North Carolina doesn’t need any introduction to Matt Able’s game. The Tar Heels have already seen firsthand what happens when he gets rolling from deep, and now they’re trying to make that problem work for them instead of against them.
Able is the former NC State guard who torched UNC for 19 points and five made threes last season. This time around, he’s on Michael Malone’s first roster in Chapel Hill, bringing that same perimeter threat into a new uniform.
That outside shot is the big draw, but it’s also only part of the equation. Able averaged 8.8 points across 34 games as a freshman at NC State, knocked down 49 three-pointers at a 35.5% clip, and also finished second on the team with 42 steals. Still, there’s a school of thought that NC State never really tapped into everything he could do in Raleigh.
What UNC is betting on is how much space Able can create even before he touches the ball. Defenders have to honor him at the arc, which opens lanes for the Tar Heels’ ball handlers and cuts down the help around the rim for the big men. And when the defense does rotate his way, he has to punish it.
There was a promising example of that against Indiana. After being held scoreless against USC, Able bounced back with 11 points and went 3 for 5 from three-point range against the Hoosiers. That kind of night offers a glimpse of what he can bring when the looks are there and he gets into a rhythm early.
The real test is whether he can keep contributing when the shot isn’t falling. That’s the separator for any perimeter player. A scorer can be streaky; a dependable starter has to give you something else on the off nights.
For Able, that means making the extra pass, staying engaged defensively, and finding ways to impact possessions with cuts or smart attacks off closeouts instead of forcing shots. Those are the habits that keep him on the floor when the jumper cools off.
This season is also a development year for Able after going through the NBA Draft process in the offseason. He’ll have room to sharpen the parts of his game scouts have flagged for improvement, and Malone wants to unlock the full package. UNC will count on him heavily.
The target for Able is clear: steady shooting, more playmaking, and strong defense to help hold down the Tar Heels’ backcourt.
The shooting is the headline. That much is obvious.
But UNC needs more than a specialist who can light it up from outside. They need the version of Able who can stay in the game in every way, not just when the ball is flying through the net.
And if this season goes the way Chapel Hill hopes, it may not be long before scouts are watching him very closely all over again.
In Other News...
No. 2 UNC Faces A Huge ACC Test At Dorrance Field
No. 2 Carolinas womens soccer team gets another high-end test Friday night when No. 7 Stanford comes to Dorrance Field, with the match set to stream on ACC Network. It is the kind of late-season showcase that fits the Tar Heels position atop the ACC standings, and it also gives them a chance to keep building on a strong home run in front of a crowd that has watched this group stack up conference honors and national recognition.
Bella Devey has been at the center of that surge, leading the conference in goals, while several other Tar Heels have also earned league and national attention. Carolina has handled Stanford well in the series, but this one still feels like a measuring stick, with the Cardinal bringing one of the leagues best profiles into Chapel Hill and the Tar Heels trying to keep their edge as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Now Knows Which Syracuse QB Is Coming To Chapel Hill
Syracuse is heading into its Week 8 trip to Kenan Stadium with a clearer quarterback picture, and North Carolina now knows it will be facing Steve Angeli. The Orange have rotated through options at the position this season, but Angeli is the one expected to get the call when the teams meet in Chapel Hill, giving UNC a chance to prepare for a passer who has already logged three appearances this year.
Angelis numbers suggest there is still plenty for North Carolina to try to test, especially with some of the turnover and sack issues Syracuse has dealt with at quarterback. Malachi Nelson and Amari Odom are both ruled out, so the Oranges depth chart is thinner than it might have been earlier in the season, and that makes Angelis role even more central to how Syracuse tries to stay afloat against a Tar Heels defense looking to make the first punch count. [Read more 🡒]
Belichicks NFL Future Suddenly Matters A Lot To North Carolina
Bill Belichicks move to North Carolina has already been one of the biggest storylines in college football, but his NFL future is suddenly part of the conversation again for a different reason. According to Adam Schefter, teams around the league have not shown interest in bringing him back, despite the rsum that made him one of the most accomplished coaches in NFL history.
For the Tar Heels, that uncertainty matters because it keeps Belichicks long-term future in Chapel Hill tied to speculation beyond the college game. There have been no official offers and no confirmed negotiations, but the lack of NFL traction and his advancing age have added another layer to a situation that remains open-ended for now. [Read more 🡒]