The North Carolina Tar Heels escaped with an 89–82 overtime victory over Charlotte, but the final score does not tell the entire story. While Michael Malone and his team ultimately avoided an embarrassing defeat, the performance exposed several concerns that UNC must address as it continues preparing for the challenges ahead.
North Carolina entered the matchup hoping to build momentum and demonstrate progress after an uneven preseason. Instead, the Tar Heels found themselves fighting uphill for much of the night, struggling to establish an offensive rhythm, battling against Charlotte’s physicality, and allowing an opponent they were expected to beat to remain within striking distance.
There were encouraging individual performances, particularly from Terrence Brown and Neoklis Avdalas, who stepped into expanded roles and helped UNC survive a difficult contest. However, there were also worrying signs that suggest Malone still has plenty of work to do before this team can consistently perform at the level its supporters expect.
The Tar Heels eventually secured the seven-point victory in overtime, but the journey to that result raised important questions about their offensive execution, rebounding, depth, and ability to handle pressure.
Here are three instant observations from UNC’s overtime win over Charlotte.
1. UNC’s Slow Start Remains a Major Concern
One of the most troubling aspects of North Carolina’s performance was its inability to get going offensively from the opening minutes.
The Tar Heels struggled to convert their early opportunities, missing eight of their first 10 shots and allowing Charlotte to gain confidence as the game progressed. For a team attempting to establish a new identity under Malone, that kind of start is far from ideal.
UNC needed to demonstrate greater control, sharper execution, and more consistency on the offensive end. Instead, the team looked uncomfortable for extended stretches, struggling to find the rhythm required to create quality scoring opportunities.
The early shooting problems were particularly concerning because a slow start can affect much more than the scoreboard. When a team repeatedly misses shots, its confidence can decline, opponents become more aggressive, and the pressure to make the next possession count increases.
That appeared to be part of the challenge facing the Tar Heels.
North Carolina also endured a field-goal drought lasting approximately five minutes, making it difficult to build momentum or establish a comfortable advantage. Against a determined Charlotte team, those empty possessions allowed the game to remain competitive longer than UNC would have wanted.
The concern is not simply that the Tar Heels missed shots. Even strong teams experience shooting struggles. The bigger question is whether UNC can continue generating good looks when its preferred offensive actions break down.
During difficult stretches, the Tar Heels need reliable alternatives. They must be able to move the ball, attack defensive weaknesses, create advantages through screening actions, and find players capable of making decisions under pressure.
When an offense becomes predictable or stagnant, opponents can load up defensively and force difficult shots. That becomes especially dangerous against teams that play with confidence and refuse to back down.
Malone must therefore find ways to help his players remain composed when the initial game plan does not produce immediate results.
There is also a broader context to consider. North Carolina has undergone substantial roster changes, bringing in 11 newcomers through its recruiting and transfer-portal efforts. Players who have only spent a limited amount of time together will naturally need opportunities to develop chemistry.
That adjustment period should not be ignored.
However, the Tar Heels cannot afford to use their unfamiliarity as an excuse indefinitely. As the season progresses, the offense must become more organized, the decision-making must improve, and the players must develop a better understanding of where their teammates will be during important possessions.
The victory over Charlotte provided another reminder that UNC has not yet reached that stage.
2. Terrence Brown and Neoklis Avdalas Delivered Encouraging Performances
Despite the team’s struggles, there were positive developments for Malone, particularly in the performances of Terrence Brown and Neoklis Avdalas.
Both players had opportunities to take on greater responsibility following the late news that Matt Able would be unavailable. His absence, announced approximately an hour before tipoff, created an additional challenge for a team still trying to establish its rotation.
Late lineup changes can disrupt preparation, especially when a roster features numerous new players. Coaches must adjust their plans, and players may be asked to perform responsibilities that were not originally expected of them.
UNC had to navigate precisely that situation.
Brown’s performance was encouraging because it offered another glimpse of the offensive production he could bring to the Tar Heels. His previous scoring record at Utah, where he averaged 19.9 points per game, established that he possesses the ability to create offense and carry a significant scoring burden.
The question entering this period was how effectively he could translate that production into his new environment.
The Charlotte game offered reasons for optimism.
Brown has the potential to provide UNC with a player capable of creating opportunities when the offense becomes difficult to execute. That ability is valuable for a team that has struggled to maintain consistent offensive pressure throughout its exhibition schedule.
When a possession breaks down, having someone who can attack a defender, generate a shot, or force the defense to react can prevent an offense from becoming completely stagnant.
However, Brown’s long-term importance will depend on more than individual scoring.
He must also find ways to fit within the team’s broader offensive structure, make sound decisions, and help create opportunities for his teammates. If he can combine his scoring ability with consistent ball movement and disciplined execution, he could become an important piece of UNC’s developing identity.
Avdalas also provided a reason for optimism.
His versatility gives Malone another option as he searches for the right combinations. A player capable of contributing in different situations can help a team navigate injuries, foul trouble, and changes in defensive matchups.
For a roster still learning how to play together, that flexibility is particularly valuable.
Avdalas’ ability to contribute beyond one narrowly defined role could help UNC find solutions when its regular offensive actions are not working. Rather than relying on the same players to create every advantage, Malone can explore different combinations and responsibilities.
Still, one encouraging performance does not automatically resolve the team’s broader concerns.
Brown and Avdalas must continue building consistency, and their individual contributions need to translate into better collective execution. North Carolina will need multiple players to step up throughout the season rather than depending on a small group to rescue the team whenever it encounters difficulties.
The positive takeaway is that Malone has players who appear capable of handling additional responsibility.
The challenge now is to establish a rotation that maximizes those strengths while improving the overall balance of the team.
3. Rebounding and Late-Game Execution Are Major Warning Signs
The third observation may be the most important: UNC must improve its rebounding and learn how to control games before the final minutes.
Although the Tar Heels eventually won by seven points, they spent much of the contest under pressure. Charlotte remained competitive, UNC struggled to establish sustained control, and the game went to overtime before the Tar Heels could secure the result.
That is not the type of performance Malone would have wanted against an opponent North Carolina was expected to defeat.
The fact that UNC led for only a little more than nine minutes highlights how difficult the contest became. Instead of controlling the tempo and forcing Charlotte to chase the game, the Tar Heels repeatedly found themselves needing to respond.
North Carolina also faced problems on the boards, an area that can determine whether a team maintains control even when its shooting is inconsistent.
Rebounding is about more than recording a statistic. Defensive rebounds end opponents’ possessions, prevent second-chance points, and allow a team to transition into offense. Offensive rebounds, meanwhile, create additional opportunities when the initial shot misses.
A team that struggles to secure rebounds can find itself defending for extended periods and surrendering momentum even when it initially makes a good defensive stop.
Those problems become particularly damaging when the offense is already struggling.
If UNC misses a shot and fails to secure an offensive rebound, it loses the opportunity to extend the possession. If it forces Charlotte into a difficult attempt but cannot collect the defensive rebound, the opponent receives another chance to score.
Over time, those additional possessions can make a significant difference.
Malone must determine whether the rebounding issues are primarily the result of positioning, physicality, communication, or a lack of consistent effort. The solution may involve several adjustments, including better box-outs, improved positioning, and greater coordination between the frontcourt and perimeter players.
The Tar Heels also need to demonstrate better composure in late-game situations.
Charlotte’s ability to remain within reach and push the contest into overtime exposed UNC’s difficulty in closing out an opponent. Good teams must be capable of executing when the pressure rises, particularly when a game is approaching its decisive moments.
That means valuing possessions, avoiding unnecessary turnovers, making the correct defensive rotations, and securing rebounds that prevent opponents from receiving extra chances.
North Carolina cannot expect to win consistently by relying on individual plays or last-minute escapes.
There will be nights when the shots are not falling. There will be opponents capable of disrupting the offense. There will also be games in which injuries or unexpected lineup changes force players into unfamiliar roles.
The teams that succeed are usually those that can rely on fundamentals when their preferred approach is not working.
UNC has to develop that reliability.
The overtime victory over Charlotte should therefore be viewed as both a positive result and an important warning. Winning a difficult game can help a team develop confidence, but the problems exposed during that game cannot simply be ignored because the final score favored North Carolina.
What Does the Charlotte Victory Mean for Michael Malone?
The most reasonable conclusion is that UNC is still a work in progress.
With 11 newcomers adjusting to a new environment, expecting the Tar Heels to operate like a fully established team after only a short period together would be unrealistic. Chemistry takes time, and players need opportunities to learn one another’s tendencies.
Brown and Avdalas showed that the roster has pieces capable of making meaningful contributions. Their performances could become increasingly important as Malone continues experimenting with rotations and searching for the right offensive combinations.
Nevertheless, patience should not be confused with overlooking legitimate concerns.
North Carolina’s slow start, prolonged scoring drought, rebounding struggles, and inability to maintain control against Charlotte all deserve attention. Those issues could become more difficult to overcome against stronger opponents that are better equipped to punish mistakes.
The pressure surrounding UNC is also understandable. The program is expected to compete at a high level, and consecutive first-round NCAA Tournament exits have increased the importance of demonstrating meaningful progress.
Malone does not need to solve every problem immediately, but he must show that the team is moving in the right direction.
That means building a more dependable offense, improving the team’s physical presence on the boards, and developing a rotation that can withstand unexpected absences without losing its structure.
The victory over Charlotte gives North Carolina another opportunity to learn from a difficult experience without having to absorb a defeat. That is valuable, provided the coaching staff and players use the performance as a reason to improve rather than a reason to feel satisfied.
UNC got the win, but the performance made one thing clear: Michael Malone still has plenty of work to do.
The encouraging individual performances offer hope, while the team’s struggles provide a clear list of areas that require attention. How quickly the Tar Heels address those weaknesses could determine whether this early escape becomes a useful turning point or an indication of problems that follow them into the regular season.
For now, North Carolina can celebrate the 89–82 overtime victory. But if the Tar Heels want to meet the expectations surrounding the program, they must turn this narrow escape into a learning experience—and make sure the next time they face adversity, they are better prepared to control the game.
