North Carolina gets one more exhibition tune-up before the season opener on Nov. 2, and the Tar Heels are looking for cleaner work on both ends after a mixed start to preseason play.
The first two outings told two different stories. UNC handled USC 88-70 in a game that suggested the pieces can fit when the operation is clicking. Then came a far rougher night in a 76-58 loss to Indiana, one that exposed plenty of rough edges for a team still sorting through a roster full of new faces and a revamped staff under first-year head coach Michael Malone.
This final exhibition against Charlotte offers a different kind of test. The opponent is not in the same class as USC or Indiana, which means the bigger question is less about the final score and more about how North Carolina looks while getting there.
A blowout would not tell the whole story either way. In exhibition season, the performance matters more than the result, especially against a mid-major.
The most important thing to watch is the offense. Charlotte should give UNC a cleaner runway to run Malone’s system, and that matters because his offensive approach is one of the more intriguing elements of this team. He’s bringing NBA ideas into the program, which could make North Carolina one of the more unique teams in the country if it starts to take hold.
That process has not been smooth so far. Against Indiana, the Tar Heels struggled to get into their sets, and the Hoosiers made life difficult for the guards and wings on off-ball screens. This matchup should be a much easier environment for UNC to execute and find some rhythm.
The other area that needs attention is the glass. North Carolina has to clean up its control of the boards defensively, and that should be a reachable goal in this game. More broadly, this is a chance for the Tar Heels to look sharper, build confidence, and head into the regular season with a better feel for Malone’s system.
Individually, Terrence Brown, Neoklis Avdalas, Matt Able, and Alexandros Samodurov all need strong showings.
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UNC Freshman Nyqir Helton May Be Forcing His Way Onto The Field
Nyqir Heltons first career start for North Carolina came against Syracuse, and it was earned the old-fashioned way. The true freshman wide receiver got the nod because of what he had shown in practice, not because of an opening created by someone else, a sign that the Tar Heels are beginning to trust him as more than just a long-term project.
Helton has been building toward this moment through steady work in practice, scout team reps and the programs developmental Sunday Night Football sessions, and the payoff was a career-high 67 snaps. For a young receiver trying to carve out a role, that kind of usage says plenty about where he stands right now, even if his path to a permanent spot is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Have One More Home Test With ACC Stakes Rising
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Bella Devey has been the main finishing threat, leading the team with 16 goals, while Peyton Trayer has anchored things in net with 10 wins. With senior-day type emotions and league positioning both in play, this one offers Carolina a chance to close out its home schedule on a strong note before the bigger tests ahead. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Heads Into No. 1 Miami With A Pressure Point Fans Feel
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Miami brings the sort of attack that can expose any hesitation, with Darian Mensah directing the offense and Toney giving the Hurricanes another dangerous target on the outside. North Carolinas defense has already shown some cracks against the run and in the secondary, which makes the challenge even steeper as the Tar Heels try to avoid getting stretched on both sides of the ball. However this one unfolds, it has the feel of a game that could sharpen the conversation around where UNC stands right now and where it goes next. [Read more 🡒]