No. 17 UNC hoping for more defensive improvement as Appalachian State arrives Posted Sep 7, 2023 North Carolina’s defense looked different in its opener compared to last season. This weekend’s game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers offers another chance to show how much has changed. The 17th-ranked Tar Heels (1-0) opened against South Carolina with a strong performance from a defense that struggled to stop anybody last year. (Associated Press)