Michael Malone's NBA success will translate well to UNC
· Yahoo Sports
The North Carolina Tar Heels have their next head men's basketball coach – and he's an accomplished winner. On Monday afternoon, UNC hired longtime Denver Nuggets boss Michael Malone.
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Winning over 500 NBA games and helping Denver to its first NBA Championship in 2023, Malone's track record speaks for itself. North Carolina needs this type of proven coach, particularly with his postseason success that Hubert Davis largely lacked.
Malone is a first-time coach at the collegiate level, but don't let that deter you. We're here to tell you why Malone is the Tar Heels' guy – but first, let's start with a bit of history.
Historically, UNC is one of college basketball's best programs, winning six NCAA Tournaments and over 2,000 games. In recent seasons, though, North Carolina is playing a largely mediocre brand of basketball. Davis reached the 2022 National Championship game, followed by the 2024 Sweet 16, but failed to advance past the first round in his other three seasons leading the Tar Heels.
It took Malone five seasons for one of his teams to make the playoffs, but his first appearance began a streak of six straight appearances.
Denver reached the Western Conference Semifinals in Malone's fourth season, conference finals in Year Five, semis again the following season, first round in 2022, the NBA Finals in 2023 and another semis appearance in 2024. Malone turned the Nuggets from a team that miss the postseason in four straight years, to a contender few teams wants to see come the spring.
UNC has three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, but no wins since a 85-69 domination of Michigan State on March 23, 2024 in the second round.
Coaching student-athletes is much different than seasoned pros who play basketball for a living. Malone's proven NBA success, though, will translate will into Chapel Hill.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball will win plenty due to Michael Malone' NBA track record