All articles tagged with #unc
North Carolina right-hander Ryan Lynch tossed seven scoreless innings on a career-high 108 pitches, allowing two hits and striking out five to power the Tar Heels to a regional-opening win over VCU and preserve bullpen depth for a winners’-bracket showdown with East Carolina.
Former Western Carolina QB Taron Dickens, who signed with UNC from the transfer portal in February, will re-enter the transfer portal due to academic reasons and has been released by UNC; he threw for 3,508 yards and 38 TDs with a 74.2% completion rate last season and was the 2025 Walter Payton Award runner-up.
North Carolina will face Duke and Louisville both at home and on the road in 2026-27, while seven ACC opponents will visit Chapel Hill and seven will travel to UNC. Clemson is not on the regular-season slate for the first time since 1950-51, and UNC will not have an away game at NC State for the first time since 1947. Home-only opponents are Cal, Georgia Tech, Miami, NC State, SMU, Stanford and Virginia; road-only opponents are Boston College, Florida State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
North Carolina will host the 2026 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Chapel Hill Regional May 29–31 (with a possible final on June 1), marking the Tar Heels’ 15th regional hosting. Tickets are limited standing-room, with single-game seats $20 and UNC students paying $5 (the first 100 students receive a free ticket). Parking options include paid ramps and free spaces after 5 p.m. Friday–Sunday. The three other regional teams will be announced May 25, and UNC enters with a 45-11-1 record as they chase their 13th Men’s College World Series appearance.
Northwestern overcome an 11-9 fourth-quarter deficit, rattling off a 5-0 run to beat North Carolina 14-11 in Evanston and capture the 2026 NCAA women’s lacrosse title. The Wildcats extend their win streak to 14 and claim their ninth NCAA crown, while UNC’s 10-game winning streak is snapped. Northwestern got four goals from Gabriella McCollester and a hat trick from Addison Pattillo (with six assists from Madison Taylor), plus Eliza Osburn scoring twice. Taylor Lapointe added three and Pattillo contributed a key role as NW’s primary playmaker. For UNC, Chloe Humphrey had 2 goals and 2 assists and tied the NCAA single-season goal record with 109. UNC led 11-9 entering the fourth before Northwestern’s late surge sealed the championship.
Country star Eric Church gave a guitar‑themed commencement address to the University of North Carolina Class of 2026 at Kenan Memorial Stadium, using the six strings as a guide to faith, family, a life partner, community, ambition, and resilience; after months of prep, the Tar Heel‑inspired performance drew praise online and was hailed by fans as one of the best graduation speeches.
WRAL reports UNC football players under Bill Belichick have repeatedly sped, driven recklessly, and parked in restricted spots, prompting questions about governance as AD Bubba Cunningham admits limited authority over the program; Belichick has long stressed off-field conduct, but critics say consequences are needed to change behavior, continuing to cast a shadow over the Tar Heels amid on-field struggles.
WRAL’s investigation finds UNC football players, including transfers and a leading rusher, cited for speeding and parking violations on campus since January, with instances of backing into disability spots; despite assurances from UNC leadership and ongoing enforcement, complaints from faculty and repeated incidents suggest ongoing culture and behavior concerns surrounding the program under coach Bill Belichick.
Former UNC quarterback Gio Lopez says his year under Bill Belichick at North Carolina felt like work and drained his love for football, a sentiment his father echoed as Lopez transferred to Wake Forest for a fresh start and a more energized program, raising questions about whether Belichick’s coaching methods fit college football.
NBA draft season kicks off with The Athletic's 2026 Mock Draft, led by UNC’s Caleb Wilson among a quartet at the top (joined by AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer) as scouts expect a deep class; the guard group from No. 5 to 10 is also strong (Brown Jr., Acuff Jr., Wagler, Burries, Flemings), but consensus thins after the top 10 and the piece highlights how NIL and transfer portal decisions are reshaping draft declarations (only 71 freshmen entered early). The mock forecasts a wide, sometimes chaotic 1-60 draw, weighing team fits and pre-draft testing, with Wilson lauded for his power, explosiveness and motor but noted for limited 3-point shooting and some defensive/awareness questions.
UNC added three transfers—Terrence Brown (Utah), Matt Able (N.C. State) and Maxim Logue (Florida Atlantic)—to boost backcourt scoring and frontcourt depth, while center Henri Veesaar’s future remains unresolved as he weighs returning for UNC or entering the NBA draft; his choice will determine whether Michael Malone can build a high-functioning core or whether UNC needs another big-man addition amid a busy spring.
Isaiah Denis has withdrawn from the transfer portal and will return to UNC for his sophomore season, saying there’s unfinished business. The decision follows meetings between new coach Michael Malone and Tar Heels amid a broader roster reshaping as several players explored transfers; Denis, who averaged 1.4 points in 10 games as a freshman, cited UNC’s appeal and the program’s direction.
UNC head coach Michael Malone landed a major first transfer by securing Neoklis Avdalas, a versatile guard with size who can defend multiple positions, playmake (4.6 assists per game), and attack the basket, even though he shot 31.4% from three as a freshman; the move signals a roster rebuild for the Tar Heels as they aim to be immediate contenders in the 2026-27 season.
UNC is adding former Providence head coach Kim English to Michael Malone's Tar Heels staff, marking the second outside hire after Chuck Martin, and the program will also retain Sean May, Pat Sullivan and Eric Hoots; English brings head-coaching experience at Providence and George Mason and a background as a player and coach in college and pro basketball.
North Carolina coach Michael Malone plans an in-home visit to recruit Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris, who recently visited Michigan, as UNC keeps him in its sights as a top portal target. A versatile guard/wing, Harris would fit UNC’s goals to improve rebounding and defense, but no decision has been made and the recruitment remains active.