5 Instant Observations From UNC’s Exhibition Loss Against Indiana

The North Carolina Tar Heels suffered a humbling 76-58 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in their second exhibition game.

Here are five observations from the Tar Heels’ jarring defeat.

Change in Starting Five

North Carolina Tar Heels center Sayon Keita (21) attempts a dunk Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the first half of an exhibition game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

It took one exhibition game for Michael Malone to make a change, and I’m all for him being proactive. This is the time to experiment and figure out what works best. After starting Sayon Keita against USC, the 55-year-old head coach made a change, sliding Jarin Stevenson to center and adding Maximo Adams to the starting lineup.

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It served Keita well in the first half, as the former Barcelona center produced seven points, four rebounds, and three blocks in the opening 20 minutes. However, the Tar Heels’ rebounding department suffered, as they were outrebounded 27-14 during this span. It’s worth noting that Keita would start in the second half, with Adams reverting to the bench.

Matt Able Bounces Back

Oct 18, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Matt Able (3) dribbles against Indiana Hoosiers guard Bryce Lindsay (2) during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It was a disappointing debut for the North Carolina State transfer, as he failed to score a single point against USC. On Sunday, Able looked like the player that NBA scouts had their eyes on as a potential pick in this past year’s draft. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard recorded 11 points, while shooting 4-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range. Sunday’s performance was a significant step in the right direction for Able.

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Quick Tempo Leads to Sloppy Play

Oct 18, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Samet Yigitoglu (21) blocks North Carolina guard Terrence Brown (1)…

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Publish date : 2026-10-18 23:12:00

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