On March 19, UNC fans took yet another deep blow as the Tar Heels lost in the first round of March Madness. VCU beat them in a close overtime matchup, 82-78. Carolina led by 11 at the half, and despite this blew a later 19 point lead to repeat another disappointing season. This collapse was the largest by any team in the first round in the history of March Madness. This was the third straight loss to end the season. Many have attributed the loss to the absence of star player Caleb Wilson. Wilson suffered an injury to his right thumb, which came after a broken hand earlier in the season, officially counting him out of Madness play.
Five days following the loss, Carolina announced that Coach Hubert Davis had been fired, which came as a shock to nearly none. This ended his five year tenure leading the team, with a record of 124-54. The split was amicable, as the school has decided to pay out all of the remaining money on Davis’ contract, amounting to over $5 million. The departing school athletic director, Bubba Cunningham said, “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character…but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level.” Reasons for the departure were also cited as missing the tournament in 2023 and losing in the first round back-to-back seasons. Davis posted on Instagram later that evening saying, “This opportunity has truly been such a blessing…My goal is to coach again in the very near future.”
On April 7, Chapel Hill announced their new head coach, Michael Malone. Malone coached in the NBA for 24 years, during which he won a championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. Ten of those years were spent as a head coach to the Nuggets, and serving in the same position to the Sacramento Kings for two years. A search committee consisting of Cunningham and his successor Steve Newark, Tar Heel legend Antawn Jamison and notable names from the Rams Club recommended Malone. Newark stated, “Michael was the first coach we engaged with as a part of the search process because of his reputation as a selfless teacher and innovator…” Malone was welcomed to Chapel Hill at a news conference at the Smith Center. Prior to this, Malone explained, “Carolina is one of the most historic programs in college basketball, and I am honored to be the head coach of the Tar Heels.”
The hiring of Malone was different from Tar Heel tradition, as he has no family or team connections, meaning he isn’t in the Carolina “family”. Over the years, Chapel Hill has a habit of only hiring from the Carolina family, but has as of recently abandoned this philosophy in the NIL era. This in turn caused fans and staff to question the hiring of Malone. A Queens, NY native, Malone spent 24 years in the NBA. The dozen that he wasn’t leading a team, he was an assistant to teams such as the New York Knicks (2001-2005), Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-2010), New Orleans Pelicans [Hornets] (2010-2011), and the Golden State Warriors (2011-2013). These coaching tenures led him to be in the top five in the race for NBA Coach of the Year twice in 2018 and 2023. He produced and developed legendary players, including Nikola Jokic the three-time MVP, and the all time scoring leader LeBron James. He also worked closely with notable names like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Chris Paul. His coaching expertise has come from working under top dogs in the NBA, like Jeff Van Gundy and Lenny Wilkens. Malone’s father, Brendan Malone, coached for nearly 30 years in the NBA, as his sonkeeps the legacy alive.
Once Malone was hired, UNC experienced their own kind of madness in the transfer portal. Many players released statements on their respective social media pages explaining their departure. Some have not yet found a new home, and those players include James Brown (C), Zayden High (PF), Kyan Evans (CG) and Isaiah Daniels (CG)
A few players have fully moved on to new programs. Shooting guard Luka Bogavac, rated five stars, has committed to playing at Oklahoma State, becoming the newest Cowboy. The Panthers in Pittsburgh gained shooting guard Jonathan Powell, a three star sophomore. The number one seeded Arizona gained four star Derek Dixon, rounding out the current list of rehomed Tar Heels.
Despite a plethora of players leaving the squad, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. One player that transferred found their way back home! Shooting guard Jaydon Young reentered into the Carolina program after declaring for the transfer portal. Combo guard Neoklis Avdalas came from Virginia Tech to beef up the Tar Heel roster in the 2027 season, coming in as a four star. This is in hopes to somehow replace Caleb Wilson, who has declared for the NBA draft and is projected to go as a top five pick. Overall, with all of the whirlwind around Carolina, everyone is excited to see how the team will come together and play this winter.
