It's never too early to start looking ahead to the start of the 2026-2027 college basketball season!
With less than 100 days until tip-off, the Field of 68 crew is already looking closely at what some of the top programs in the country accomplished this offseason. For North Carolina, the big change started at the head coach position, but the overhaul of the roster has also garnered a ton of attention leading up to this new era of Carolina Basketball.
If you're curious about how the Tar Heels' competitors are feeling about this move, just wait until you hear what Jeff Goodman had to say regarding the change.
Is Duke scared by this new regime?!
Jeff Goodman claims that rival Duke is worried about the changes at UNC
Goodman stated what most college basketball fans likely realized: Duke wasn't intimidated at all by Hubert Davis. Although Davis spoiled Coach K's retirement tour twice, Duke didn't view him as someone they feared or were worried would beat them head-to-head in recruiting battles or on the basketball court (even though he did beat them a few times).
Now, with Michael Malone, that feeling appears to be much different.
"When you talk to the Duke staff, they were not scared of the previous head coach at North Carolina, Hubert Davis," Goodman said. "They are scared at whatever degree. Maybe not terrified, but they are worried about Michael Malone at Carolina."
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It makes sense as to why Duke would fear Malone more than they did Davis. For starters, Malone has a vast level of NBA experience, including a championship ring as the head coach of the Denver Nuggets, so he knows what it takes for players to not only make it to the league, but how to develop properly in order to stay there for a long time.
Davis had that NBA experience under his belt as a player, but Malone brings coaching experience that has proven his ability to get the most out of his players, something Davis unfortunately lacked.
Goodman noted how Malone's NBA success is something that not even Jon Scheyer can match.
They've seen the work ethic, and they've also seen, obviously, he can sell something that even Duke and Scheyer cannot, which is, hey, see this ring; this ring was from the NBA, I won a title. So you know there are a few factors here that again instill that fear factor into Scheyer and Duke."
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Of course, no one is going to say that Duke is petrified of Malone. Whether you like them or not, they have a historic program of their own and won't bat an eye in regard to how they continue to operate.
However, Goodman's quotes make it known that the Blue Devils' staff is starting to respect the Tar Heels more now that Malone is at the helm, knowing quite well that he is someone who can not only give them problems on the basketball court but on the recruiting trail as well.
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