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Being ‘volleyball dad’ at UNC matches dramatically different for Malone this season
CHAPEL HILL — Michael Malone likes to call himself a “volleyball dad,” but the dynamics of that have changed dramatically from when he followed Bridget Malone’s freshman season with the Tar Heels. He might get recognized in the crowd because of his profile as an NBA coach who won a league title, but he could keep a low profile while watching his daughter’s matches.
Malone says his tough love about accountability, but comes with showing players he cares about them
CHAPEL HILL — Coach Michael Malone was known during his NBA coaching career for being direct with his players and applying tough love to make them better. Malone, about to start his first season as Carolina’s coach, said that will not change at the college level, but emphasized that it’s important to first let the players know that he loves them so that they know that any criticism is coming from a good place.
Malone deals with eligibility limbo of Fens, who can still practice with team
CHAPEL HILL — Cameron Fens spent the better part of August believing that he would finish his college basketball career in Chapel Hill. Now, with North Carolina’s season opener less than two months away, the 7–0 center still doesn’t know if he’ll be allowed to play in it. Fens, a graduate transfer from South Dakota, committed to Coach Michael Malone’s program on Aug. 8, filling what became North Carolina’s sixth transfer portal addition and 11th newcomer overall, seemingly completing the Tar Heels’ first roster under the first-year coach.
UNC women open ACC play on Dec. 13 at home against N.C. State
North Carolina navigates a trip to Paris, cross-country trips, and a loaded non-conference gauntlet in its women’s basketball schedule this season which was revealed in full on Wednesday. The Tar Heels, coming off a Sweet 16 appearance, have eight games against teams ranked in last season’s final Top 25.
Tar Heel Tribune Podcast
The “Tar Heel Tribune Podcast,” with hosts Britt Whitmire and R.L. Bynum, gives Tar Heel Tribune readers a conversational companion to the site’s written coverage of Carolina athletics with interviews, opinions and insights.
Deja Kelly earns playoff MVP award, leads Charlotte to league title
Former UNC and Oregon standout Deja Kelly delivered the signature performance of her professional career and a championship. Kelly scored a game-high 29 points to lead the Charlotte Crown to an 81–76 comeback win over the Jacksonville Waves in the inaugural Upshot League championship game Saturday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
UNC snap counts from TCU win reveal numerous iron men
The numbers behind Carolina’s 15–10 win over TCU tell a story of two units with a lot of endurance in the rain at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Middle linebacker Derek McDonald (top photo), the ACC linebacker of the week, and cornerback Jaiden Patterson each played all 72 defensive snaps, evidence of just how long UNC’s defense was out there against a TCU offense that leaned on the run and moved the chains often enough to make the Tar Heels earn every stop.
Tight end Thurman turns heads, tops last season’s numbers at Ohio State in one game
DUBLIN — Tight ends weren’t a big part of the passing game last season, but an Ohio State transfer is changing that in a big way. In one game, Jelani Thurman, who is on the watchlist for the John Mackey Award that goes to the nation’s top tight end, topped his season total from a year ago with the Buckeyes.
Howell shines in preseason finale, several Tar Heels sit, teams waive six
After a weekend when starters Drake Maye, Omarion Hampton, Josh Downs and Javonte Williams all sat out the final preseason games and Sam Howell had his best preseason showing, there was plenty of other roster activity, much of it not good for former UNC players.
Edwards solid in opener, but says Heels left ‘meat on the bone’
DUBLIN — Billy Edwards Jr. showed why he earned the starting spot with a solid but not spectacular performance. He didn’t throw any touchdown passes, but he also didn’t turn the ball over, going 16 of 28 for 232 yards, a total that Carolina hadn’t reached since 2024.
Plenty was said at halftime that sparked reset for UNC’s defense
DUBLIN — Things were said at halftime among players, likely some of it profane, and it reset North Carolina’s defense. The unit that emerged in the second half of the Tar Heels’ 15–10 victory over TCU on Saturday night in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium seemed to have a stronger resolve, and it caused issues for the Horned Frogs offense. TCU went scoreless for the last 49 minutes of the game.
Good, Bad and Ugly Report: TCU
Well, I have to say, that was somewhat unexpected.
Defense huge as Heels get revenge on TCU in Dublin
DUBLIN — After a preseason with plenty of negative talk outside of the program, North Carolina may be the early talk of college football after an impressive opener. This looked like a totally different team than last season.
It felt like home in Dublin as UNC rides a dominant first half to win over Shelbourne FC
DUBLIN — Carolina may have been playing thousands of miles away against a professional team, but the friendly with Shelbourne FC felt like a home match for the Tar Heels. From the busloads of UNC fans who attended the game to the marching band performing at halftime to the Carolina blue skies, Dublin felt like home.
UNC women’s soccer match in Dublin first team trip abroad in 15 years, presents plenty of challenges
DUBLIN — The North Carolina women’s soccer team headed across the Atlantic this week, and the trip carried plenty of challenges and history along with it. The Tar Heels are in Dublin to face Shelbourne FC in an international friendly on Friday at 2 p.m. ET, a day before the UNC football team takes on TCU in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The games will be played in stadiums less than four miles apart, with the soccer match at Tolka Park and the football game at Aviva Stadium.