Michael Malone era off to shaky start after win over Western Carolina

North Carolina made one of the more notable coaching moves during the offseason by hiring former Denver Nuggets and NBA champion Michael Malone. His tenure with the Tar Heels began by defeating Western Carolina 80-72 on opening night, but that score isn’t indicative of how close the game was.

The Catamounts pulled within one point on multiple occasions in the second half and forced nine turnovers. They struggled to score only after guard Jaeden Roberts, who finished with 17 points, fouled out late in the game. North Carolina shot just 30% from 3-point range and struggled at the free-throw line, resulting in an uncomfortable victory.

The Tar Heels’ schedule ramps up in a hurry. Georgia visits on Nov. 13, while No. 12 Arkansas and No. 23 Kentucky loom on the horizon. North Carolina must perform better in those matchups to avoid embarrassment.

Michael Malone must adjust quicker

Despite deep NCAA Tournament runs in 2022 and 2024, former coach Hubert Davis was fired in March. The Tar Heels proceeded to make a statement by bringing on Malone, who found plenty of success at the NBA level.

However, Malone last coached at the college level in 2001. Due to NIL and international recruiting, the game has changed drastically since then. Only time will tell whether the hire was the right one, but if Monday night told fans anything, it’s that Malone may not be adapting fast enough.