Michael Malone’s first regular season as North Carolina’s head basketball coach begins November 2, and the opening weeks could quickly reveal whether the Tar Heels have addressed one of their most concerning problems: a lack of physicality in the paint.
Expectations were high entering the preseason, with Malone taking charge of a revamped roster and a coaching staff determined to establish a new identity in Chapel Hill. However, North Carolina’s three exhibition games have produced mixed results, raising questions about how prepared the team is to compete against stronger opponents.
Although the Tar Heels finished the exhibition schedule with a 2-1 record, their performances were far from convincing. North Carolina struggled physically in a 76-58 defeat against Indiana before needing overtime to escape with a victory over Charlotte on Tuesday night.
Those results highlighted several areas that require improvement, but the team’s difficulties around the basket stood out above everything else. North Carolina has struggled to establish a consistent presence on the glass and has not always shown the strength needed to compete effectively in the paint.
Exhibition games do not necessarily determine how a team will perform throughout an entire season. Nevertheless, the problems exposed during those contests cannot be ignored, especially with the Tar Heels preparing for a demanding schedule.
Fortunately, November will provide Malone and his players with several opportunities to demonstrate progress. Two particularly challenging matchups against Georgia and West Virginia could reveal whether North Carolina has made meaningful improvements.
NOVEMBER 13 VS. GEORGIA BULLDOGS
North Carolina’s November 13 matchup against Georgia presents a significant early-season test, particularly for a frontcourt that has struggled to impose itself physically.
The Bulldogs possess an experienced group with the size, length and rebounding ability to challenge the Tar Heels. This is not simply a game North Carolina can expect to win through perimeter shooting and offensive creativity. The team must also demonstrate that it can compete when opponents attack the basket and fight aggressively for rebounds.
One of Georgia’s notable returnees is forward Kanon Catchings, who averaged 11.6 points and 4.8 rebounds last season. He shot 42.3 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three-point range, making him a versatile offensive threat.
Catchings offers more than scoring ability. His rebounding contributions and willingness to compete physically could create problems for a North Carolina team still searching for consistency in the paint.
Georgia also has considerable size in its frontcourt, including 6-foot-11 forward James Scott and seven-foot center David Ugonna Ike. Their presence gives the Bulldogs multiple options when attacking the basket, protecting the rim and challenging opponents on the boards.
That combination could put considerable pressure on North Carolina’s interior defenders.
For Malone, the challenge will be ensuring his players remain disciplined while matching Georgia’s physical intensity. The Tar Heels cannot afford to surrender easy second-chance opportunities or allow the Bulldogs to establish control around the rim.
Offensively, North Carolina must also find ways to generate efficient scoring opportunities inside rather than relying too heavily on jump shots. Establishing a balanced attack would make the team more difficult to defend and help prevent Georgia from dictating the pace.
If the Tar Heels can hold their own in the paint, secure defensive rebounds and limit Georgia’s opportunities near the basket, it would represent an encouraging step forward.
However, another physically disappointing performance would intensify concerns about whether the roster possesses the interior strength necessary to compete against the ACC’s toughest opponents.
NOVEMBER 27 VS. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
North Carolina’s November 27 meeting with West Virginia could provide an even more revealing assessment of Malone’s progress.
The Mountaineers have assembled a revamped roster featuring three intriguing frontcourt players: Georgia Tech transfer Mouhamed Sylla and freshman centers Amadou Seini and Aliou Dioum.
Sylla arrives with experience and a proven ability to contribute around the basket. During the 2025 season, he averaged 9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting an impressive 57.9 percent from the field.
Those numbers demonstrate his potential to make an impact as a rebounder and interior scorer. If Sylla establishes himself early, he could force North Carolina to devote additional defensive attention to the paint.
West Virginia’s two freshman centers provide further size and depth. Although integrating multiple new frontcourt players can take time, their combined physical attributes could make the Mountaineers a difficult matchup for the Tar Heels.
West Virginia has already demonstrated its defensive potential. Earlier this month, the Mountaineers were outrebounded 48-36 by Maryland but recorded 10 blocks. That performance illustrates how their size can influence opponents around the basket, even when their rebounding numbers are not dominant.
North Carolina must therefore prepare for a team capable of challenging shots, contesting drives and making scoring inside considerably more difficult.
The Tar Heels’ struggles against Charlotte make this matchup particularly important. If North Carolina cannot establish better positioning, protect the basketball and finish possessions with defensive rebounds, West Virginia could exploit those weaknesses.
Malone will need his frontcourt players to communicate effectively, defend without unnecessary fouls and compete for every loose ball. His guards must also contribute on the boards, because rebounding cannot be the responsibility of the big men alone.
NOVEMBER COULD DEFINE NORTH CAROLINA’S EARLY SEASON
The games against Georgia and West Virginia will not determine North Carolina’s entire season, but they could offer an important indication of the team’s readiness for tougher competition.
Malone has inherited the responsibility of building a competitive program while establishing a new basketball identity. That process takes time, and the exhibition struggles should not automatically be viewed as a prediction of failure.
Still, the Tar Heels must show tangible improvement.
Better rebounding, stronger interior defense and greater physicality around the basket would provide evidence that the coaching staff is addressing the team’s biggest weakness.
If North Carolina makes those improvements, its offensive talent and coaching adjustments could help it become a more dangerous opponent as the season progresses.
If the same problems persist, however, conference play could expose the Tar Heels to repeated difficulties against teams with experienced, physical frontcourts.
November will provide Malone with an early opportunity to answer a crucial question: Can North Carolina become strong enough inside to compete with the nation’s toughest teams?
