The Michael Malone era for North Carolina basketball is officially here, and it all kicks off Monday night in the Dean Dome with their season opener against Western Carolina. Fans are absolutely buzzing, hoping this new chapter brings a much better finish than what we saw under Hubert Davis. But let’s be real, even with a home game to start, this ain’t a walk in the park. After what we saw in the exhibitions, nobody can assume anything.
Malone’s First Test Is Already Here
Listen, we’ve had three preseason exhibition games to get a peek at what Michael Malone is bringing to the Tar Heels. They started strong, beating the USC Trojans 88-70 on October 9. Then, they hit a snag, taking a 76-58 loss at the Indiana Hoosiers on October 18. But the real eyebrow-raiser? That exhibition finale against Charlotte on October 27. UNC had to claw their way to an 89-82 overtime win. Overtime against Charlotte! That tells you right there, the team’s still finding its footing, and this first official test against Western Carolina is far from a “gimmie.” Malone’s gotta get his squad locked in from the jump.
No Easy Buckets: Turnovers and Three-Pointers Hold The Key
If the Tar Heels want to get this season off right, there are two huge things they absolutely *have* to nail. First, they cannot afford to be sloppy with the ball. Limiting turnovers is the undisputed key to victory here. Last year, turnovers were a real problem. But with a new coaching staff and a fresh roster, the hope is this team values possession way more. You can’t let a team you’re supposed to beat hang around. Give them hope with sloppy play, and you’re just asking for trouble.
Second, get ready to see Malone’s offensive system in action, especially with three-point shooting. We know this will be a big focus, and the Tar Heels are going to need to hit those shots consistently to succeed. This first game is also our first real look at the rotations. Who steps up as the sixth man? How does Malone stack those minutes? All eyes will be on how this new group gels under the bright lights.
Western Carolina (0-0) comes to the Dean Dome to face North Carolina (0-0) on Monday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m. ET. You can catch it on ACC Network or listen on SiriusXM (channel 266 for the UNC broadcast). UNC is favored by 22.5 points, with the over/under set at 154.5. The last time these teams met was December 6, 2017, with UNC winning 104-61, and the all-time series has the Tar Heels leading 2-0. The experts are predicting a 75-60 UNC victory, which sounds about right if they clean up the turnovers.
After this opener, the Tar Heels have a busy November and December schedule with games against Wofford, Wyoming, Georgia, Marshall, Monmouth, West Virginia (in the Dick Vitale Invitational), Arkansas (ACC-SEC Challenge), Butler, and then hitting the road for Georgetown. They will also face NC State in the Tobacco Road Classic and Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic. This opening stretch is crucial for Malone to shape his team and show us what this new era is truly about.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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