Inside Carolina: A UNC athletics podcast

Leading Inside Carolina analyst Rob Harrington and former Tar Heel legend Justin Jackson join Tommy Ashley for the debut of a new Inside Carolina podcast that's all about ball - The Basketball Show. Episode One features Jackson and Harrington discussing the strengths, weaknesses and other areas of the team as they prepare for the season opener on Monday night and a huge non-conference matchup against Kansas on Friday, November 7th.

North Carolina finally got to experience playing against someone other than themselves last week, returning from Salt Lake City with a two point defeat at the hands of BYU. They face Winston-Salem State in an exhibition and open the season in the Smith Center against Central Arkansas before Kansas comes calling on November 7th. Sherrell McMillan and Sean Moran join Joey Powell as usual, but they welcome in Evan Rogers to have some fun with preseason predictions for this edition of the Tar Heel basketball squad.

Saturday’s game against Virginia highlighted progress for Bill Belichick’s team, but the wins remain elusive as the Cavaliers did just enough in overtime to steal a 17-16 win in Kenan Stadium. A critical mistake early and a goal line plan at the end sealed North Carolina’s fate for the second straight week as the Heels fall to 2-5 and 0-3 in the ACC. Jason Staples and Buck Sanders join Tommy Ashley to break it all down.

North Carolina’s revamped roster headed west to face a top-ten BYU team featuring the nations top freshman in AJ Dybantsa. The Heels, on the strength of their own stellar freshman performance - Caleb Wilson’s 22 points and ten rebounds led UNC - came up two points short in the Delta Center on Friday night, 78-76. Rob Harrington joins Tommy Ashley to discuss the night’s action and how this exhibition sheds light on what to expect in the coming weeks for Hubert Davis’s team.

UNC faces a hot Virginia team in Kenan Stadium on Saturday looking to build on the small positives from last week’s loss at Cal. Inside Carolina’s Jason Staples and Greg Barnes join host Tommy Ashley to breakdown the ways the Tar Heels can make noise against the Cavaliers and continue the small steps of improvement needed as they cross the midpoint of the season.

North Carolina’s home date with Virginia provides another opportunity for Bill Belichick and staff to work the recruiting side of the program as coaching changes across the country have new official visitors heading to Chapel Hill. Inside Carolina’s football recruiting expert Don Callahan outlines the weekend and 2026 commit Trashawn Ruffin joins Callahan and host Tommy Ashley to discuss his recruitment and mindset as he prepares for his time at UNC.

Third-year North Carolina head coach Rob Koll joins Inside Carolina’s Tommy Ashley to preview the 2025-26 UNC Wrestling season. Koll highlights his journey back to UNC after winning the 1988 individual national championship and coaching Cornell and Stanford for three decades before Carolina came calling. UNC begins the season with a Blue/White scrimmage on October 25th ahead of the regular season start at the Salem (Va.) Southeast Open on November 2.

The Tar Heels returned to the hardwood in Cherokee this past weekend, again in search of chemistry and identity as the season nears. After a second public intrasquad scrimmage, they now turns to playing a different group, even if just in an exhibition. The consensus #1 recruit in this year's freshman class AJ Dybantsa and his BYU teammates await the Tar Heels on Friday. Sherrell McMillan and Sean Moran join Joey Powell per usual, with Justin Jackson alongside in a starring role to discuss what they've learned and what they expect this coming week.

North Carolina headed to the western part of the state for a autograph session and scrimmage held in Cherokee. Hubert Davis’s team showcased a new look offense and outside shooting on Saturday afternoon in front of a packed house. Inside Carolina’s Rob Harrington joins Tommy Ashley to highlight his thoughts and takeaways on the action as the Tar Heels ramp up to scrimmage BYU on Friday night.

Two North Carolina bookend fumbles told the story of the California 21-18 win over the Tar Heels, the last coming as UNC’s Nathan Leacock was poised to score the potential game winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Inside Carolina’s Jason Staples and Buck Sanders join Tommy Ashley to dissect the loss - highlighting the definite positives and critiquing the continuing issues Bill Belichick’s team has while searching for a P4 win.

Inside Carolina's coverage from North Carolina's 3-1 win over NC State at the Battle of the DBAP to close the fall baseball season for the Tar Heels. The first segment of this podcast is Inside the Lines with Grace Nugent and Tommy Ashley followed by head coach Scott Forbes postgame press conference, both from the field in Durham.

Greg Barnes and Jason Staples join host Tommy Ashley for a preview of North Carolina's trip to face California. After a tumultuous open week at home, Bill Belichick's Heels look to find a win out west and bring some positivity to the program. Barnes and Staples break down both sides of the ball highlighting angles of attack for Carolina's offense and defense and what needs to happen to see the success and improvement the coaching staff continues preach each week.

Inside Carolina's Don Callahan and Tommy Ashley discuss the latest in North Carolina football recruiting including a 2027 decommitment from in-state running back Amir Brown. Callahan and Ashley break down the approach to high school recruiting and the challenges and changes Bill Belichick and his coaching staff have continued to work on during their first 10 months in Chapel Hill.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nearly 40 years after the Smith Center doors first opened for business, it is time for a change. The planning stages for that change - a renewed arena or a completely new version - are in motion and the debate has sparked many conversations in Chapel Hill over the past weeks, months, even years. Inside Carolina’s Greg Barnes and Evan Rogers join Tommy Ashley to discuss their three-part series detailing the options, the expense and the discussions around the future of the legendary venue.

Four games in, the debate over UNC Football has been less about the wins and losses and more about how the team has looked in arriving at their 2-2 record. Inside Carolina’s Jason Staples and Greg Barnes join Tommy Ashley to check in on the Tar Heels and discuss the product on the field, what needs to change and what the expectations are both against Clemson on October 4th and beyond.

Inside Carolina's recruiting expert Don Callahan joins host Tommy Ashley for an in-season update on North Carolina football recruiting. Callahan and Ashley discuss the latest with QB commit Travis Burgess following season ending ACL surgery for the Grayson star and also discuss remaining options in the 2026 class. Finally, the duo discusses how recruits and prospects take in and process the action during the course of their recruitments as well as how the entire process of the Belichick hire affected the current product.

Former Tar Heel linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and wide receiver Taylor Vippolis react to Carolina’s 34-9 blowout loss at UCF. They dive into an offense struggling to generate any explosiveness and why it may be time to consider a quarterback change after what looks like a missed transfer portal evaluation. On the other side of the ball, the defense showed some improvements but still had its share of breakdowns. This episode covers all that and much more from a tough night in Orlando.

Since the last episode of the Coast to Coast, North Carolina has hosted another blue-chip recruit for an official visit. The season begins formally on September 22 with the start of practice. Additionally, there are some questions that will be a priority for Hubert Davis and his staff very early in the process this year surrounding this team's identity. Sherrell McMillan and Sean Moran join Joey Powell to unpack all of the above, plus a question from the live YouTube audience.

Inside Carolina's Buck Sanders and Jason Staples join Tommy Ashley for a breakdown of UNC's poor performance in Orlando. The Heels fell to 2-2 with a 34-9 loss to the Knights in a game that was never in doubt. The crew shares their takeaway from a loss that spotlighted Carolina's many issues this season, specifically on the offensive side of the ball.

North Carolina faces UCF in a critical game for Bill Belichick and staff for a variety of reasons. Inside Carolina's Jason Staples and guest Trey Edge join host Tommy Ashley to dissect the matchup, discuss what the Tar Heels must find on offense and how the defense can disrupt a Knights offense that wants to spread the field and score in bunches.

In the first episode of a new preview series examining UNC Basketball's 2025-26 roster, host Tommy Ashley is joined by Sherrell McMillan, Evan Rogers, and Rob Harrington to do a deep dive into every position group, beginning with the guards.

Former Tar Heel linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and wide receiver Taylor Vippolis break down everything from Carolina's 41-6 win over Richmond as the team returned home to Kenan Stadium. They discuss a defense that looks like it's improving, a defensive line that has outperformed expectations, question if Gio Lopez has the makings of a P4 quarterback that can find success and much more.

Playing down to the level of competition has plagued North Carolina football for years but so far this season, specifically the past two weeks, the Tar Heel defense has been stout. For the first time since 2012, UNC kept an opponent out of the end zone for two straight weeks and in yesterday’s performance, that success contributed to a 41-6 win over the Richmond Spiders. Inside Carolina’s Jason Staples and Buck Sanders join host Tommy Ashley breaking down both sides of the ball, highlighting the highs and pinpointing the lows and concerns moving forward.

North Carolina looks to improve in all facets of the game and the visiting Richmond Spiders will provide that opportunity Saturday at 3:30pm in Kenan Stadium. Inside Carolina’s Jason Staples joins host Tommy Ashley to answer viewer questions and breakdown what to expect from the UNC offense and defense in game three of the young season.

With the changing dynamics across college athletics placing more pressure on head coaches, general managers are becoming the 'norm', and not just in football and basketball.  UNC's Carter Hicks, a lifelong Tar Heel, handles that role for Scott Forbes and his North Carolina team and as he discusses with Inside Carolina's Tommy Ashley and Grace Nugent, adaptability and juggling the many aspects of the program are keys to keep the Diamond Heel success rolling along.

Inside Carolina's football recruiting expert Don Callahan joins host Tommy Ashley to discuss North Carolina football recruiting. Callahan highlights recent UNC commitments including J.B. Shabazz, a massive flip win for the UNC staff. In the second half of the show, Greg Barnes joins Callahan and Ashley to discuss the impact of the new NCAA rules and regulations surrounding NIL, rev share and the continued chaos on the college athletic landscape.

Former Tar Heel linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and wide receiver Taylor Vippolis break down everything from Carolina's 20-3 win over Charlotte for Bill Belichick's first win at the collegiate level. They discuss an offense that lacks explosion, Gio Lopez bouncing back at the quarterback position and much more.

UNC Basketball continues to do many of the same things that have made it successful for over 100 years, hosting elite prospects for official on-campus visits. Simultaneously, Tar Heel basketball players are making headlines in new ways, unveiling some incredible business partnerships afforded them by the new NIL culture surrounding college sports. Sherrell McMillan and Sean Moran join Joey Powell to help you digest all of the above in this episode of the Coast to Coast.

North Carolina's trip to Charlotte was not flashy, but it was perhaps a glimpse into what style of football the Tar Heels will play under the tutelage of head coach Bill Belichick. Carolina scored first with a Gio Lopez bomb to Chris Culliver and from there, it was a grind on both sides of the ball leading to a 20-3 win over the Niners. Inside Carolina's Jason Staples and Buck Sanders join host Tommy Ashley to dissect what occurred in Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday night across all three phases of the game.

Jason Staples and Greg Barnes join host Tommy Ashley to talk all things North Carolina vs. Charlotte. The Heels and Niners face off in Jerry Richardson Stadium at 7pm on Saturday night as both teams look to rebound from disappointing openers. The Inside Carolina trio discusses what Carolina needs to show to get on track on both sides of the ball while facing a Charlotte team with several former UNC players including quarterback Conner Harrell and defensive back JaQurious Conley.

Former Tar Heel linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and wide receiver Taylor Vippolis break down everything from Carolina's humiliating 48-14 season opening loss to TCU and look forward to how the team moves on from that one. They discuss who stood out, where the biggest areas of concern were, how to handle the quarterback situation as the team moves to Week 2, and much more in a loaded episode.

North Carolina's home opener did not go well on the field but outside of that outcome, the 'electric' atmosphere around the game highlighted what Chapel Hill could be for the countless recruits in attendance. Inside Carolina's Don Callahan joins host Tommy Ashley to break down gameday and the reaction from the Tar Heel targets.

Inside Carolina's Jason Staples and Buck Sanders join host Tommy Ashley to discuss the beatdown the North Carolina Tar Heels suffered at the hands of visiting TCU. The Heels were electric on the game's first drive but had no answers on either side of the ball from there on as the Horned Frogs cruised to the blow out win in Bill Belichick's debut at UNC head coach.

Greg Barnes and Jason Staples join host Tommy Ashley for a complete breakdown of game one for Bill Belichick at North Carolina. The Heels face a TCU team coming off a strong finish in 2024 and the Horned Frogs look to spoil the celebration in and around Kenan Stadium as a new era has arrived in Chapel Hill. Staples and Barnes detail the unknowns and debate what to expect on Monday night and dig into what outsiders could learn about Belichick's team and its potential for the 2025 season.

He's sold out stadiums and arenas around the world, including private events in Chapel Hill and benefit shows for Hurricane Relief in Charlotte. Yet despite all of the demands of being a music megastar, Eric Church is just as much of a  Tar Heel Born/Bred/Dead as you'll find. For the second year, he takes time to join Tommy Ashley and Joey Powell to dive into his fandom, the Belichick Era beginning at UNC, and how he expects this version of Carolina Football to fare in 2025. 

Show Rundown:

0:00 - Stream begins
0:20 - Show begins
2:27 - What prepping for a tour is like
6:37 - Chief's and MJ
7:50 - Reflecting on Mack Brown 2.0
10:35 - Reaction to "Belichick to UNC" news
16:23 - The thought of smashmouth football in Kenan
19:01 - What he hopes to see in the opener
21:33 - Position group preference
26:00 - Carolina Fans are ready to win
30:50 - Pickin' the season
41:58 - Stadium buzz and Concert buzz
47:10 - Platinum record or Carolina Football title?

**Call to Action:**

  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!

  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!

  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

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Former Tar Heel linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and wide receiver Taylor Vippolis break down everything you need to know heading into North Carolina’s upcoming football season. From offseason storylines and roster changes to position battles, breakout candidates, and season projections, they give fans an in-depth look at what to expect from UNC football in 2025.

 

**Call to Action:**

  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!

  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!

  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

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North Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class is, for all intents and purposes, done and the focus for Bill Belichick and staff has turned to 2027. Inside Carolina’s football recruiting expert Don Callahan joins host Tommy Ashley for a peak into the major targets on both sides of the ball for the Heels. Callahan and Ashley also discuss the peak game day recruiting season, visits, and offers as UNC’s season opens on Monday night against TCU.

Curious about how Bill Belichick runs a team, a meeting room, or even an offense? On a special football preview podcast, we had a fascinating conversation with Brian Hoyer, who spent fifteen years in the NFL as a QB, including eight seasons in New England with the new Tar Heel head coach. Brian joined former UNC safety Matt Merletti and Joey Powell to discuss Belichick from every angle. This conversation offers a deep dive into the mind of one of the best football coaches of all time. Grab a beverage and listen as Brian describes what it's truly like to be a part of the Belichick machine.

**Call to Action:**

  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!

  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!

  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

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Wes Durham holds a special place in the heart of many UNC fans. Being a legacy with the Durham name around Chapel Hill is a pretty solid challenge coin, but Wes has also forged an incredible career of his own making as a play-by-play man in the NFL and in the ACC. He joins Tommy Ashley and Joey Powell to offer his unique perspective about what Bill Belichick' first team at North Carolina may be capable of, where he thinks this hire fits within the annals of UNC history, and a potential replacement for the blue chrome alternate UNC football helmets. 

**Call to Action:**

  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!

  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!

  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

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As UNC basketball gets back into a fall routine, the Coast to Coast Podcast welcomes back a face familiar to longtime Inside Carolina subscribers in Rob Harrington. Rob will be joining IC's basketball coverage more frequently as the season progresses, drawing on his keen eye and years of insight covering the sport. Tonight, he joined Sherrell McMillan, Sean Moran and Joey Powell to talk about Seth Trimble's role as an alpha, current and upcoming official visits/visitors, and how all of the preseason hype around UNC Football and Bill Belichick might affect the basketball program. 

 

**Call to Action:**

  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!

  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!

  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.