Malone leans on Carolina basketball tradition in many ways

CHARLOTTE — Michael Malone is the first to say he arrived at North Carolina as an outsider. He did not attend UNC or play for the Tar Heels, and he spent 25 years in the NBA before taking over a program steeped in tradition, taking the seat once held by Frank McGuire, Dean Smith and Roy Williams. Malone said he spent the months since taking the job trying to close that distance.

UNC’s men play four 9 p.m. games, three at noon; home men’s, women’s games overlap on Dec. 6

CHARLOTTE — Four 9 o’clock Carolina games and three at noon are on the full men’s basketball schedule, with times and TV designations released on Wednesday. Those 9 p.m. games are the home game against Marshall on Nov. 2, the game at Louisville on Jan. 5, the home game with Virginia on Jan. 19 and the March 2 contest at Pittsburgh.

Malone has lead guard group of ‘connectors’ with nobody called point guard

CHARLOTTE — Michael Malone is one of the many coaches who believe basketball is positionless, and he has enough playmakers to make it work in the backcourt. With Terrence Brown Jr., Neo Avdalas, Matt Able and Angelo Brizzi, all transfers, it won’t be important to designate one player as a point guard. They’re all lead guards who can distribute the ball and create opportunities for teammates. That will keep opponents from keying in on one player defensively.

Although Fens won’t play, UNC’s exhibition with USC will show Malone ‘where we’re at’

CHARLOTTE — The ever-changing sports calendar keeps shifting, and Carolina basketball will make history this week. Two days after his appearance Wednesday during ACC Tipoff at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown, Coach Michael Malone’s first Tar Heels team will play an exhibition game against Southern Cal at 7 p.m. Friday in Greensboro (ACC Network). The interval between the league’s annual press gathering is usually at least a couple of weeks or more.

As action by UNC, 3 others, signal possible ACC departures, Phillips laments lack of ‘unanimity’

CHARLOTTE — When North Carolina and three other ACC schools asked Congress to change provisions in the Protect College Sports Act, it signaled possible turbulence ahead for the league. Leaders from UNC, Clemson, Florida State and Miami sent a joint letter to House leaders after the Senate passed the legislation. The letter, which UNC chancellor Lee Roberts signed, called for removal of provisions that would require power conference schools to be independent for three seasons when changing leagues and limit conferences to 20 schools (they want it changed to 22).

Versatile frontcourt with healthy Thomas gives Banghart plenty of options

CHARLOTTE — North Carolina will have a different-looking frontcourt this season, and Coach Courtney Banghart said she cannot yet say exactly the combination she’ll use for the opener. The Tar Heels lost Nyla Harris, a key part of last season’s frontcourt, to graduation. Ciera Toomey returns, as does Blanca Thomas, who is now healthy, and the newcomers include 6–4 freshman Noelle Bofia and 6–1 senior Achol Akot, a transfer from Oklahoma State.

Malone says Able has ’a lot to show,’ plans to unlock it

CHAPEL HILL — During his freshman season at N.C. State, Matt Able never started and was often more of a catch-and-shoot player who defended well but didn’t get a chance to show off his diverse skill set. That was evident during his impressive showing at the NBA Draft Combine, when he showed off playmaking skills that scouts didn’t know about. Those qualities and others will undoubtedly be unlocked in Coach Michael Malone’s system at Carolina.

Shipp, McDonald post UNC’s best PFF grades; Edwards’ grades good; team defensive grade season-lows

CHAPEL HILL — Wide receiver Jordan Shipp and linebacker Derek McDonald turned in North Carolina’s top Pro Football Focus grades in Saturday’s 37–26 loss to No. 3 Notre Dame. The Tar Heels’ team defense grade, though, was a season-low 67.2, and the team offensive grade was the second-lowest this season at 62.0 (behind the 60.0 in the 28–20 loss at Clemson).