ranked No. 12, comes to the schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and No.
23 Kentucky is the only other ranked opponent UNC will face in 2026. Once the calendar flips to 2027, though, the road gets crowded in a hurry.
Based on the preseason AP Top 25, UNC is projected to have seven ranked games from Tuesday, Jan. 5 to Sunday, March 6. The ACC, as usual, figures to be a grind, and Borzello pointed to Terrence Brown, Neo Avdalas, and Matt Able as three players UNC needs to produce. If they don’t, the Tar Heels may be staring at another short March stay.
In Other News...
Bill Belichick's Real Power At UNC May Be Coming Into Focus
North Carolinas front office reshuffling has turned into one of the more revealing storylines around the Tar Heels football program. The school suspended Michael Lombardi from his general manager role on July 27 amid an HR investigation, and he formally resigned in early September, leaving the program to sort through a job that has become increasingly important as college football keeps borrowing more from the pro model.
The search for a replacement is already underway, with former Michigan GM Sean Magee helping consult on the process. What makes the next hire especially interesting is the possibility that the role could be built to report to both athletic director Steve Newmark and head coach Bill Belichick, a structure that would say a lot about how much influence Belichick is expected to wield in Chapel Hill and how UNC wants its football operation to function moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Downs Just Put UNC Fans On Trade Watch
The NFL trade market has started to swirl around a familiar name for North Carolina fans, with former Tar Heels wide receiver Josh Downs now asking the Colts for a move. Downs is in the final year of his rookie contract, and his name has already been floating in trade talk as Indianapolis continues to reshape its roster with a string of notable departures, including Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. For UNC supporters, it is another reminder of how quickly the NFL side of the pipeline can turn into a waiting game.
Downs has long been one of the more recognizable Carolina receivers to follow at the next level, and his situation now sits in the same conversation as teammate Jonathan Taylor. The Tar Heels, meanwhile, have their own receiver story unfolding back in Chapel Hill with Jordan Shipp and the broader push to keep that position producing at a high level. For a fan base that tracks both the college and pro arcs closely, this is the kind of roster-watch wrinkle that can change the mood around a Friday night or Sunday afternoon in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Misses On Five-Star As This Recruitment Slipped Away Fast
North Carolina had a real shot in the mix for five-star prospect Asa Montgomery, but the rising 2027 guard is headed to Duke instead, narrowing one of the more closely watched recruiting battles on the board. Montgomery picked the Blue Devils over a group that included UNC, UConn, Georgia Tech and LSU, a reminder of how quickly elite recruiting can turn when a player starts separating himself from the pack.
For the Tar Heels, the miss adds another layer to a rivalry that tends to show up in the recruiting lanes long before it ever reaches the court. Dukes class keeps building around top-end talent, while UNC now has to keep pressing ahead with other targets and make up ground elsewhere in a cycle where every high-end decision matters. [Read more 🡒]