North Carolina basketball faces challenges with expensive 2026-27 roster

The North Carolina men’s basketball team enters the 2026-27 season with a $20 million roster, yet projections do not list the program as a primary contender for a National Championship. Michael Malone, in his first season leading the Tar Heels, built the roster largely through the transfer portal and international markets. The team features a new backcourt trio of Terrence Brown, Matt Able, and Neo Avdalas, which cost an estimated $10 million in combined player compensation. While the backcourt is designed for versatility, external projections from modelers like Evan Miya and Bart Torvik rank the team outside the top 40 nationally. Malone noted the difficulty of integrating new players without prior familiarity, citing an extensive film study process to build a cohesive identity for the upcoming season.

• 5:54 PMCBS Sports — Inside Michael Malone's $20 million roster at North Carolina and what to expect for the Tar Heels in 2026-27