Tonight’s the night, Tar Heel Nation, the regular season finally kicks off for UNC men’s basketball, marking the official start of the Michael Malone era. At 7 p.m., they are hosting Western Carolina, and believe me, this team has all the looks of being deeper and more talented than last year’s squad that went 24-9 overall and 12-6 in the ACC.
UNC’s Deep Bench Is Ready to Roll
This is not just hype, folks. UNC already won two of its first three preseason games, showing flashes of what’s to come. Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson already has “go-to guy” written all over him, which is huge for this squad. And get this: Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young’s offseason growth means the Tar Heels have a deeper bench than before. Seriously, once they finalize that frontcourt rotation, this team is going to be tough to stop. Their preseason run included an 88-70 win against USC in Greensboro, a 76-58 road loss at Indiana, and then they clawed out an 89-82 overtime victory against Charlotte. They have been testing things out, and now it is for real.
Catamounts Face an Uphill Climb
On the other side, Western Carolina is heading into Year Three of the Tim Craft era, and they are definitely hoping for a postseason appearance, something they have not seen since 2023. Last season, the Catamounts finished 15-16 overall, 10-8 in their deep Southern conference, ultimately losing to ETSU in the 2026 conference tournament semifinals. They took a hit, losing their top three scorers from a year ago. Honestly, success this 2026-27 campaign may be tough to come by for them. Historically, UNC has had their number, too, winning both previous matchups: a 104-61 blowout in December 2017 in Chapel Hill and a 77-59 win way back in the 1957-98 season in Cullowhee. It is a tough draw for WCU to open against a re-energized UNC.
This is just the beginning, but the expectations are already high for the Tar Heels. After tonight’s opener against Western Carolina, UNC stays home to face Wofford on November 6 at 7 p.m. Get ready for a wild ride, because the Michael Malone era is here, and it feels different.
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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