The wait is getting shorter in Chapel Hill.
For the first time, Michael Malone and the new-look North Carolina Tar Heels are officially moving into the most important phase of their preparation for the upcoming season. While the team has already been involved in regular activities, UNC officially began practice last week, marking another significant step in Malone’s first season leading the program.
And with exhibition games now less than two weeks away, there is suddenly a lot more to watch.
The practices will give Malone and his coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate the roster in a much more competitive environment, while players will have the chance to establish roles, build chemistry and show exactly where they fit into the new system.
For UNC fans, that creates plenty of questions.
Who is beginning to separate himself from the rest of the group? Which returning players are making the biggest impressions? How will the newcomers fit alongside the veterans? And perhaps most importantly, what will this team actually look like when it finally steps onto the court for exhibition action?
Those questions were at the center of the latest discussion surrounding the Tar Heels.
MICHAEL MALONE’S UNC ERA ENTERS A NEW PHASE
There has been plenty of attention surrounding Malone since he arrived in Chapel Hill, but practice represents something different.
Recruiting conversations, roster construction and offseason workouts can only reveal so much. Once a team begins practicing together regularly, coaches can start seeing how players respond to actual basketball situations, how quickly they absorb concepts and which combinations work best.
That makes the next several weeks particularly important.
Malone has already begun putting his stamp on the program, and the early stages of practice provide the first real opportunity to see how his coaching philosophy translates to the court.
The Tar Heels have plenty to learn.
Players have to understand their responsibilities, communicate with one another and adjust to the expectations of a new coaching staff. At the same time, Malone and his assistants have to determine how to maximize the strengths of the players currently on the roster.
That process could make the upcoming exhibitions much more revealing than a typical preseason event.
ASA MONTGOMERY’S RISE IS ONE STORY TO WATCH
One of the most intriguing topics surrounding UNC right now is the emergence of Asa Montgomery.
His rise has become a major talking point as the Tar Heels continue preparing for the season, and the question now is how far that momentum can carry him.
Montgomery is competing for an opportunity to establish himself in a meaningful role, and the coaching staff will have plenty of opportunities to evaluate him during practices and exhibitions.
That is where the distinction between potential and production begins to matter.
A player can look impressive during offseason workouts, but competitive practices provide a different test. Decisions have to be made faster. Defensive assignments become more important. Players have to compete against teammates who are also fighting for minutes.
If Montgomery continues making progress, his development could become one of the more interesting storylines to follow as the season approaches.
And there is another question connected to it: is the conversation ultimately about Montgomery, or could another player such as Rosser emerge into the picture?
That competition is something fans will be watching closely.
PROXIMITY COULD MATTER MORE THAN EVER IN RECRUITING
While the current roster is preparing for the season, Malone and his staff are already thinking about the future.
Elite prospects have been visiting Chapel Hill regularly as UNC continues working to build the next version of the roster.
Recruiting has become increasingly competitive, and the Tar Heels are attempting to create relationships with some of the most talented players available.
One of the discussion points surrounding UNC’s recruiting efforts is the value of proximity in 2026.
Being close to elite prospects can provide opportunities for coaches to develop relationships, host visits and keep the program in front of players throughout the recruiting process.
For Malone, that could be particularly important as he works to establish UNC as a destination for the next generation of talent.
The current season is obviously the priority, but the decisions being made behind the scenes could have an impact on the roster well beyond this season.
RETURNING PLAYERS HAVE THEIR OWN STORY TO TELL
Another major part of the preseason conversation involves the returning players.
Isaiah Denis, Jaydon Young and Jarin Stevenson are among the players whose comments and development could provide clues about how this team is coming together.
Returning players have a unique perspective during a coaching transition. They understand the previous environment while simultaneously learning what the new coaching staff expects.
That makes their adjustment particularly interesting.
For Denis, Young and Stevenson, the challenge is not simply becoming comfortable with Malone’s system. They also have to find ways to maximize their own individual games within it.
Their comments about practice, team chemistry and expectations could give fans an early glimpse into the culture Malone is trying to establish.
WHICH FIVE PLAYERS SHOULD FANS WATCH MOST?
With exhibitions approaching, another natural question has emerged: which five players are fans most eager to see?
That conversation says a lot about the anticipation surrounding this team.
UNC has a mixture of returning talent and new pieces, and the coaching staff now has the difficult task of putting everything together.
The exhibition games should provide the first public opportunity to see how different combinations work.
Fans will undoubtedly pay attention to individual performances, but the bigger story could be how the players interact with one another.
Basketball is not simply about having talented individuals. Lineups have to function together.
A player who looks spectacular individually may not necessarily be part of the most effective combination, while another player could make a major impact simply by defending, passing, communicating or creating opportunities for teammates.
That is why the upcoming exhibitions could answer questions that have remained unanswered throughout the offseason.
THE CHEMISTRY QUESTION COULD BE JUST AS IMPORTANT
One of the more intriguing discussion points is which two players fans most want to see interact on the court.
That might seem like a small detail, but chemistry can become extremely important over the course of a season.
The right pairing can create opportunities that neither player would generate alone. Good communication can improve defense. Strong understanding between teammates can make offensive possessions more efficient.
Malone and his staff will have plenty of combinations to evaluate.
The first few weeks of practice should help determine which pairings naturally fit together and which ones require additional work.
Those observations could eventually influence rotations and roles once the games become meaningful.
THE EXHIBITIONS ARE GETTING CLOSER
The biggest takeaway is simple: UNC is moving from preparation into evaluation.
The Tar Heels have been working behind the scenes, but the start of official practice brings a different level of anticipation.
With exhibition games beginning in less than two weeks, every practice now matters.
For Malone, this is an opportunity to establish the foundation of his program. For the players, it is an opportunity to prove themselves. And for fans, it is the first real chance to begin understanding what this new era of North Carolina basketball might look like.
There are still plenty of unanswered questions.
How will the rotation develop? Which players will emerge? Will Asa Montgomery continue his rise? Which returning players will take the biggest steps forward? And how quickly can Malone’s system begin to take shape?
Those answers will not come all at once.
But the countdown has officially begun.
The Tar Heels are practicing, the exhibitions are approaching, and Malone’s UNC project is finally beginning to move from an offseason story into something fans can actually see on the court.
And that may be where the most interesting part of this new chapter begins.
