Covering Carolina athletics beyond men’s basketball and football, with dedicated reporting on women’s basketball and baseball, in addition to covering other sports that rarely draw media attention
North Carolina is hosting five-star wing DeMarcus Henry for an official visit this weekend after extending a scholarship offer to Greensboro Day forward Grant Duggins earlier in the week. The developments highlight Michael Malone’s recruiting work across multiple classes, following recent offers to Class of 2027 center Cherif Millogo and Class of 2029 guard JJ Crawford.
Wes Miller returns Tuesday night to familiar surroundings to coach at the Smith Center, where he once played and helped Carolina win a national championship. But instead of wearing Carolina blue, he’ll be trying to beat the Tar Heels in his first season as Charlotte’s head coach.
Caleb Wilson’s NBA regular-season debut reminded everyone that the transition from college basketball to the pros won’t always be smooth, even for a rookie with his considerable talent. The former Carolina star scored 16 points, missed seven of eight 3-point attempts and finished with a team-worst -45 in Chicago’s 135–92 loss Wednesday at Toronto.
Five days after a Kentucky judge granted a temporary injunction on Friday restoring the eligibility of Seth Trimble and 37 other athletes, the former Carolina guard made an immediate impact for No.11 Louisville.
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.
Justin Jackson isn’t worried about Michael Malone’s first Carolina team after a 76–58 exhibition loss at Indiana that left some fans uneasy. Jackson said on the “Tar Heel Tribune Podcast” that the setting matters, as does Indiana’s veteran, physical front line. It was also the first true road game for a roster that had played only one other exhibition, an 88–70 win over Southern Cal in Greensboro.
North Carolina, picked to finish third in the ACC, is No. 12 in the preseason women’s AP Top 25 poll released on Tuesday. It’s the fifth straight season ranked in the top 16 of the preseason poll, after being No. 11 last season. The Tar Heels were No. 15 two seasons ago, No. 16 in 2023–24 and No. 12 in 2022–23.
The NBA season opens Tuesday with 14 former Carolina players on rosters, with five projected to start and six on two-way contracts, as Caleb Wilson prepares for his much-anticipated debut Wednesday night in Toronto.
INDIANAPOLIS — Sayon Keita did the kind of work Sunday that Michael Malone traveled to Spain to see in person. Beyond his five blocks, the freshman led Carolina with 12 points, nine rebounds (five offensive), while spending Sunday evening absorbing contact from Indiana big men who outweighed him.
INDIANAPOLIS — Michael Malone is only months into his return to college basketball, and Carolina’s 76–58 exhibition loss at Indiana on Sunday gave the first-year coach his first opportunity to show how he will handle a bad night with his new team.
INDIANAPOLIS — Carolina’s challenges inside without Cameron Fens became glaring against an Indiana team with multiple 7-footers. As the Tar Heels wait and hope for a favorable ruling that will make the South Dakota transfer eligible, the physical Hoosiers took UNC out of its offense. Indiana kept the Heels off the free-throw line much of the game and dominated the boards.
CHAPEL HILL — The first public performance for this edition of the North Carolina women’s basketball team was more than a routine exercise. The Tar Heels have plenty to accomplish in the lead-up to the season and they certainly found themselves in notable situations during Sunday afternoon’s exhibition matchup with Davidson at Carmichael Arena.
Caleb Wilson finished his first NBA preseason with one of his most complete performances Friday, helping the host Chicago Bulls beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 133–116. The rookie forward scored 16 points on 7-for-15 shooting, including two 3-pointers, and added seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 22½ minutes.
When North Carolina faces Indiana in an exhibition, you’ll see more Hoosiers who played against UNC last season than for the Tar Heels as scholarship players, and you’ll see plenty of size and girth inside.
Here’s a look at UNC’s Sunday afternoon exhibition game in Indianapolis against Indiana.
