What To Watch for in UNC Basketball Final Exhibition Game

The North Carolina Tar Heels will play their final exhibition game on Tuesday night against Charlotte.

It’s been a mixed-bag preseason for the Tar Heels, who have split their first two exhibition games, with an 88-70 win over USC and a 76-58 loss to Indiana. The record isn’t what matters. What’s important is the team’s performance, which has left much to be desired for large stretches.

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Charlotte isn’t on par with North Carolina’s previous two opponents, so Michael Malone’s team needs to capitalize on the step down in competition. Again, the result of the game doesn’t mean much – although a loss to Charlotte would be concerning. What’s important is the Tar Heels showing signs of improvement in areas that have underwhelmed in the first two contests. With that in mind, here are three things to watch for in North Carolina’s final exhibition matchup.

Perimeter Shooting

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

One aspect that’s supposed to be a major improvement from last season’s team is three-point shooting. In 2025, North Carolina was dreadful from beyond the arc and struggled with knocking down free throws. Upon his arrival, head coach Michael Malone made it clear this year’s roster is centered around the backcourt.

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The Tar Heels’ brass wasted no time revamping the backcourt, signing Neoklis Avdalas, Terrence Brown, and Matt Able in the transfer portal. Avdalas and Brown have plenty of room to grow in their shooting efficiency, but they should improve in that department under Malone. Meanwhile, Able was a sound perimeter shooter in his lone season at North Carolina State.

Despite that, the Tar Heels have shot 39.3 percent from the field and 34.0 percent from three-point range. It goes without saying that there needs to be a significant uptick…

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Publish date : 2026-10-26 10:30:00

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