The North Carolina Tar Heels have received an early warning about the challenges that could define their 2026–27 college basketball season, and head coach Michael Malone has several important questions to answer before the games start counting.
After defeating USC and suffering a defeat against Indiana in their two exhibition matchups, the Tar Heels have shown both encouraging signs and worrying weaknesses. With Malone preparing for his first season as North Carolina’s head coach and 11 newcomers entering the roster, there is still plenty of work to do before the team can establish itself as a serious contender.
The exhibition games have offered an early glimpse into what this new-look UNC team can accomplish. However, they have also highlighted concerns about Terrence Brown’s scoring production, the team’s ability to rebound against physically imposing opponents, and its efficiency from three-point range.
Those three areas could become particularly important once the regular season begins and North Carolina faces the demanding competition of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
For a program with the history and expectations of the Tar Heels, simply assembling a talented roster is not enough. Malone must find a way to turn that talent into a cohesive team capable of winning difficult games.
Here are the three major concerns emerging from UNC’s exhibition performances and why Tar Heels fans will be watching closely.
1. Terrence Brown’s Ineffectiveness Raises Questions
One of the most important offseason moves for North Carolina was the addition of Terrence Brown, the former Utah guard who averaged 19.9 points per game last season.
Brown arrived with a reputation as a productive scorer, and his ability to create offense was expected to become an important part of Malone’s plans.
With a new coaching staff and several newcomers joining the program, the Tar Heels need players who can produce immediately. Brown appeared to fit that requirement, given his scoring background and experience at the college level.
However, his performances across the first two exhibition games have not yet matched those expectations.
According to the supplied report, Brown has recorded 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds across the two outings while shooting five of 14 from the field.
Those numbers do not erase his previous accomplishments, and two exhibition games are far too small a sample to determine how successful his season will be. Nevertheless, they provide an early reason for the coaching staff to examine how he is adjusting to his new environment.
Brown’s ability to score efficiently could be especially important for a North Carolina team that is still developing chemistry among its newcomers.
The most concerning aspect of his early performances has reportedly been his difficulty finishing around the basket.
Brown shot 32.7% from three-point range in 2025, according to the supplied information. If his perimeter shooting does not consistently force defenders to respect him from the outside, his ability to penetrate, finish through contact, and create opportunities closer to the basket becomes even more important.
A guard who can attack the rim effectively gives his team another way to generate offense when outside shots are not falling.
Brown does not necessarily need to become an elite three-point shooter overnight. However, he must find ways to influence games even when his perimeter shooting is inconsistent.
That could mean improving his finishing, making quicker decisions, getting to the free-throw line, or creating opportunities for teammates when opposing defenses collapse on him.
His playmaking could also become a valuable asset. The five assists recorded across the two exhibitions suggest that Brown has contributed to the team’s offense beyond scoring, although North Carolina will need a broader sample before his overall impact can be properly evaluated.
Malone will want to see Brown become more comfortable within the offense and more confident when attacking defenders.
If Brown rediscovers the scoring form that made him an attractive addition, North Carolina could benefit significantly. If his early difficulties continue into the regular season, however, the Tar Heels may need other guards and wings to shoulder a larger share of the scoring responsibility.
For now, Brown’s situation is one of the most important storylines to monitor as UNC continues preparing for the season.
2. UNC’s Rebounding Struggles Could Become a Major Problem
The second concern is arguably even more significant because rebounding can influence almost every aspect of a basketball game.
North Carolina controlled the boards effectively in its exhibition victory over USC. However, the matchup against Indiana exposed a potential weakness that Malone cannot afford to ignore.
According to the supplied report, Indiana outrebounded the Tar Heels 53–31, including 20 offensive rebounds that produced 17 second-chance points.
That is a substantial difference.
Allowing an opponent to collect so many offensive rebounds gives that team additional opportunities to score, even after its initial shots miss. It also places extra pressure on the defense and can disrupt a team’s ability to get out in transition.
For North Carolina, the Indiana performance offered a reminder that winning the rebounding battle against one opponent does not guarantee success against another.
The Hoosiers’ size and length created challenges inside, and those difficulties could provide a useful lesson before the Tar Heels encounter some of the ACC’s strongest frontcourts.
Duke, Louisville, and Virginia are among the conference opponents that could test North Carolina’s interior strength, depending on their lineups and the matchups involved.
The Tar Heels will need to be prepared for teams that can attack the offensive glass, establish a physical presence near the basket, and punish defensive mistakes.
Rebounding is not simply the responsibility of the centers and power forwards. Guards must also help secure defensive rebounds, particularly when opponents send multiple players toward the basket.
Malone will need his entire lineup to demonstrate greater physicality, positioning, and awareness.
Players must identify opponents before the shot goes up, establish position, and finish defensive possessions by securing the ball. Simply contesting a shot is not enough if the opponent collects the rebound and scores on a second attempt.
North Carolina must also find a balance between attacking the offensive glass and protecting itself against fast breaks. Sending too many players toward the basket can leave a team vulnerable if it fails to secure the rebound.
The concern becomes more complicated when considering the strength of the competition UNC will encounter throughout the season.
A team that struggles to rebound consistently can find itself fighting uphill battles against physically imposing opponents, even when its perimeter offense is functioning well.
The supplied report identifies Cameron Fens’ eligibility as a potentially important factor in North Carolina’s rebounding outlook. His availability could influence the team’s frontcourt options, but the precise impact will depend on his eligibility status, role, and ability to contribute.
Ultimately, Malone needs reliable production from the players responsible for protecting the paint and controlling the glass.
If North Carolina cannot improve in this area, its rebounding problems could become one of the defining challenges of the season.
3. Three-Point Shooting Remains a Major Concern
The third issue involves North Carolina’s efficiency from beyond the arc.
Modern college basketball increasingly rewards teams capable of stretching defenses with reliable perimeter shooting. Three-point threats can open driving lanes, create space for post players, and punish opponents that focus too heavily on protecting the basket.
For North Carolina, outside shooting could be especially important as Malone develops his offensive system.
The Tar Heels have several perimeter players expected to contribute, including Brown, Matt Able, and Neoklis Avdalas. Their ability to create scoring opportunities could help determine how effective the offense becomes.
However, the early shooting numbers provide reason for caution.
According to the supplied report, North Carolina has made 18 of 53 attempts from three-point range across its two exhibition games.
That works out to approximately 34.0%.
While that percentage is not disastrous, the overall volume and consistency of the team’s perimeter production will need to be evaluated over a larger number of games. The bigger concern is whether UNC can maintain reliable shooting when facing stronger defensive opponents.
The Tar Heels cannot assume that their outside shots will always fall, particularly when the pressure increases during conference play.
If perimeter shooting becomes inconsistent, opposing defenses may have more freedom to crowd the paint, challenge Brown’s drives, and make it harder for UNC to create efficient scoring opportunities.
That would also place additional pressure on the frontcourt.
With questions surrounding rebounding and interior physicality, North Carolina could benefit from having reliable shooters who force opponents to defend the entire floor.
The challenge is ensuring that the team does not become overly dependent on three-pointers.
Good offensive basketball requires balance. A team needs to create quality shots from multiple areas, attack closeouts, move the ball effectively, and take advantage of mismatches.
Malone will want his players to recognize when to shoot, when to drive, and when to move the ball to a teammate in a better position.
Brown’s development could be especially important in this context. If he becomes more effective at attacking the basket, defenders may be forced to help, creating open opportunities for shooters around the perimeter.
Similarly, improved ball movement could help UNC generate cleaner three-point attempts rather than relying on difficult shots late in possessions.
The exhibition numbers are an early indicator, not a final verdict. Nevertheless, consistent perimeter production will be important if the Tar Heels hope to compete against the ACC’s best teams.
Michael Malone Has Important Decisions to Make
These three concerns arrive at a particularly important moment for North Carolina.
Malone is entering his first season as the Tar Heels’ head coach, and the presence of 11 newcomers means that establishing a consistent identity will take time.
New players must learn the system, understand their teammates’ tendencies, and adjust to their responsibilities on both ends of the court.
The exhibition games have provided valuable opportunities to evaluate that progress, but they have also demonstrated how much work remains.
Malone must determine which players can produce consistently, which lineup combinations offer the best balance, and how the team can protect itself against opponents with greater size.
He must also identify ways to generate reliable offense without making the Tar Heels dependent on one or two players.
The coaching staff will have plenty to review after the Indiana defeat, particularly the rebounding numbers and the opportunities created by second-chance possessions.
At the same time, the victory over USC provides a reminder that the team has shown it can perform effectively in exhibition competition.
The key is consistency.
North Carolina needs to demonstrate that it can maintain its strengths while addressing the weaknesses that Indiana exposed.
The regular season will bring different opponents, different tactical challenges, and more meaningful pressure. The Tar Heels will need to respond when their shots are not falling, when their opponents dominate the paint, and when games become difficult in the closing minutes.
Those situations will ultimately provide a clearer assessment of Malone’s progress.
Can UNC Fix These Problems Before the Season Begins?
The encouraging news for North Carolina is that these concerns have emerged during exhibition play, when the coaching staff still has opportunities to make adjustments.
Brown can continue working on his finishing and offensive decision-making. The team can emphasize rebounding technique, defensive positioning, and collective responsibility on the glass. Meanwhile, perimeter players can work toward generating better shots and developing greater consistency from three-point range.
None of those improvements is guaranteed, but the exhibition period gives the Tar Heels a chance to identify problems before the games begin to count.
The challenge will be turning those lessons into meaningful progress.
If Brown becomes a more efficient scorer, the rebounding improves, and the perimeter offense develops greater consistency, North Carolina could enter the season with a stronger foundation.
If the same weaknesses persist, however, the Tar Heels could find themselves facing difficult questions against the ACC’s strongest opponents.
For a program with North Carolina’s history, expectations will remain high regardless of the roster changes or coaching transition.
Fans want to see a team that competes with confidence, executes its system, and demonstrates the ability to win important games.
Malone now has the opportunity to show that the exhibition concerns are problems the Tar Heels can solve rather than weaknesses that will define their season.
Final Verdict: UNC Has Work to Do
North Carolina’s two exhibition games have delivered a mixture of encouragement and concern.
The victory over USC offered positive signs, but the defeat against Indiana highlighted three areas that deserve close attention: Terrence Brown’s early scoring struggles, the team’s rebounding difficulties, and the need for reliable three-point shooting.
Each issue presents a different challenge, yet all three could influence how successfully the Tar Heels navigate their first season under Michael Malone.
Brown’s development could determine how much offensive production UNC receives from its backcourt. Improved rebounding could help the team compete against physically stronger opponents. More consistent perimeter shooting could create the spacing needed to make the offense more dangerous.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the Tar Heels can address those weaknesses before the regular season gets underway.
For now, there is no reason to treat two exhibition games as a definitive judgment on the team’s potential. There is, however, every reason for the coaching staff and supporters to pay attention to the warning signs.
Can Michael Malone fix UNC’s three major concerns before the regular season begins, or could these exhibition struggles become a much bigger problem for the Tar Heels?
Tar Heels fans, which issue worries you the most: Terrence Brown’s scoring, the rebounding, or the three-point shooting?
