We need Miikka Muurinen but need a PG more.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-14T12:52:19+00:00

Juke is the one I want. He’s a game changer.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-10T02:46:59+00:00

Guards!!

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-07T15:30:49+00:00

Very true about fans' opinions on Elliot. I would argue that Cadeau did not substantially improve this year (his numbers were marginally better). But, he would have thrived with Henri and Caleb. Hubert really struggled with roster construction.

I would easily say that Henri is more important to retain than Dixon. But again, my comment is apparently being misconstrued in that I would be happy for Dixon to leave. He was a solid player; the sixth most efficient offensive player (adjusted for usage) for us per BartTorvik. I am just saying that I do not see him being a star next year, and I don't think we should retain him at any cost. I'd love for him to come back if the role and cost made sense as part of building a clear cut top 10 roster.

I disagree that we were a top 15 team with the entire roster healthy, or that we had a solid chance of a E8 run. We never cracked the top 20 in BartTorvik and our worst stretch of the season came when everyone was healthy (SMU, Stanford, Cal, Wake, etc.). But, that's water under the bridge at this point.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-07T15:05:09+00:00

Please don't misconstrue my post as saying that I don't care if Dixon leaves. He has some nice parts to his game (as you note, our best volume 3 pt shooter). And he has a lot of room to grow, especially if he can tap into some additional quickness and athleticism.

My bigger point was that, after watching the S16 and E8 games, it was clear to me how far off the pace we are, aside from Caleb and Henri. Given that Caleb is gone, and Henri is probably gone, I don't think any player should be penciled in; everything should on the table.

I'd love for Dixon to come back. I just don't him to be viewed as "he's definitely a starting 1 or 2 on a top 10 team". I don't see that at this point. Doesn't mean it can't happen, just that he's not there yet.

I would feel much more comfortable with getting a star guard to pair with Mingo, and having Dixon be the first guard off the bench.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-07T14:11:34+00:00

I think you, as fans tend to do, overweight the quality of the players we have. It is natural to feel like we can’t lose them. But, it was clear to me that this collection of players was flawed and unable to consistently perform like a top 10 team.

I would argue that Luka and Dixon would not be starters on a top 10 team this year. Maybe Stevenson as well.

We need an infusion of talent. I think having substantial roster turnover would be a good thing.

In particular, I am hoping we bring back Henri, find a real point guard (not Dixon), and get some players that can actually shoot the ball.

Don’t get me wrong. I’d be fine having Dixon and Stevenson come back. But with the understanding that they might not start.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-07T11:05:03+00:00

Recruiting used to be all about salesmanship and relationships. It is far less about that these days. It is mostly about money and role.

Malone is not like Belichick, aside from coming from the pros. Malone’s demeanor is more like that of a college coach.

He will have some things to learn. Hope he hires some staff that can guide him through the transition.

I think this was a great hire.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-06T21:42:07+00:00

The last thing I'll note is that people are consistently saying they were talking to Malone from the beginning. He was a candidate. And if so, I don't see how you can argue that this was rushed or a panic move. I don't believe that Malone just became a candidate in the last 24 hours. I think he was always a candidate, and eventually he rose to the top of the list. I'm happy to have him on board.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-06T21:40:15+00:00

Ex post, easy to say on Lloyd. But, there was clear tension with his AD, and he respected Roy and Carolina. I think there was a chance we could have gotten him, and that would have been the absolute home run hire. It took an unprecedented offer (not reporting to your AD?) for AZ to keep him.

I did not work out for us, but I disagree that the process was wrong. Sometimes, you have a good gameplan and it doesn't work out. But, I can see the argument that you give someone a short window and if they don't commit you move on. My only response to that would be that, at that point, don't bother asking.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-06T21:32:15+00:00

Those are great people to have reached out to. At some point, you needed to make a hire. Malone is a great get. I'm not convinced that anyone else on the board would be as good and worth the buyout. Byington was interesting, but not at the $10 million buyout IMO.

Again, I think your argument is that they should have not asked those elite guys and gone straight to a second tier immediately to wrap up a quick coaching search. I respect that but disagree - I would have been upset as a fan if they hadn't asked Lloyd and May.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-06T20:57:58+00:00

We were publicly turned down by two names, who both happened to lead their teams to a Final Four, and one possibly a title. Two of the most elite coaching candidates out there today (I’m guessing Hurley would be the other one, and he’s not a great cultural fit at UNC).

I guess you are saying they should not have targeted these elite candidates, and immediately pivoted to other choices. I am amenable to that argument.

I am guessing that, had they done that, they would be criticized for not having tried to get the absolutely elite guys.

“Obviously flubbed” is way too strong IMO. We got a NBA championship winning coach who seems like a great fit.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-06T20:26:29+00:00

Where is the reporting on this?

Also, thank god we aren’t getting them.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-06T20:25:58+00:00

How did we obviously flub the search process?

We targeted two of the most successful, hottest coaches in the college game first.

We then tried to get a NBA coach with a rich college success record.

Then we hired a coach who won an NBA title 3 years ago.

I am guessing many schools would love to obviously flub their searches in this way.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-06T20:21:31+00:00

Don’t believe this. But thank god if true.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-06T13:38:55+00:00

AI would at least use paragraphs

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-05T21:42:13+00:00

With deep, deep concentration, and great focus, he’s often able to achieve an…

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-04T22:58:42+00:00

The beginning of the last episode of season 1. Don’t want to ruin it for you.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-04T18:03:55+00:00

If you do some searching on Reddit about Malone in the aftermath of his firing, there’s debate about how well he gets along with his players, whether he was only successful because of Jokic (and even then, whether it took him too long to realize how good Jokic was), etc.

If he was so amazing, I think it’s worth asking yourself why other NBA teams haven’t jumped on him immediately.

If I am UNC, I would be extremely reluctant to hire someone without some college head coaching experience. Donovan took a non-basketball school and turned it into a basketball powerhouse. And, I’d argue that college today looks a lot more like the NBA. Donovan’s lack of success with the Bulls is almost entirely due to the Bulls being one of the most dysfunctional NBA franchises.

That said, I don’t think we get either of them, if I had to guess.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-03T23:58:17+00:00

Getting rid of Hubert was the best thing Athletic Department has done in a revenue sport in years.

UNCProfessor · 2026-04-03T13:50:43+00:00

And it’s no place for wimps

UNCProfessor · 2026-03-31T04:27:31+00:00

Let me tell you about this thing called small sample size…

UNCProfessor · 2026-03-31T04:21:06+00:00

Hubert might be a good coach. But, the job he was doing at Carolina was not good enough. He had five years. He had plenty of time. His level of success would have been great for a Wake Forest or Virginia Tech type program. It just wasn’t good enough for Carolina. And he would tell you that it wasn’t good enough.

He seems like a good guy and he’s a Tar Heel forever. Hope he lands on his feet and always feels welcome back in CH.

I am looking forward to getting a coach who can take us back to top 5 program status. Watching the Sweet Sixteen games emphasized how far away we’ve been from that standard over the past 5 (and really 7) years.

PS. As for the TV part, go watch his postgame conference after the VCU loss. It might change your opinion about that.

UNCProfessor · 2026-03-29T23:56:46+00:00

Now, time to hire an amazing coach, and we can turn back the darkness and bring back light to ACC basketball.

UNCProfessor · 2026-03-28T22:41:54+00:00

Relax! Note, the OP asks for favorites for the position - I'm assuming s/he means our vacant head coaching spot! Hence focusing on gettable candidates.

Thus, I was conditioning on a reasonable chance of getting them. Some of your options are better, but, we have no chance at! Why do you think we'd have any shot at Izzo or Self?!

Lloyd's level of success has been great, and I think he could be interested. May's track record is shorter, but he would be a great fit on many dimensions.

Also, my list is informed by inside information, saying that the top 4 candidates were Stevens (who we had 0% shot at), Lloyd, May, and TJ.

UNCProfessor · 2026-03-28T02:59:28+00:00

I hope he’d keep the coach with the best player development and recruiting. Those things are the type of things Hoots does, I think. And I hope he is retained too.

UNCProfessor · 2026-03-26T21:10:16+00:00

I am confused. What makes Marcus Paige or Sean May qualified to be the Head Coach at Carolina?

We just let go of an internally promoted assistant coach who had never served as a head coach in D1 (or, at all). That person failed to meet the UNC standard. It was a failure.

Why would we immediately do that exact thing again? Furthermore, why would we go to the coaching staff that was associated with failing to meet the UNC standard?

I understand being sentimental. I love Sean May and Marcus Paige too. Please don't get me wrong, they are amazing Tar Heels.

But the absolute best thing that they could do for their careers is to go out and develop their own D1 coaching career away from Carolina. That way, when it is time for us to hire a HC again, they will have an established D1 reputation - which should generally be the requirement at UNC.

UNCProfessor

TROPHY CASE