Inside Carolina: A UNC athletics podcast

North Carolina’s win on Saturday, 80-62 over USC Upstate, was not pretty. But several positives came from the messy outing, including improved three point shooting (10-23 overall) and Jonathan Powell’s performance eased some questions about bench play for Hubert Davis’s team heading deep into December. Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley team up on the Inside Carolina Postgame to discuss the game and key takeaways from UNC’s ninth win on the season.

Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley turn to basketball in this edition as Hubert Davis successfully navigated both the high school ranks and the transfer portal to acquire his two impressive big men - Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar. Barnes discusses the two early season UNC stars and the commitment to the money game North Carolina has made to reestablish the program among the elite in the ACC and nationally.

Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley discuss the news that Freddie Kitchens is out as offensive coordinator at North Carolina. The move opens up a huge position coach need for Bill Belichick and crew in a major area of need for the program. Along side the Kitchens news, Belichick has relieved Special Teams coach Mike Priefer of his duties in that role as well. Barnes discusses what's next for Belichick, Mike Lombardi and the decision makers in the Kenan Football Center as the calendar nears 2026.

It has been an eventful year in Chapel Hill as exactly one year ago, the North Carolina Tar Heels embarked on the Bill Belichick era and after a tumultuous first season with results no one wanted or expected, the second 365 days start now. The Inside Carolina crew of Greg Barnes, Jason Staples and Don Callahan join Tommy Ashley for a wide-ranging discussion of what went wrong, what went right and what lessons were (hopefully) learned for a coach and UNC coaching staff figuring out the college game on the fly. The IC panel also discusses what progress looks like over the next 365 days and how this program can get back to relevance on the football field.

Inside Carolina's senior reporter Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley for a quick look at Bill Belichick's first year at North Carolina. Expectations, hype, reality and the roller coaster those first 365 days in Chapel Hill were for the professional football legend. Barnes highlights the tasks at hand going into 2026 and the commitment to football the school has and continues to make.

Inside Carolina football recruiting expert Don Callahan joins Tommy Ashley for a status check and potential portal needs for the North Carolina defense. Callahan discusses the current roster along with incoming freshmen and how those two groups of talent blend to determine necessary additions once the portal opens in January. The discussion wraps with a quasi ranking of the strength of each position group on both sides of the ball currently.

Inside Carolina's senior reporter Greg Barnes outlines the check list for Bill Belichick and his staff and the need for information as North Carolina football heads into 2026. The differences in the NFL and college offseason, timing of change and priorities are all covered in today's edition.

A new show dedicated to the daily grind at Inside Carolina features senior reporter Greg Barnes joining Tommy Ashley for the latest on the North Carolina Tar Heels. Today's show includes Monday and Tuesday's show discussing the chaos surrounding the ACC, the college football playoff and the battle between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Atlantic Coast Conference.

North Carolina capped off a statement week with an 81–61 win over Georgetown, just days after walking into Rupp Arena and beating Kentucky on its own floor. On this episode of the Coast to Coast, Joey Powell is joined by Sherrell McMillan and Sean Moran to break down the Heels’ growing identity, what these two very different wins reveal, and where the team is heading as the schedule eases for a few weeks.

Georgetown came into the Smith Center intent to getting physical with North Carolina, and the approach worked early on as the Hoyas kept things tight. But Henri Veesaar flashed hot scoring 12 of his 18 in the first half, while his running mate Caleb Wilson quietly dropped in 20 and 14 to lead the Tar Heels to the 81-61 win. Inside Carolina’s Rob Harrington joins Tommy Ashley to discuss the win and the performance of Hubert Davis’s team.

In the first full recruiting cycle in the Bill Belichick era, North Carolina sought to fill needs across the board, especially in the lines of scrimmage. In flipping key pieces to the future away from established blue blood programs, the coaching staff accomplished the first step in the process of rebuilding the program’s image heading into 2026. Inside Carolina recruiting expert Don Callahan and senior reporter Greg Barnes join Tommy Ashley to discuss the signings and the important aspects of the day and offseason for the Tar Heels.

North Carolina found its way late in Rupp Arena, and in the process, may have found its best option at point guard going forward. Freshman Derek Dixon hit a big three pointer and a late layup to push the Tar Heels to a 67-64 win over a desperate Kentucky team on Tuesday night. Inside Carolina’s Rob Harrington and Dewey Burke joined Tommy Ashley to break down the win and the highlights from a tough, much needed UNC victory.

Now back on the Inside Carolina beat, Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley and Don Callahan for an All Things UNC show discussing Bill Belichick’s first season, football recruiting and lessons learned from the 2025 season for the coaching staff. Barnes and crew discuss what moves the needle in a positive direction this offseason in the Kenan Football Center and how the prospects for 2026 can improve with the fanbase and observers of the program. Barnes and Ashley also discuss Carolina Basketball, briefly share thoughts on the Kentucky matchup and how the NIL landscape has impacted both major sports programs at UNC.

A Thanksgiving trip to Fort Myers yielded mixed results for Carolina Basketball. After a few days back in Chapel Hill, they'll head to Lexington where Kentucky awaits a renewal of a Blue Blood battle. Sean Moran and Sherrell McMillan join Joey Powell to discuss last week and look ahead to the Wildcats.

Buck Sanders and Jason Staples join Tommy Ashley for a season postmortem after North Carolina's blow out defeat on Saturday night against NC State. The IC trio discusses what’s needed headed into the offseason to rejuvenate a fan base and program after a brutal 2025 season.

For decades, kids across the south have dreamed of wearing the Carolina uniform every time they pick up a basketball. Jackson Watkins lived that dream. As a student who made the JV squad in Chapel Hill and eventually walked on to the Varsity roster, Watkins's ride gave him rivalry wins, a Final Four, and other experiences that most couldn't imagine. His journey led to his new book, "Dream On - From Basketball to Biscuits", and he joins Joey Powell to talk about all that led to it. The book is now available for preorder on Shopify: https://dreamonbook.myshopify.com/products/dream-on-paperback

In a classic Big Ten style, Michigan State pushed around North Carolina physically, winning 74-58 on Thanksgiving Day. Inside Carolina’s Rob Harrington and former Tar Heel Dewey Burke joined Tommy Ashley to break down details surrounding the UNC loss and the issues exposed for Hubert Davis’s team against the Spartans.

North Carolina heads to Raleigh looking to reverse the trend of NC State dominance in the rivalry on Saturday night. The Inside Carolina Game Plan crew of Jason Staples, Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley discuss the importance of this game for Bill Belichick and then break down the matchup and what to expect on both sides of the ball for the Tar Heels.

St. Bonaventure had a plan coming into it’s game against North Carolina - be physical and make the Heels work on both ends. Carolina struggled down the stretch of the first half, but a strong second stanza and a career night from Henri Veesaar provided the cushion the Heels needed to keep the Bonnies at arm’s length, winning 85-70. Inside Carolina’s Rob Harrington joins Tommy Ashley to discuss the key’s to UNC’s sixth straight win to open the season.

Inside Carolina leading basketball analyst Rob Harrington and former Tar Heel Justin Jackson join Tommy Ashley for the latest on UNC hoops. The schedule ramps up this week after a long home stand provided plenty of highlights and teaching moments for Hubert Davis and his team. What areas does Carolina need to improve? How do they match up with St. Bonaventure and Michigan State this week? All this and more, plus Thanksgiving meal favorites!

North Carolina hits the road for the Ft. Myers Tipoff this week with tilts against St. Bonaventure and Michigan State. It ends a string of home games that the Heels have won with varying degrees of ease, and presents different types of competition to continue to test the team's mettle. Sean Moran is back this week, joining Sherrell McMillan and Joey Powell for an in-depth conversation about what's on the horizon for UNC hoops.

North Carolina played well enough on both sides of the ball on Saturday afternoon, but Duke managed to win in key situations in the fourth quarter in winning the game 32-25. Inside Carolina’s Jason Staples and Buck Sanders join Tommy Ashley to break down UNC’s second straight loss to the Blue Devils and in the process, assuring a losing record in Bill Belichick’s first season in Chapel Hill.

Greg Barnes and Jason Staples join Tommy Ashley to break down the game plan for North Carolina as the Duke Blue Devils come to Kenan Stadium on Saturday. The Tar Heels are looking for their fifth win of the season with the Victory Bell on the line. Barnes and Staples highlight how the Heels must stop Duke QB Darian Mensah and how Gio Lopez and the Carolina offense can score enough points to keep the game competitive with a chance to win.

With two games remaining in the North Carolina 2025 regular season, Inside Carolina’s Don Callahan joins Tommy Ashley for a roster status check. Building off his series of articles, Callahan and Ashley run through the offensive side of the ball, position by position, with a detailed look at players with remaining eligibility, high school commitments at each position and potential needs in the transfer portal.

North Carolina leaned on freshman phenom Caleb Wilson on Tuesday night in the Smith Center and the dynamic star did his part, scoring 17 second half points on his way to 23 points and 12 rebounds on the night as the Heels won 73-61. Inside Carolina lead basketball analyst Rob Harrington joined Tommy Ashley to break down Wilson's performance and the overall night for a team still finding its path forward this season.

In the midst of a four game stretch of games against teams UNC should handle, building cohesion and confidence has been a key goal for the Tar Heels. Inside Carolina’s lead basketball analyst Rob Harrington and former Tar Heel Justin Jackson join Tommy Ashley to discuss how the Heels stay sharp, balance out the scoring while Seth Trimble is out and share their takes on the ACC as a whole in the early season.

Former Tar Heel linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and wide receiver Taylor Vippolis talk all things Carolina football following Carolina losing at Wake Forest to fall to 4-6 on the season. What does it say about the future of the quarterback room that the staff continues to believe that Gio Lopez gives this team the best chance to win? Vippolis and Schoettmer break it down and why the lack of a run game for Carolina is just a further indictment for the position.

North Carolina Basketball has not been without its newsworthy elements of late. Last week, we learned that Seth Trimble's broken arm will keep him off of the court for some time. This past Friday, Maximo Adams became the most recent blue-chip recruit to commit to UNC. Now, the Tar Heels have just finished hosting one of the best players in America on an official visit as their schedule begins to ramp up. Sherrell McMillan and Joey Powell are joined by IC Alumnus Tate Frazier to talk ball, Carolina's brand, and how things feel thus far.

North Carolina travelled to Winston-Salem on Saturday afternoon and was complete embarrassed by the home team. Wake’s 28-12 win highlighted UNC’s continually inept offense and the Deacons exposed a Tar Heel defense that had performed better in recent weeks. Inside Carolina’s Buck Sanders and Jason Staples join Tommy Ashley to break down the performance and what’s next for this program. (edited)

North Carolina's four-five punch was devastating on Friday night as the Tar Heels rolled to a 97-53 win over North Carolina Central. The duo of Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar combined for 33 points and 24 rebounds while Luka Bogavac (13) and Zayden High (11) rounded out the double digit scorers for the now 4-0 Heels. Inside Carolina's Sherrell McMillan joins Tommy Ashley to discuss the win, Wilson's complete night and the block party Hubert Davis's team put on in the Smith Center against the undersized Eagles.

Hubert Davis finally has his blue chip recruit in the 2026 class with a commitment from Maximo Adams. The 6'7" wing forward from Sierra Canyon in California gives UNC versatility, shooting, and a high-motor, and fills an expected need for next year's roster. Sherrell McMillan and Joey Powell break down what Adams's signature does for the brand, the culture, and the medium-term future of Carolina Basketball.

Rivalry run begins in Winston-Salem as North Carolina faces Wake Forest looking to even their record at 5-5 overall. Inside Carolina’s Jason Staples and Greg Barnes join Tommy Ashley to break down what the Tar Heels must do on both sides of the ball, and in special teams, to beat the Deacons in enemy territory. After the final game predictions, Staples highlights the importance of quarterback coaching on the college level.

With North Carolina on the road in Winston-Salem this week, midweek official visits take the stage as the early signing period looms on December 3rd. Inside Carolina’s football recruiting analyst Don Callahan joins host Tommy Ashley for a look at last weekend’s highlights and what’s ahead in the next three weeks for Bill Belichick and Michael Lombardi as they build out the 2026 class.

There is never a good time to lose a veteran starter, but for North Carolina, this stretch of competition provides clear opportunity to work through the rough patches while playing without Seth Trimble. The Heels looked disjointed at times, but found enough juice on the offensive end to dispatch the Highlanders 89-74 in the Smith Center on Tuesday night. Rob Harrington joins Tommy Ashley to discuss the win and how Hubert Davis's squad managed without Trimble on the court.

Former Tar Heel linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and wide receiver Taylor Vippolis talk all things Carolina football following Carolina winning its second straight game with a win at home over Stanford. With players like Melkart Abou-Jaoude and Tyler Thompson, players are standing out on a defense that is playing phenomenal. On offense, it can feel like pulling teeth at times, but it's an offense that doesn't have to do much to get wins.

North Carolina's hot start was tempered with the news of Seth Trimble's broken left forearm is expected to keep the veteran leader sidelined for several weeks. The schedule sets up in UNC's favor as Hubert Davis and staff will have opportunities to figure out new roles and game plans to replace Trimble's production. Inside Carolina's Rob Harrington and former Tar Heel Justin Jackson join Tommy Ashley to discuss all that and more including Caleb Wilson, replacing Trimble and prospective players who could step up in the coming weeks.

North Carolina's high from beating Kansas on Friday Night was muted when it was announced Sunday that Senior Captain Seth Trimble would be out with a broken arm for some time. Sean Moran and Sherrell McMillan joined Joey Powell within minutes of the release to discuss last week's successful start on the court, but also to surmise how UNC will respond to Trimble's injury and look to replace his leadership on and off the court.

North Carolina beat Stanford on Saturday. It was not a stylistic win or one full of highlight plays, but the Heels were effective enough on offense and stout enough on defense to notch their second consecutive conference win to move to 4-5 overall. Jason Staples and Buck Sanders join Tommy Ashley for a complete breakdown of the performance.

North Carolina’s win over Kansas was a tale of two halves for the Tar Heels, but with one elite consistency over the course of the full 40 minutes. Caleb Wilson’s early performance kept the game in range in the first half while a complete team domination in the second half led UNC to a 87-74 win over the Jayhawks in the Smith Center. Wilson’s 24 points and 7 rebounds led the way while Henri Veesaar dropped 20 in the win. Inside Carolina’s Sherrell McMillan joins Tommy Ashley for the Postgame show to break down the win and highlight the impressive showing by Hubert Davis’s team.

North Carolina’s opportunity to improve continues as Stanford comes to Kenan Stadium on Saturday afternoon (4:30pm CW). Inside Carolina’s Jason Staples and Greg Barnes join Tommy Ashley for a complete breakdown of the matchup and what the Tar Heels need to do on both sides of the ball to handle a Cardinal team that has struggled this season.

With the early signing period less than one month away, North Carolina is still very much active on the 2026 football recruiting class. As the coaching carousel turns and players look to lock in on their schools of choice, Inside Carolina football recruiting analyst Don Callahan joins Tommy Ashley for the latest from the trail and they break down what’s left for Bill Belichick’s team heading to December.

Former Tar Heel linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and wide receiver Taylor Vippolis talk all things Carolina football following Carolina winning its first conference game on the road at Syracuse. Schoettmer highlights what he's seen that's resulted in a defense playing well. Vippolis says Belichick smelt blood in the water against a freshman walk on quarterback from the lacrosse team. All of that resulted in a defense that allowed a season low in total yards. The conversation on offense centers around the quarterback position.

North Carolina routed Central Arkansas in convincing fashion on Monday night, 94-54, with Caleb Wilson leading the way. Wilson dunked his way to a game high 22 points while Henri Veesaar put up 14 points and ten boards. Kyan Evans (15), Seth Trimble (12) and finally cleared Luka Bogavac (10) paced the Heels in the win. Inside Carolina’s lead analyst Rob Harrington, former Tar Heel Justin Jackson and Tommy Ashley break down the win from the highs to the concerns as Kansas coming calling in the Smith Center on Friday night.

After a crashdown against Ole Miss, the UNC basketball program sought to rebuild itself immediately after exiting the NCAA Tournament. Months of roster assembly, practice, scrimmages, and two exhibitions are now in the past and the 2025-2026 edition of Carolina hoops tips off in earnest Monday night. Sean Moran and Sherrell McMillan join Joey Powell to bid adieu to the offseason and preseason, give a recruiting and roster update, and preview the Tar Heels' first week of season games.

"Touch 'Em All: My Life and Career at Sports Illustrated" is Keith's memoir, which is not about a single legendary athlete or championship team. It's about an accomplished writer and editor who chronicled legendary athletes and championship teams for more than three decades. Inside Carolina’s Tommy Ashley spoke with Keith about his journeys, the stories and memories that shaped his illustrious career as a witness to those icons.

North Carolina has struggled the finish the job the past two weeks. On Friday night in Syracuse, the Tar Heels completed the task at hand, dominating Fran Brown's team, 27-10 with their first complete and complementary performance of the season. Inside Carolina's Jason Staples and Buck Sanders join Tommy Ashley to discuss the win and how Bill Belichick and the Heels finally put it all together on Halloween night in the JMA Dome.

North Carolina’s trip to Syracuse provides another legitimate opportunity for Bill Belichick’s team to get a win and show signs of that proof of concept Inside Carolina’s Jason Staples and Greg Barnes have discussed since the season began. Staples and Barnes join host Tommy Ashley for a breakdown of the way the Tar Heels can have success against the Orange and how the two teams matchup on both sides of the ball in Friday night’s tilt on ESPN.

North Carolina started sluggish and relied heavily on freshman phenom Caleb Wilson to hold Winston-Salem State at arms length early. The Heels kicked things into overdrive after the break, blowing out the Rams in the final 20 minutes to win 95-53. Wilson's 23 points and ten rebounds led the Heels while Jarin Stevenson contributed 11 including two three pointers. Inside Carolina analyst Rob Harrington joins Tommy Ashley to break down the win and recap UNC's final exhibition before the season begins on Monday.

Former Tar Heel linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and wide receiver Taylor Vippolis talk all things Carolina football following Carolina dropping to 2-5 and 0-4 in conference play. Schoettmer highlights players that have popped on film in recent weeks, while Vippolis argues it's hard to evaluate this team in its entirety with how poorly it appears they evaluated the quarterback position.

With North Carolina's 2025-26 season just days way, the Inside Carolina crew of Rob Harrington, Greg Barnes and Jeremiah Holloway join Tommy Ashley and John Bauman for a comprehensive Over/Under show. The crew picks everything from three point percentages to rebounds to the regular season win totals in this episode with a focus on the potential numbers behind the results on the court in Hubert Davis's fifth season at the helm of the Tar Heels.