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Good, Bad and Ugly Report: Pittsburgh
In a game that would have fit perfectly in the old Coastal Division, North Carolina and Pittsburgh stumbled and bumbled through most of a game that featured a backup fifth-year quarterback at his third school making his first career start, dueling turnovers, dueling quick-strike touchdowns, punts from the plus-37, what seemed like a thousand replay reviews, and enough questionable coaching decisions to scratch a hole through your head. And when the dust had settled, Carolina left the Steel City with a 21–17 win over the No. 25 Panthers.
Denis says his confident, breakthrough performance was ‘personal’
GREENSBORO — Isaiah Denis could have left when Carolina changed coaches, but the sophomore stayed. On Friday night, in Michael Malone’s debut, Denis was rewarded with a coming-out party for Tar Heels fans who barely saw him on the court during his tough freshman season.
Defense ignites Heels as Stevenson hits 25, they roll in Malone’s debut
GREENSBORO — The newcomers Carolina expected to score didn’t, but returnees filled the void nicely as the Michael Malone era began.
Improved second-half defense held USC scoreless for nearly six minutes as the Tar Heels took control. UNC rebounded from a halftime deficit for an 88–70 win Friday night over Southern Cal at the First Horizon Coliseum in the exhibition opener for both teams.
Malone says Keita quickly adapting, thriving ‘remarkable’
CHARLOTTE — Sayon Keita arrived in Chapel Hill on a Saturday night in August, the weekend before classes started. That evening, North Carolina coach Michael Malone and his staff walked the 7-foot freshman center into his dorm, and Malone said the campus was buzzing. The timing was tight. Keita had to clear the visa process at the embassy in Madrid before he could travel, and he reached campus as the semester was about to begin. Malone said he worried about how a teenager would handle the move.
Rice leads talented USC team against Heels in battle of former NBA coaches
Michael Malone has had weeks of watching his players compete against each other. On Friday night, he’ll finally see them against another team that’s also led by a former NBA coach. In Malone’s first time on the sidelines for a UNC game, the Tar Heels will face Southern Cal in a 7 p.m. exhibition (ACC Network) at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro.
Malone’s coaching philosophy product of lessons from Popovich, others
CHARLOTTE — Michael Malone’s coaching philosophy is less a product of one mentor than a collection of lessons gathered over a 25-year NBA career. His father helped shape him as a person and coach. Jeff Van Gundy taught him the value of preparation, attention to detail and defense. Mike Brown gave him the freedom to coach and showed him the importance of trusting a staff. But Gregg Popovich might have had the most profound influence.
Ojo, one of top Class of 2027 wings, picks UNC over Duke
Micah Ojo, one of the top wings in the Class of 2027, announced Thursday morning on Instagram that she has committed to North Carolina. The 6–1 wing from Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach picked the Tar Heels over a list of finalists that also included Vanderbilt and Duke.
Tar Heels in NBA: Wilson hits team-high 15 in Bulls debut; White to miss preseason; Love scores 15
Caleb Wilson’s first NBA preseason game gave Chicago Bulls fans a glimpse of what they have been waiting for, along with a reminder of how much faster the pro game moves. The No. 4 overall pick scored a team-high 15 points in Chicago’s 124–117 win over Phoenix on Wednesday at the United Center as he started alongside Matas Buzelis.
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.
Video, transcript of press conference for UNC at ACC Tipoff, plus long Malone breakout room interviews
CHARLOTTE — Here is a video and complete transcript from the press conference for Carolina during ACC Tipoff at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown on Wednesday, with Coach Michael Malone, Neo Avdalas and Jarin Stevenson, plus video of Malone’s breakout room interviews.
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.