North Carolina basketball is back on the floor Tuesday, and with it comes the first official practice of the Michael Malone era.
It has been a busy stretch in Chapel Hill since Malone took over the program. The Tar Heels have spent the offseason rebuilding the roster, recruiting, and putting the pieces together as they head into a season that is now only six weeks from opening night. For Malone, this is Year One in charge - and the first outside-the-family hire in more than seven decades at UNC.
He has made it clear that part of the job was preserving the Carolina connection. Sean May and Pat Sullivan, both former Tar Heels who won national championships and were on Hubert Davis’ staff, were kept on. Malone also brought in former players Brandon Robinson as an assistant coach and Deon Thompson as director of player development, while Eric Hoots stayed in place as director of basketball operations.
That means four former Tar Heels remain directly tied to the program’s day-to-day work. Sullivan won a title in 1993, May in 2005, Thompson in 2009 and Robinson in 2017.
Malone also filled out the staff with people from his own network, drawing on connections from his 25 years in the NBA and adding coaches with college experience to help smooth the transition. Chuck Martin came over from Arkansas as associate head coach, Jorge Sanz arrived from Gonzaga with a reputation for overseas recruiting, and Bryan Tibaldi joined after 19 years coaching in college and the NBA, including the G-League.
The roster has been just as transformed. Carolina returns only three scholarship players from last season: forward Jarin Stevenson and guards Jaydon Young and Isaiah Denis.
Around them, Malone built almost from scratch. The Tar Heels added six players through the portal, three freshmen and two players from overseas. The portal group includes guards Matt Able from NC State, Terrence Brown from Utah, Neoklis Avdalas from Virginia Tech and Angelo Brizzi from Buffalo, plus centers Cameron Fens from South Dakota and Cade Bennerman from Northwestern.
Fens is still battling for another season in a Tennessee court and is currently ineligible while he waits for the Court of Appeals to rule in his favor.
The freshman class includes forwards Maximo Adams and Kevin Thomas, along with guard Malloy Smith, the son of former Tar Heel Kenny "The Jet" Smith. From overseas, UNC added center Sayon Keita, a freshman from Mali, and forward Alexandros Samodurov from Greece.
Before the regular season begins, the Tar Heels will get three exhibition chances. They open preseason play against USC at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro on Oct. 9, then face Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Oct.
- The final exhibition comes Oct. 27 at the Smith Center against Charlotte.
UNC’s season opener is set for Nov. 2 against Western Carolina.
In Other News...
Belichicks Comments Just Turned Up The Heat On UNCs Quarterback
North Carolinas Week 3 loss to Clemson had the familiar feel of a game that slipped away after a solid start, and Bill Belichicks postgame assessment only sharpened the focus on what went wrong. The Tar Heels led in the first half but couldnt hold it, and the head coachs takeaway suggested the issue was less about Clemson springing surprises and more about North Carolina failing to capitalize when it mattered.
Billy Edwards Jr. ended up at the center of that conversation after completing 13 of 30 passes for 135 yards with one touchdown and one interception. With Belichick saying Clemsons defense did not make major changes beyond blitz looks the Tar Heels were ready for, the questions around quarterback execution and how much of the loss can be traced back to the offense are now front and center. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Suddenly Faces A Bigger Question Than One Bad Loss
North Carolina had control early against Clemson, but the game slipped away in the second half and left the Tar Heels with a 2-1 record. The loss was more than just a bad result on the schedule. It exposed issues that had already been lurking, especially inside the red zone, where drives stalled and momentum never seemed to turn back their way.
The bigger concern now is whether the offense can clean that up quickly enough for what comes next. UNC already looked too static at times against Clemson, and the play-calling questions only get louder with Notre Dame and its strong defense looming. After a game like this, the Tar Heels are not just looking for a rebound. They are looking for signs that the offense can function more consistently against a real test. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Suddenly Has A Problem Fans Didn't Want To See
North Carolinas Week 3 conference opener against Clemson served as a sharp reminder that the Tar Heels still have a lot to sort out before the heart of league play. Drake Maye got the offense moving early, but his night settled into inconsistency, as he finished 13-of-30 for 135 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Against a higher-end opponent, the margin for error shrank quickly, and UNC paid for it.
The bigger concern for the Tar Heels may be on the other side of the ball, where the absence of pass rusher Abou Jaoude because of injury left a hole that was hard to ignore. With more important games ahead, his availability becomes a real question for a defense that could use all the disruption it can get. UNC has already taken its first conference loss, and now it has to manage both the pressure of the schedule and the uncertainty around a key defender. [Read more 🡒]