The North Carolina Tar Heels are preparing for another important preseason test as they get set to face the Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday night. While the result will not count toward the regular-season standings, the matchup presents another valuable opportunity for head coach Michael Malone to evaluate his team, address early weaknesses, and determine how his new-look roster is progressing ahead of the 2026–27 college basketball season.
UNC made an encouraging start to its preseason campaign with an 88–70 victory over USC. The performance offered plenty of reasons for optimism, particularly the impressive showing from Jarin Stevenson and the immediate contribution of Maximo Adams off the bench. However, the game also exposed areas that require improvement, reminding fans that there is still considerable work to do before the Tar Heels begin their regular-season schedule on November 2.
With another exhibition game approaching, attention will turn to how much the team has learned from its opening performance. Can UNC protect the basketball more effectively? Will some of its key players deliver stronger performances? And could Malone’s decisions against Indiana provide a clearer picture of the rotation he intends to use when the games begin to count?
Here are five major storylines to watch as North Carolina takes on Indiana.
1. Can Terrence Brown and Matt Able Bounce Back?
Although UNC had several encouraging performances against USC, Terrence Brown and Matt Able will be among the players looking to make a stronger impression in the second exhibition.
Neither player needs to be judged solely on the basis of one preseason performance. Exhibition games are designed to help coaches identify areas for improvement, evaluate different combinations, and give players the opportunity to adjust to a new system.
Nevertheless, Sunday’s matchup represents an important opportunity for both players to respond.
With Michael Malone introducing his approach in Chapel Hill, every game provides another chance for the roster to become more comfortable with the team’s expectations. Brown and Able will be looking to find their rhythm, make better decisions, and demonstrate how they can contribute to the team’s overall success.
Their performances will be particularly interesting because North Carolina needs contributions from more than one or two players if it hopes to build a competitive team.
Against Indiana, fans should pay attention to their involvement on offense, their ability to make the most of their opportunities, and the confidence they display when facing defensive pressure.
A stronger showing from either player would give Malone another positive sign as he continues to evaluate his options. Even if their improvement is gradual, consistency throughout the preseason could be important as the Tar Heels approach their season opener.
2. Can UNC Clean Up Its Turnovers?
One of the clearest concerns from North Carolina’s victory over USC was its ball security.
The Tar Heels committed 18 turnovers, giving Malone and his coaching staff an obvious area to address before the next exhibition. Although the team still secured a comfortable 88–70 victory, that number of mistakes is something the coaching staff will want to reduce as the regular season approaches.
Turnovers can disrupt offensive momentum, prevent teams from establishing their preferred style of play, and create additional scoring opportunities for opponents. Against a competitive team such as Indiana, careless possessions could become particularly costly.
It is important to consider the circumstances surrounding UNC’s first exhibition. The team is adjusting to a new coaching staff, a different system, and a roster that must develop chemistry through practice and game experience. Some early mistakes are therefore understandable.
However, the second exhibition offers a chance to demonstrate measurable progress.
Fans should watch how effectively UNC moves the ball, whether its players make quicker decisions, and how well the team handles defensive pressure. Better communication and improved timing between teammates could help reduce unnecessary mistakes.
Malone will also be looking for players who understand when to attack, when to pass, and when to slow things down rather than force an opportunity.
If the Tar Heels can protect possession more effectively against Indiana, it would represent an encouraging step forward. The team does not need to play a flawless game, but a noticeable reduction in turnovers would suggest that the lessons from the USC matchup are beginning to take hold.
3. What Does Jarin Stevenson Do for an Encore?
Jarin Stevenson was one of the biggest talking points from UNC’s opening exhibition, and understandably so.
His performance against USC was outstanding, as he recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds to help lead the Tar Heels to victory. The display offered an encouraging glimpse of what he could bring to the team and why his role will be worth following throughout the upcoming season.
Now, the attention turns to whether he can build on that momentum against Indiana.
Expecting Stevenson to produce another 25-point, 10-rebound performance would be unrealistic. Basketball performances naturally fluctuate, and opposing teams may adjust their defensive approach after seeing what a player can do.
Instead, the most important question is whether Stevenson can continue influencing the game in different ways.
Will UNC look to involve him consistently in its offensive sets? Can he create scoring opportunities without forcing difficult shots? Will he remain active on the boards and provide a reliable presence when the team needs a defensive stop?
These details could reveal more about his development than his final scoring total alone.
His ability to contribute in multiple areas could become valuable for a team still establishing its identity. If Stevenson continues playing with confidence and making smart decisions, he could give Malone another dependable option as the regular season approaches.
The Indiana game will also provide a useful opportunity to evaluate how he responds to different defensive challenges.
For Tar Heel fans, the hope is that his opening performance was not an isolated moment but an indication of the consistency and versatility he can bring to the lineup.
4. How Will UNC Handle Indiana’s Frontcourt and Physicality?
Another important storyline will be North Carolina’s ability to compete around the basket.
The Hoosiers present a different opponent from USC, meaning UNC will need to adjust to another set of challenges. Frontcourt matchups, rebounding battles, and defensive positioning could all influence how the game develops.
With Cameron Fens remaining ineligible, this exhibition could offer a valuable opportunity to examine how North Carolina manages its frontcourt options without him.
The coaching staff will need to assess which combinations provide the best balance of size, mobility, rebounding, and defensive coverage. The team’s performance in these areas could help determine how Malone approaches different matchups during the regular season.
Alex Samodurov’s playing time will be worth monitoring, particularly if the coaching staff wants to evaluate his contribution against Indiana’s interior players. Fans could also watch whether Maximo Adams receives opportunities in smaller lineups, depending on how the game unfolds.
Defensive rebounding will be another important factor. UNC cannot afford to give Indiana repeated opportunities through offensive rebounds, particularly if the Tar Heels are trying to build an advantage through defensive stops and transition offense.
Foul trouble could complicate matters, too. If one of the team’s frontcourt players gets into early difficulty, Malone may need to adjust his rotation and rely on alternative combinations.
These are precisely the kinds of situations preseason exhibitions can help coaches prepare for.
A strong performance in the paint would provide a positive indication that UNC is developing the versatility needed to handle different opponents throughout the season.
5. What Will Michael Malone’s Rotation Tell Us This Time?
Perhaps the most intriguing storyline of the evening will be Malone’s decisions regarding playing time and lineup combinations.
During the exhibition against USC, the Tar Heels used 24 different lineup combinations. That extensive experimentation was understandable, given the team’s new coaching staff and the number of players still competing to establish their roles.
Preseason games provide coaches with an opportunity to examine combinations that might not receive as much attention once the regular season begins.
However, as the opening game approaches, the coaching staff will eventually need to identify the combinations that work most effectively together.
That makes the Indiana matchup particularly interesting.
Will Malone continue rotating players frequently, or will he begin narrowing his options? Could certain players receive more minutes after making a positive impression against USC? And will the coaching staff experiment with combinations designed to improve ball security, rebounding, or defensive consistency?
The answers could offer fans a better understanding of how the Tar Heels might approach their early regular-season games.
It is important not to read too much into every substitution. Coaches often use exhibitions to test specific ideas, and playing time can be influenced by matchups, conditioning, and the need to evaluate different players.
Still, any noticeable shift in the rotation could provide useful clues about which players are gaining ground and which combinations Malone trusts most.
With a new system being implemented, developing chemistry will be just as important as identifying individual talent. UNC needs players who understand their responsibilities and can work together without hesitation.
The Indiana game represents another step toward finding that balance.
Final Thoughts: A Valuable Test Before the Regular Season
North Carolina’s second preseason exhibition against Indiana is about more than securing another victory. It is an opportunity for the Tar Heels to show that they are learning from their opening performance and making progress under Michael Malone.
The 88–70 win over USC provided encouraging signs, particularly Jarin Stevenson’s 25-point, 10-rebound display and Maximo Adams’ contribution off the bench. However, the 18 turnovers also highlighted an area that needs attention.
Sunday’s matchup will provide another chance to evaluate Terrence Brown and Matt Able, assess UNC’s frontcourt options, and examine how Malone approaches his rotation as the regular season draws closer.
No single exhibition will determine the success of the entire campaign. Building a competitive team takes time, particularly when players are adjusting to a new coach and developing chemistry with unfamiliar teammates.
Nevertheless, the details matter. Better ball security, stronger rebounding, improved decision-making, and more consistent performances from key players would all represent encouraging signs.
For UNC fans, the biggest takeaway may not be the final score but what the game reveals about the team’s development.
With the November 2 season opener approaching, the Tar Heels have limited time to refine their approach. The Indiana exhibition offers another valuable opportunity to make progress, answer important questions, and give supporters a clearer picture of what to expect from Michael Malone’s team in the 2026–27 season.
Will UNC show significant improvement against Indiana, or will the Tar Heels reveal that more work remains before the regular season begins? Sunday’s matchup should provide plenty of talking points as North Carolina continues its preparations.
