The Game Plan: Bill Belichick & UNC’s Open Week Chaos

Hubert Davis and the North Carolina Tar Heels needed a big man. Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar fit the bill and he long with James Brown, Zayden High and High Point transfer Ivan Matlekovic give Davis and staff size in the paint and options. Inside Carolina’s roundtable crew of Rob Harrington, Greg Barnes and Riley Davis join host Tommy Ashley for a comprehensive preview of the Tar Heel bigs and wrap this three-part series with final roster grades for the 2025-26 season. The Inside Carolina Podcast network features a wide range of current UNC sports topics, from game previews and instant postgame analysis, to recruiting breakdowns. IC’s stable of writers, insiders and analysts -- plus special guests -- comprise each program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bye weeks are normally a time to get healthy, change things up with scheme and evaluate personnel. In North Carolina’s case, the past several days have been anything but that as an inferno of chaos erupted around Bill Belichick’s program ultimately culminating in the administration and Belichick himself issuing statements on Wednesday night to try and quell the noise. Inside Carolina’s Jason Staples and Greg Barnes sort through the happenings of the past several days and discuss possible paths to success for 2025 and beyond. The Inside Carolina Podcast network features a wide range of current UNC sports topics, from game previews and instant postgame analysis, to recruiting breakdowns. IC’s stable of writers, insiders and analysts -- plus special guests -- comprise each program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As North Carolina’s fall baseball season comes to a close, Inside Carolina’s Tommy Ashley chats with UNC head coach Scott Forbes about his team’s progress over the past month and the emergence of key contributors heading into 2026. Forbes and Ashley discuss the pitching staff and how freshmen and transfers will play a vital role across the board when the season starts in February. The Inside Carolina Podcast network features a wide range of current UNC sports topics, from game previews and instant postgame analysis, to recruiting breakdowns. IC’s stable of writers, insiders and analysts -- plus special guests -- comprise each program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After opening with what Mitch Mason means to the Carolina program, former Tar Heel linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and wide receiver Taylor Vippolis react to Bill Belichick reportedly putting a ban in place of UNC social media accounts posting about the Patriots before the adults in the room had to step up to put an end to that to highlight Drake Maye's rise as a franchise quarterback. Then, the duo discusses the Clemson loss and assess their level of shock that the floor for this team seems to be much lower than anybody could have initially expected. The Inside Carolina Podcast network features a wide range of current UNC sports topics, from game previews and instant postgame analysis, to recruiting breakdowns. IC’s stable of writers, insiders and analysts -- plus special guests -- comprise each program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

UNC opened it's 2025-2026 season in an unofficial capacity on Saturday, tipping their Blue/White scrimmage in front of a live Smith Center audience. New players, different skill sets, and untested chemistry were among the myriad of themes on display. Former Tar Heel Justin Jackson joins Sherrell McMillan and Joey Powell to extract meaning from Saturday's showing, and Sherrell gives the latest update on target Bryson Howard in this episode. The Inside Carolina Podcast network features a wide range of current UNC sports topics, from game previews and instant postgame analysis, to recruiting breakdowns. IC’s stable of writers, insiders and analysts -- plus special guests -- comprise each program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With two weeks to prepare for Clemson, North Carolina’s performance brought into question in the severity of the issues surrounding the program under Bill Belichick’s guidance. The talent disparity between the two teams was evident, but it was the undisciplined and lack of a prepared plan that highlighted the 38-10 loss to the Tigers. Inside Carolina’s Buck Sanders, Jason Staples and Tommy Ashley discuss the aftermath and what’s next for UNC as another bye week provides this coaching staff a chance to turn the tide before heading to California to face the Bears. The Inside Carolina Podcast network features a wide range of current UNC sports topics, from game previews and instant postgame analysis, to recruiting breakdowns. IC’s stable of writers, insiders and analysts -- plus special guests -- comprise each program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inside Carolina's Rob Harrington and Tommy Ashley share their reactions from North Carolina's annual Blue-White basketball scrimmage in the Smith Center on Saturday. Hubert Davis watched his assistants handle the coaching duties of the split squad in front a several thousand fans and the new, rebuilt roster was on display. The Inside Carolina Podcast network features a wide range of current UNC sports topics, from game previews and instant postgame analysis, to recruiting breakdowns. IC’s stable of writers, insiders and analysts -- plus special guests -- comprise each program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

North Carolina's 9-1 start is simply not surprising. Well, maybe it is for someone that seeks perfection and has accomplished such a feat with regularity. But opportunities for growth as a team, as a program occur daily, be it in practice or on the field during a draining double overtime loss to an ACC opponent. Erin Matson's 2025 UNC Field Hockey team is deep, talented and loaded with both youth and veterans and built for the long grind. With a rare opening in the season's schedule, she sat down with Inside Carolina's Tommy Ashley in The Purple Bowl to talk year three, success, that Wake loss and her continued vision for a dominant program. The Inside Carolina Podcast network features a wide range of current UNC sports topics, from game previews and instant postgame analysis, to recruiting breakdowns. IC’s stable of writers, insiders and analysts -- plus special guests -- comprise each program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week's matchup of Tar Heels and Tigers features two teams vastly different on paper, but going in similar directions on the field. Carolina comes in reeling after two P4 blowouts and a listless offense putting the fanbase in dire straits. Clemson, the preseason ACC favorite, limps in with a 1-3 record and many of the same offensive issues Bill Belichick's team faces. Inside Carolina's Jason Staples and Greg Barnes join Tommy Ashley to break down what the Heels need to do to have any chance of success on Saturday. The Inside Carolina Podcast network features a wide range of current UNC sports topics, from game previews and instant postgame analysis, to recruiting breakdowns. IC’s stable of writers, insiders and analysts -- plus special guests -- comprise each program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the second part of a series previewing UNC's roster for the upcoming basketball season, Sherrell McMillan, Sean Moran, and Rob Harrington join Joey Powell to examine the Wing and Combo position players. With such a high volume of turnover since last season, fans will undoubtedly be curious about the new team members, and this discussion spends time on each athlete, their respective skill sets, and other insights about how they might contribute this coming season. The Inside Carolina Podcast network features a wide range of current UNC sports topics, from game previews and instant postgame analysis, to recruiting breakdowns. IC’s stable of writers, insiders and analysts -- plus special guests -- comprise each program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.