Kennedy Meeks gave UNC fans a snapshot that hit right in the nostalgia.
During a weekend that already had Chapel Hill buzzing, the former Tar Heel shared a photo of several members of UNC’s 2017 national championship team gathered together, with Roy Williams at the center of the group. The image featured Joel Berry, Justin Jackson, Kennedy Meeks, Theo Pinson, Kenny Williams, Tony Bradley, Brandon Robinson and Luke Maye.
That reunion came as part of a busy alumni weekend for the UNC basketball program, one that brought nearly 200 former Tar Heels back to campus. Newly hired head coach Michael Malone has made clear from the start that he wants to bring the “Carolina Family” feel back to Chapel Hill, and this weekend was a quick sign that he’s moving in that direction.
The 2017 group had plenty to celebrate in its own right. That team won the ACC regular season title and then finished the job by claiming the national championship. For Tar Heel fans, the memories are still fresh: Maye’s shot to beat Kentucky, Jackson’s breakaway dunk in the title game, and all the moments that made that run feel bigger than just a season.
Seeing that collection of faces back together says a lot about what that team meant, and about the pull UNC still has on the players who helped build its history. A decade later, they’re still willing to come back, still proud to be tied to the program, and still part of the fabric Malone is trying to strengthen.
It was a strong weekend in Chapel Hill all around. The football team moved to 2-0, but the basketball reunion was the headline that really lit up Tar Heel fans.
In Other News...
Bill Belichicks UNC Defense Is Becoming The Teams Early Story
North Carolinas win over ETSU was never really in doubt, and the biggest reason was the same one that has started to define the Tar Heels early on: a defense that keeps tightening its grip as the season opens. UNC rolled to a 35-3 victory while allowing ETSU to break through only late, after the Tar Heels had strung together 15 opposing possessions without giving up a score. It was another step forward for a unit that looked sharp again after its strong outing against TCU.
The pressure came from everywhere for Bill Belichicks group, which finished with seven sacks and forced multiple turnovers even without top defensive player Melkhart Abou Jaoude available. That kind of depth matters in September, especially when a defense is already showing the ability to carry stretches of a game on its own. For North Carolina, the bigger question now is not whether the defense has arrived, but how far this early momentum can go. [Read more 🡒]
Belichicks UNC Rotation Just Sent An Early Message Before Conference Play
North Carolinas 35-3 win over East Tennessee State pushed the Tar Heels to 2-0, but the more revealing part of the afternoon came in how Bill Belichick chose to use his roster. After Kekahunas turnover, Sadler saw a bigger role at slot receiver, while the backfield was spread more evenly between Demon June, Benjamin Hall and Jaylen McGill, giving the offense a more deliberate, rotating feel as conference play gets closer.
On the other side of the ball, North Carolina also took a cautious approach with injured pass rusher Abou Jaoude, sitting him out as a precaution. His status moving forward is still uncertain, which leaves a small but meaningful question hanging over a defense that has already shown it will manage personnel as carefully as results. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Basketball Just Showed Why This Program Means More Than Wins
Carmichael Arena turned into more than a basketball venue this weekend as North Carolina hosted the fifth annual Dribble for Victory Over Cancer, an event that brought together the UNC mens and womens teams, other athletic programs and community members in support of cancer research. The day mixed basketball with purpose, starting with a session on the court before shifting into a one-mile walk around campus, all while coaches Courtney Banghart and Michael Malone welcomed a crowd united by the cause.
The event raised more than $143,000, but the number only tells part of the story. Several players shared personal connections to cancer, underscoring why the gathering has become such a meaningful annual tradition for the program and the wider UNC community, with the events emotional weight carrying well beyond the floor at Carmichael. [Read more 🡒]