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Heel Tough Blog: Central Arkansas Recap
@UNC_Basketball The Tar Heels opened the 2025-26 season in a big way, earning a 94-54 win over Central Arkansas, in the only tuneup before the showdown with Kansas later this week. Carolina did what it was supposed to do against a team preseason picked to finish in the bottom of the ASUN, and was preseason ranked 346th according to KenPom, but don’t let that overlook how good the new look Tar Heels looked, on their way to their 21st straight season-opening win. Five players s

Joshua Marlow
Nov 4, 20254 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Central Arkansas Preview
Desert News The 2025-26 college basketball season gets underway tonight across the country, with the #25 Tar Heels in action, as they are set to host Central Arkansas from the ASUN, to begin the season. Carolina enters the season with its head coach under a lot of pressure, as Hubert Davis has failed to enjoy sustained success since taking over for Roy Williams, and many believe this is a make-or-break season for him if he wants to be on the sidelines for many years to come.

Joshua Marlow
Nov 3, 20254 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Syracuse Recap
Bryan M. Bennett- Getty Images The sweet taste of victory. That’s what the Tar Heels got to experience for the first time in over a month on Friday night in upstate New York, as they dominated the Syracuse Orange 27-10 to give Bill Belichick his first power conference victory as the team’s head coach. Here are our takeaways from this much-needed victory. This Offense Has Found Its Identity It took a lot longer than we anticipated, but it feels like the offense has finally fou

Anthony Pagnotta
Nov 2, 20254 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Make Another Big Splash at LB in 2026 Class
@dq.jr0- Instagram For the third time this week, the Tar Heels have added a commitment in the 2026 class and this one is the biggest one of the three. As first reported by Hayes Fawcett of Rivals, the Tar Heels have picked up a commitment from 2026 4✮ LB Duyon Forkpa Jr. following a visit to Chapel Hill this past weekend. Forkpa commits to UNC over offers from Florida, Michigan, Missouri and others. Forkpa, the No. 294 overall prospect and No. 19 linebacker in the 2026 class

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 31, 20252 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Syracuse Preview
Lance King- Getty Images The Tar Heels may still be without a power conference win on the season, but in the last two weeks, the team has found a bit of life to provide some hope for the closing stretch of the 2025 season. The first game of a stretch of easier games begins on Friday as the Tar Heels head to Syracuse to face another ACC team looking to turn their season around. Here’s everything that you need to know ahead of this crucial game in the JMA Wireless Dome. Team Br

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 31, 20258 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Complete Flip of 2026 3✮ WR After Weekend Visit
@boomsk1._- Instagram For the second time this week, the Tar Heels have completed a flip of a prospect in the 2026 class. According to multiple outlets, the Tar Heels landed a commitment from 2026 3✮ WR Nyqir Helton on Thursday afternoon following an official visit to Chapel Hill over the weekend. Helton made that trip as a Boston College but backed off his commitment there on Wednesday, setting the stage for his decision today. Helton, the No. 1272 overall prospect and No. 1

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 30, 20252 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Winston-Salem State Takeaways
Chris Seward - AP It wasn’t the prettiest of performances you’ll see from the Tar Heels, but they did enough to earn a 95-53 win last night over Winston-Salem State, in the final exhibition of the preseason, ahead of the 2025-26 regular season, which begins on Monday against Central Arkansas. After Carolina started the game on an extended 15-2 run, it looked like they’d make quick work of the Division II Rams, but WSSU would make the game ugly, and found themselves down just

Joshua Marlow
Oct 30, 20254 min read


Heel Tough Blog: What 2 Watch 4 - Winston-Salem State Exhibition
@UNC_Basketball Tonight, the Tar Heels will play in their final preseason exhibition ahead of the 2025-26 season, which gets started on Monday against Central Arkansas. Last Friday, Carolina lost on the road against #8 BYU, 78-76, in a game that they played without projected starter Luka Bogavac. Freshman Caleb Wilson went toe to toe with BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, totaling a 22-point, 10-rebound, double-double. Seth Trimble added 17 in the loss, but Carolina more than looked the par

Joshua Marlow
Oct 29, 20253 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Seth Trimble Named to the Preseason Jerry West Award Watch List
The 2025-26 college basketball season is officially less than a week away, with Carolina set to open the season against Central Arkansas next Monday in the Smith Center. The Tar Heels are set to host Winston-Salem State tomorrow night, in the final preseason exhibition, after losing to BYU in exhibition competition last Friday night. With the season right around the corner, all the preseason watch lists are in the process of being unveiled, and earlier today, senior guard Se

Joshua Marlow
Oct 28, 20251 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Complete Flip of 2026 3✮ CB
@rare1ziel- Instagram The Tar Heels have been looking to flip some targets from the teams that have already fired their head coach, and on Monday, they completed the first of what could be a group of flips. As first reported by Hayes Fawcett of Rivals, the Tar Heels have completed the flip of 2026 3✮ CB Jaziel Hart from Penn State. His commitment to UNC comes after the staff re-offered him shortly after his decommitment back on October 14th and before he is set to take his of

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 27, 20252 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Virginia Recap
Ben McKewon- AP Photo Inches. That’s how close the Tar Heels came to an upset of No. 16 Virginia on Saturday afternoon in Kenan Stadium. Instead, the Tar Heels have to settle for silver linings for a second straight week thanks to a 17-16 overtime loss. Here is a look at our takeaways from another heartbreaking loss for the Tar Heels. Two-Point Conversion Call Was the Right One Many are questioning whether it was the right decision to go for two in the first overtime and pers

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 26, 20255 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Virginia Preview
Thien-An Troung- Getty Images The Tar Heels return to Kenan Stadium on Saturday afternoon still searching for the first win of the Bill Belichick era over a power conference opponent as they take on the Virginia Cavaliers in the latest rendition of the South’s Oldest Rivalry. Here’s a look at everything that you need to know for a game that could go a long way in getting this season turned around. Team Breakdowns Tar Heels The Tar Heels are coming off their best performance o

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 25, 20257 min read


Heel Tough Blog: BYU Exhibition Takeaways
KSL News Last night, the Tar Heels traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, to take on the preseason-ranked #8 BYU Cougars in an exhibition matchup, and ultimately fell short 78-76, in a game that showed a lot of promise for a UNC roster featuring 11 new players. One of those 11 newcomers, Luka Bogavac, was not in uniform, as he awaits clearance from the University after being deemed eligible by the NCAA. With that in mind, Hubert Davis started a bigger lineup, going with Kyan Evans

Joshua Marlow
Oct 25, 20254 min read


Heel Tough Blog: What 2 Watch 4 - BYU Exhibition
@UNC_Baksetball For the first time since March, the Tar Heels will take the floor and play a competitive game of basketball, although tonight’s game is technically an exhibition. A few years ago, the NCAA voted to allow schools to play in two exhibitions per preseason, as long as one of the exhibitions benefits a charity foundation. Last year, UNC played at Memphis, in an exhibition that benefited St. Jude’s hospital, and tonight they’ll travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to tak

Joshua Marlow
Oct 24, 20253 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Set to Host Penn State CB Decommit This Weekend
@im__jules- Instagram The Tar Heels have been looking to capitalize on the firing of multiple head coaches from around the country and one of those targets that they are working hard to flip is officially back on the board. 2026 3✮ CB Julian Peterson announced on Wednesday afternoon that he was decommitting from Penn State after James Franklin was dismissed from his head coaching role by the program last week. Peterson had been committed to the Nittany Lions since late Januar

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 23, 20252 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Luka Bogavac Cleared by NCAA, But Facing New Hurdle In Order to Play
Bob Donnan- Imagn Images We have been waiting for an update on Luka Bogavac and on Wednesday, head coach Hubert Davis gave it to us. According to Davis, Bogavac has been cleared to play by the NCAA, but still faces a new challenge when it comes to getting on the court. Per Inside Carolina, Bogavac still must overcome “internal steps” before he is actually able to join the team on the court officially this season. It’s not that he has been admitted to the school; that step was

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 22, 20252 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heel TE No Longer With Program
@double8._- Instagram For the third time in the last 24 hours, the Tar Heels have had a player walk away from the program midseason. As first reported by Inside Carolina, true freshman tight end Yasir Smith is no longer with the program. Smith, who joined the team as a defensive end back in the summer, signed with the Tar Heels on National Signing Day after receiving a late offer in February. Smith, the No. 1738 overall prospect and the No. 189 defensive line prospect in the

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 22, 20251 min read


Heel Tough Blog: UNC Reinstates CB Coach
@ballhawk_8- Instagram After what appeared to be a two week suspension, Tar Heels cornerback coach Armond Hawkins has been reinstated according to head coach Bill Belichick. “Yeah, he’s back,” said Belichick on Tuesday morning during his weekly press conference. “The university cleared him. They went through their process with him and he’s back.” Belichick was also asked by the media if he thought he had done enough education and educating everybody about the rules and NCAA r

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 21, 20252 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Former Starting OT Leaves Team
@williamboone_ - Twitter For the third time today, the Tar Heels have had a member of their team step away midseason. As first reported by TarHeel247, junior offensive tackle William Boone is no longer with the team as of Tuesday evening. Per his agent, Austin Pfenniger, Boone is pursuing a medical redshirt for this season and should be 100% for spring practice. Boone, who transferred in back in the winter portal, is at least done for the season after playing in the first th

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 21, 20252 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Major Member of Tar Heel Defense No Longer With Team
@pryceyates- Instagram The Tar Heels have suffered some defections from the team in-season, but none is as big as the one they just suffered. According to a report from Inside Carolina, major offseason acquisition Pryce Yates is no longer with the program due to an injury situation. Yates, who was active for the Clemson game and finished with three total tackles, 0.5 a tackle for loss and one quarterback pressure, missed the first four games of the season with a concussion a

Anthony Pagnotta
Oct 21, 20252 min read
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