Can you believe we're officially under 100 days until the start of the 2026-2027 college basketball season?!
Sure, there's the fall season to get through first (honestly, no one in Chapel Hill is to excited about UNC football anyways), but basketball season is right around the corner, and the hype surrounding the Tar Heels is very high.
With Michael Malone taking over as the program's head coach, replacing Hubert Davis, along with a brand-new looking roster, many are interested to see how UNC will fare in year one of the Malone era. However, not everyone is sold just yet, as one notable college basketball analyst has some questions about the Tar Heels leading up to the new season.
Not everyone is convinced that UNC will be an immediate contender under Michael Malone
Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports revealed his 100 and 1 days list, one that highlights the major storylines in college basketball leading up to the new season.
As expected, it didn't take long for Michael Malone and the Tar Heels to be mentioned, given the program's head coaching change created a major amount of buzz this offseason. Trotter ranked the changing of the guard in Chapel Hill as his No. 3 story on the list, and here's what he had to say regarding the new-look UNC basketball program.
North Carolina couldn't woo Dusty May or Tommy Lloyd, so it pivoted to former NBA Finals champion Michael Malone. Is this a stopgap or a real-deal solution for one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the land?
To his credit, Malone has dove headfirst into what it takes to be a high-major basketball coach. He's attacked the challenges of recruiting overseas and domestically without an issue. But Malone's first roster is a bit underwhelming on paper. Without bigs, it's hard to hold serve against the elite teams in this supersized era of college basketball. That could be UNC's Achilles heel. Greece product Alex Samodurov is a good addition, but there's growing consternation surrounding the status of 7-footer Sayon Keita, who has still not made it to Chapel Hill.
Malone should be an upgrade on the X's and O's and strategy front, but this roster doesn't scream ACC contender at the moment. Caleb Wilson, you are missed.
Trotter noted how UNC couldn't swing the "big name hire," citing Dusty May (who ended up taking the Dallas Mavericks job) and Tommy Lloyd as the two guys the Tar Heels missed out on. He wonders whether Malone is a stopgap or a long-term solution, and based on the early indications, Malone seems to be in this thing for the long haul.
CJ Rosser looks right at home during first UNC visit with Michael Malone at the helm
The CBS Sports college basketball analyst isn't impressed with the roster, most notably focusing on the team's depth in the frontcourt. While Trotter figures that Malone will be an upgrade in terms of coaching, he doesn't believe this roster has what it takes to compete in the ACC right away.
Everything Trotter had to say is very fair. We won't know what this team will actually be until they step foot on the court together, and that process has been hampered by Sayon Keita's delayed arrival (which still hasn't happened).
While the front court depth could be an issue, the Tar Heels loaded up everywhere else, as they have enough height, athleticism and versatility to potentially make up for the lack of size in the post.
To be completely fair, the expectations surrounding the 2026-2027 Tar Heels won't be as high as some expect them to be. In fact, this group will have to prove its value, as no preseason title predictions will be going in UNC's favor.
Like any program that brings in a new head coach and essentially a new team, they will have to prove the doubters wrong, something they most certainly aim to do this upcoming season.
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