North Carolina vs. California Basketball Preview: Tar Heels Try to Right the Ship

The Golden Bears have hit a midseason lull and provide the opportunity for the Tar Heels to iron out some defensive issues that have plagued them in recent performances. Since ACC play started, a five-game stretch where Cal stands 1-4, shooting woes have severely hampered the Golden Bears’ offense, which has averaged just 67 points in league play. (Inside Carolina)

When players see one thing and coaches see another, UNC’s defense suffers

"They ran the same play, pretty much every time down the court," Caleb Wilson said after UNC's loss to Stanford. When a reporter relayed Wilson’s remarks to coach Hubert Davis, Davis said he couldn’t address comments he hadn’t heard in full context. He did, however, challenge the idea that Stanford’s offense was thriving simply by running the same play. (USA Today)

No. 14 UNC Basketball at Cal: TV info, stats, scouting Bears, keys to game, and notes

Cal needs perimeter scoring to stretch the floor and keep UNC honest. If the Bears, who make 35% of their 3-point attempts (6th in the ACC, 109th in the country) and 8.6 per game, knock down threes like Stanford, Wake Forest, and SMU, it changes defensive coverage and crowd energy. The Bears have double-digit 3-pointers in nine games this season. (Tar Heel Tribune)

UNC Basketball aims to steady itself defensively at Cal

No. 14 North Carolina has another chance to get back on the right track Saturday following a 95-90 loss Wednesday, as the Tar Heels visit the California Golden Bears. UNC has dropped two of its last three games, allowing 97, 84, and 95 points during that stretch. In those games, the Tar Heels' opponents have made 44 3-pointers at about a 50% clip. (TarHeel247)

No. 12 UNC Wrestling Downs Virginia, 25-10

Technical falls from Jake Dailey and Robert Platt fueled the 12th-ranked North Carolina wrestling team (8-1, 1-0 ACC) over Virginia (8-5, 1-1 ACC), 25-10, on Friday evening. With the victory, the Tar Heels now have won eight of their last nine ACC openers, and nine consecutive meetings over the Cavaliers. On the night, seven Tar Heels were victorious. (GoHeels.com)

Tyler Hansbrough and John Henson on UNC's Bumpy Start to ACC Play

Former UNC Basketball stars Tyler Hansbrough and John Henson joined The Field of 68: After Dark to discuss the Tar Heels' turbulence in ACC play this season, what’s gone wrong, and what needs to change. "The thing I see different from when I played, especially with the old defense, is we used to deny the wings, and that’ll mess teams up too." (Inside Carolina)

Reniya Kelly delivers career night vs. Miami

For much of the season, Reniya Kelly's value to North Carolina hasn't shown up cleanly in the box score. Her career night powered UNC to a 73–62 win over Miami, one of the grittiest performances of its ACC slate. Entering Thursday night, Kelly was averaging 4.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting just 24.1 percent from the field. (TarHeel247)

Farewell to the Well: UNC adopts interlocking NC as University-wide logo

UNC is replacing its Old Well logo with the interlocking NC symbol, which was previously utilized for athletics only, as its primary branding. The new logo is part of a brand campaign to "unify" the University and carries the tagline “First. And For All.” and aims to highlight the impact of students, faculty, and alumni across academics, athletics, and beyond. (Daily Tar Heel)

Dean Smith's Reflections on the Smith Center

As the Smith Center turns 40, we recalled when Dean Smith sat down with Inside Carolina two decades ago (at age 74, on the building’s 20th anniversary) to reflect on the arena that bears his name. In the late legendary coach’s absence for this landmark occasion, we have republished that interview, as it was told to former IC staffer Andy Britt. (Inside Carolina)

Tyler Hansbrough on UNC's struggles

On the Field of 68 After Dark show, Tyler Hansbrough, whose jersey number hangs in the Smith Center rafters as one of the very few retired numbers in UNC basketball lore, admitted that he's concerned about this team given its recent struggles. "My main issue with Carolina is that right now we go through lapses in games where we get stale," he added. (Keeping It Heel)

Drake Powell cracks starting lineup for Brooklyn Nets

One significant alteration this week was the insertion of rookie Drake Powell into the Brooklyn Nets' starting lineup the past two games. Powell, the third of the Nets’ league-record five first-round picks in 2025, has totaled 26 points over 49 minutes in the two starts, including 16 with five rebounds and two 3-pointers in their 116-113 loss to the Pelicans. (New York Post)

Bill Belichick to join ACC Network’s on-site coverage of CFP National Championship as guest analyst

ACC Network will deliver extensive on-site studio programming surrounding the Miami Hurricanes as they compete in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami, Fla., from Jan. 17–19, highlighted by appearances from North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick, who will join the network’s coverage as a special guest analyst. (ESPN)

A Massachusetts brewery struck gold with a Drake Maye-themed beer that’s selling like crazy

If you stop by Stellwagen Beer Company’s taproom, you won’t be able to find its most popular beer. It sold out in under three days. In terms of style, the beer isn’t anything revolutionary. In layman’s terms, it’s a beer that tastes like beer. So why is this one beer flipping Stellwagen’s business on its head? Everyone wants to try the “Drake Maye beer.” (Mass Live)

Eve Carson Scholarship Awards Students on Her 40th Birthday

The Eve Carson Scholarship, named for the student body president who was murdered in 2008, announced its latest cohort of recipients on what would have been her 40th birthday. The program awards juniors who have “exhibited passion and transformative growth” with $15,000 in tuition and up to $5,000 for a "transformative summer experience." (Carolina Alumni Review)

Video: IC Podcast - Carolina, California and the Basketball Metrics

Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley of Inside Carolina discuss UNC Basketball's second leg of the west coast swing as the Tar Heels face California on Saturday. With the loss to Stanford, Saturday’s game becomes critical. Barnes and Ashley also discuss the ACC and the metrics behind the records and performances. (View Video)

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