One Statistic Michael Malone Must Improve at UNC

After the first-round loss by North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament last season, there were multiple culprits to blame for the early exit.

When you look at last season’s stats, particularly the advanced ones, you can see that North Carolina ranked as an average team, far below the standard we expect from a program like North Carolina.

VCU Rams forward Barry Evans (5) and VCU Rams guard Brandon Jennings (0) box out North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Among the most successful teams last season, and the outright best ones, there is a common theme between all of them. North Carolina did not fit that theme last season, but Michael Malone and company should make it a priority to have his team fit that mold this season.

Offensive Rebounding Is Key

Duke, Michigan State, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Purdue, and Houston all ranked within the top tier of teams when it comes to the second-chance point differential and offensive rebounding percentage.

Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) rebounds the ball against VCU Rams forward Lazar Djokovic (17) in the first half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

These teams dominated on the glass and consistently scored points off second-chance opportunities. When you have a team that lacks shooting efficiency, having a team that can crash the boards on offense is a must. That is where North Carolina lacked last season.

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From a shooting standpoint, North Carolina was not the most effective team last year. In fact, they ranked just about average across all teams in Power Five conferences in true shooting percentage. With under 58%, the team was not shooting the ball as…

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Publish date : 2026-07-07 14:00:00

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