UNC has landed a needed frontcourt piece in Cameron Fens, and Dan Hurley’s public frustration with the way fifth-year players are being added won’t change that.
The UConn coach recently took aim at programs that are bringing in veterans who gained a fifth year through recent lawsuits, saying, "At some point, you’ve got to care about the sport. Especially if the sport has given you a lot. Doing things to hurt the sport so that you can win a little bit more, you’ve got to look in the mirror a little on that."
Hurley did not single out North Carolina in those comments, but the broader message was clear enough. He’s not happy with how college basketball recruiting has shifted, and he’s been vocal before about his dislike of the NIL era and this latest wave of roster movement.
Still, schools are operating within the rules as they exist, and North Carolina took advantage of the opening. The Tar Heels had been working to bring in Fens, along with Micah Handlogten and Duke Brennan, and now the South Dakota transfer is on board.
Fens, who stands 7-0 and weighs 255 pounds, should give UNC a much-needed body in the lane and on the boards. His arrival also helps ease the load for newcomers Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov once the season starts.
There is still some uncertainty about whether Fens will actually make it to campus because of the NCAA, but the commitment itself is done. UNC had an available roster spot and a clear need at center, and Fens filled it. Hurley may not like the process, but that does not alter the outcome.
In Other News...
Michael Malones First UNC Roster Is Already Sparking A Tar Heels Debate
The early read on North Carolinas next basketball roster is already dividing people, which is hardly a surprise when a new coach walks into Chapel Hill late in the offseason and inherits the pressure that comes with the job. Michael Malone has barely had time to settle in, but the conversation around his first UNC group is moving quickly, with some seeing a team that could be better than the outside perception suggests and capable of making a real push.
Former Tar Heel John Henson is not dismissing the roster, but he also is not handing out top-tier praise, calling it a B-minus and pointing to the reality of how much ground Malone has to make up. It is the kind of judgment that puts the spotlight right back on the coach, because the next couple of years will be measured not just by talent on paper, but by how fast North Carolina starts looking like a team that belongs in the upper tier of the sport again. [Read more 🡒]
UNCs New Offense Is Sending A Message After Last Seasons Collapse
After a 4-8 season that left the offense searching for answers, North Carolina has spent the offseason reshaping that side of the ball with a clear sense of purpose. The Tar Heels brought in a new voice in Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator, added help through the transfer portal to support the passing game and opened training camp with a quarterback competition still in full swing.
Petrino has also made it plain that this years approach should look more balanced, with the running game expected to carry a bigger share of the load. For a team trying to move past last seasons collapse, that shift is about more than scheme. It is about finding a steadier identity, and the early days of camp are offering the first clues about whether North Carolina can finally build one. [Read more 🡒]
UNC's Deep Receiver Room Could Rescue A Messy Must-Win Season
North Carolina is heading into the season with a lot riding on its offense, and not much room for error. Bill Belichick needs at least six wins and a bowl trip to keep his first year on track, which puts extra pressure on a quarterback battle that includes Billy Edwards Jr., Miles O'Neill and Travis Burgess. The good news is that the Tar Heels may have more help at receiver than they do almost anywhere else on the roster, with Jordan Shipp at the front of a deep group built out by transfers and recruits.
Bobby Petrino is expected to lean into a run-first approach, with Demon June and Benjamin Hall set to carry much of the load on the ground. Still, in a season where the margin for mistake is thin, having legitimate options outside can matter just as much as any rushing plan or quarterback answer, and it gives North Carolina at least one obvious place to lean if the offense needs rescuing. [Read more 🡒]