Locked On Tar Heels - Daily Podcast On North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball & Football

North Carolina Tar Heels eye first-ever baseball national championship—can they seize the moment 20 years after heartbreak? Isaac Schade spotlights freshman pitcher Jackson Rose’s dominance and the resilient performances that led UNC to a winner-take-all College World Series Game 3 against Oklahoma. The stakes are massive: past disappointment, a historic pitching matchup, and key contributions from Carter French, Cooper Nicholson, and Caden Glauber set the stage for a legacy-defining showdown.

Key analysis covers UNC’s pitching rotation decisions, Oklahoma’s fastball-heavy freshman Nick Wesloski, and the Tar Heels’ disciplined offensive approach that forced nine walks in their previous w...

The North Carolina Tar Heels are once again facing elimination, similar to the situation they found themselves in vs. USC in the Super Regional. This time, it's Ryan Lynch with the ball, rather than Jason DeCaro. Can he hold down the potent Oklahoma offense?

Can the Tar Heel offense get going more so than Game 1?

Will the Tar Heels force a winner-take-all Game 3 or will this be the end of the road?

Join Isaac Schade LIVE postgame to break it all down!

PHOTO CREDIT: Steven Branscombe - Imagn Images

North Carolina has advanced to the Championship Series of the College World Series for the third time in program history and 20 years since the first trip, when the Tar Heels came so close to beating Oregon State.

Is this the year they get it all done? If so, they'll have to bounce back in the same way they did in the Super Regionals

Join Isaac Schade to unpack it all LIVE postgame!

PHOTO CREDIT: Dylan Widger - Imagn Images 
 

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UNC Tar Heels basketball faces a pivotal summer as Coach Bill Robinson prepares for Carolina Basketball School, offering fans a rare first look at Michael Malone’s new-look squad. With massive roster turnover and a brand-new coaching staff, all eyes are on Jarin Stevenson, Matt Able, and exciting backcourt additions like Terrence Brown and Neo Avdalas. Who will emerge as team leaders, and how will the dynamic between players and coaches shape the season’s foundation?

Host Isaac Schade and Coach Bill Robinson discuss the importance of summer camps, the unique atmosphere at Montross Camp, and the evol...

North Carolina has advanced to the College World Series Final for the 3rd time in program history. They came so close to winning it all the first time around...is this FINALLY the year that they win it all?

To do so, they'll have to knock off a RED-HOT Oklahoma Sooners team that is torching everyone in their path. Is Jason DeCaro up to the task in Game 1 on Saturday?

Isaac Schade gets you ready for the best-of-3 Championship Series!

PHOTO CREDIT: Dylan Widger - Imagn Images 
 

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The North Carolina Tar Heels are back in action against West Virginia. A win send the Heels to the College World Series Championship Series, starting Saturday. A loss sets up a rematch between the teams on Thursday in a  winner-take-all environment.

Folger Boaz will get the ball. Can he hold things down?

If not, can freshman Jackson Rose come in and do a job?

Will the offense FINALLY get going early AND often?

Will the defense continue to play errorless baseball?

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The North Carolina Tar Heels have announced their first exhibition game of the 2026-27 season: They will travel to Indianapolis to play the Hoosiers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home of the Pacers. It's an interesting trend where the Heels have played all of their major exhibition games away from the Smith Center - an encouraging trend.

The Diamond Heels are set for a Wednesday afternoon re-match with West Virginia, who knocked off Troy on Tuesday afternoon in an elimination game. Coach Forbes is turning to  Folger Boaz in a controversial, but correct decision.

What are t...

It's the 10th Anniversary of the Locked On Podcast Network and time for the Top 10 UNC men's basketball players of the last decade. Who makes the list?

Isaac Schade shares his list. Who makes the cut? Players who splashed for 1 Year? Guys who played their entire careers in Chapel Hill?

Find out!

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In addition to constructing his first-ever Tar Heel team, Coach Michael Malone is busy looking ahead to the 2027 class. That includes elite forward Paul Osaruyi and elite wing DeMarcus Henry.

Osaruyi is scheduled to visit Carolina in August, according to a report. Is there any world in which Carolina can pry Henry away from Ohio State?

The Diamond Heels are in great shape in Omaha thatnks to going 2-0 thus far. Isaac Schade delivers the 4 Bases recap of the game as well as a WILD Schadey Stat of the Game!

What's up next...

The North Carolina Tar Heels take on West Virginia in the winner's bracket of the left side of the College World Series. After beating Ole Miss in Game 1, moving to 2-0 would prove HUGE for Carolina who would then be off until Wednesday.

Ryan Lynch looks to continue his string of strong starts this postseason.

Can the Carolina bats get going earlier after back to back games of late inning dramatics?

Join Isaac Schade LIVE postgame to unpack all the action. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Rodd Baxley - Imagn Images 
 

The North Carolina Tar Heels & West Virginia Mountaineers square off on Sunday, June 14 at 7pm ET in the winner's bracket of the left side of the College World Series.

Projected starters for both teams are Ryan Lynch (UNC) & Maxx Yehl (WVU).

The Mountaineers and Tar Heels met in the 2024 Super Regional  in Chapel Hill with the Tar Heels advancing to the College World Series with 8-6 and 2-1 victories.

Which team will win and have the massive advantage of  2 days off ahead of playing in the 2-0 game on Wednesday?

PHOTO CR...

North Carolina is back in Omaha for the College World Series for the second time in the last three years. Jason DeCaro is back on the mound looking to follow up his epic performance last Saturday vs. USC.

Can the Carolina bats get going with RISP?  They struggled mightily in the Super Regional in those clutch moments.

Join Isaac Schade postgame to break down all the action!

PHOTO CREDIT: Dylan Widger - Imagn Images 
 

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North Carolina Tar Heels brace for a high-stakes clash with Ole Miss Rebels in the opening game of the College World Series—will elite pitching or explosive power prevail? Hosts Isaac Schade and Stvhen Willis break down Taylor Rabe’s surprise start over Hunter Elliott for Ole Miss, and examine the Tar Heels’ remarkable patience at the plate. Can Carolina’s stingy pitching staff, having allowed just 49 homers all season, contain the Rebels’ power bats?

Key topics include Jason DeCaro’s potential impact as the Tar Heels’ ace, clutch performances by Owen Hull and Caden Glauber, and the importance...

North Carolina's scheduled home & home series with Butler finally has a date attached to it for 2026-27 in Chapel Hill. The Heels and Bulldogs will square off on Sunday, December 6. It's the second Big East team that UNC will play in non-conference play, with a trip to DC to play Georgetown coming up the next Saturday.

The College World Series starts on Friday in Omaha with the Tar Heels set to take on Ole Miss. The Rebels *shockingly* are not going with their ace Hunter Elliott. As of recording time we still don't know whether Scott Forbes...

Texas Tech storms into the spotlight as college football’s ultimate villain following the Brendan Sorsby gambling injunction. With Sorsby facing only a two-game suspension despite over 9,000 bets—including wagers against his own Indiana Hoosiers—ACC experts question whether the NCAA still has any authority and if the integrity of the sport is at risk. Is this the moment the SEC and Big Ten finally seize the initiative to form a Super League, or will Texas Tech’s actions ignite overdue reforms? The ACC Squad breaks down Texas Tech’s polarizing defense of Sorsby and billionaire booster Cody Campbell’s powerful i...

Jarin Stevenson is the key returning player for the Tar Heels this season. If he takes a step forward, it will put North Carolina in great shape. Can Michael Malone unlock that?

We know 11 of UNC's 14 non-con opponents. What would Coach Bill Robinson like to see added with the final 3?

UNC is the only  baseball team to make the College World Series multiple times in the last three seasons. How beneficial will the prior experience be for both the players and coaches? Owen Hull has the best OBP in the entire CWS - what pressure w...

Wei Lin is a transfer PG from Oregon that North Carolina has been in conversation with according to Inside Carolina's reporting. Is he the right target for that role?

The Tar Heels will HAVE to be better at delivering in clutch moments with runners in scoring position if they want to make noise in the College World Series.

It's time to start comparing the offenses for both North Carolina and Ole Miss. The Tar Heels lead the way in essentially EVERY offensive category...except home runs. Could THAT be the difference in a one-off scenario...

North Carolina Tar Heels gear up for a high-stakes College World Series clash as they face Ole Miss and ace pitcher Hunter Elliott. Can UNC’s disciplined lineup and strong pitching rotation—led by Ryan Lynch and Jason DeCaro—break through Ole Miss’s battle-tested postseason arms? Fans are left wondering if the winner of this showdown is destined for the national championship.

Isaac Schade and Locked On Ole Miss host Steven Willis compare both teams’ strengths, spotlighting key players like Owen Hull and Tristan Bissetta, while debating pitching matchups and the critical importance of winning game one. Discu...

Monday's Brendan Sorsby ruling is a stain for college athletics and is a brand new low. How will Carolina and other schools respond?

The College World Series is set. The Tar Heels will play Ole Miss on Friday evening. What are the chances that Carolina will get that first elusive national championship?

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The matchups for the 2026 ACC/SEC challenge have been revealed. Michael Malone and the Tar Heels will host John Calipari and his Arkansas Razorbacks on Tuesday, December 1. Will UNC be up to the challenge?

Also, the ACC needs to win this challenge. The SEC dominated two years ago. Last year, the ACC had an early lead and let the SEC come back and ultimately win.

In exciting news: the UNC Diamond Heels are headed back to the College World Series for the 2nd time in the last 3 seasons. No other teams have been repeat visitors...

North Carolina Tar Heels turn to freshman stud Caden Glauber in a winner-take-all Game 3 of the 2026 Chapel Hill Super Regional. UNC got a phenomenal pitching performance from Jason DeCaro in Game 2. Can the Tar Heels finish the job and make it to Omaha for the 2nd time in the last 3 seasons?

The UNC offense has been great at creating traffic, but not great at getting that traffic home. Will that change today?

Isaac Schade will be live postgame to unpack all the action.

Photo Credit: Zachary Taft - Imagn Images 
 

Game 2 of Chapel Hill Super Regional with the Tar Heels trying to stave off elimination vs. the red-hot USC Trojans. After a heartbreaking Game 1 loss, can the Heels re-group and extend their season to a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday?

Jason DeCaro will make what is likely his final start at Boshamer Stadium. Can he have a better performance than his last two starts where he didn't make it out of the 4th inning?

Isaac Schade breaks it all down postgame!

Photo credit: William Howard - Imagn Images 
 

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The North Carolina Tar Heels host USC Trojans in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Division 1 Baseball Tournament. Carolina swept their way through the Regional round while USC had to fight their way through the loser's bracket. USC's ace Mason Edwards is the nation's strikeout leader - how will Carolina's patient lineup handle things?

Can Ryan Lynch replicate his special performance vs. VCU from last Friday in the regional round?

Join Isaac Schade LIVE after the game to break it all down!

Photo Credit: Zachary Taft - Imagn Images

North Carolina could benefit from having another point guard on the roster. They have the roster space. The question is: do they have the funds and the desire?  Several names are still in the transfer portal that would make solid backup PG options.

The Tar Heels open up Super Regional play vs. USC on Friday. What are the 4 things to look out for in the series? Coach Forbes announced that Ryan Lynch will get the Game 1 start over Jason DeCaro.

Also - is USC really good or have they just beat up on a bad B...

ACC teams are facing a staggering $55 million average net operating loss, fueling urgent questions about the future of college sports. Will massive booster contributions and student fees be enough to sustain programs as the financial gap between the ACC, SEC, and Big Ten grows? The ACC Squad unpacks NCAA fiscal reports, dissect the sustainability of the current funding model, and debate the potential for seismic shifts—including breakaway powerhouses and changes to media rights distribution. Controversy deepens as the crew critiques the ACC’s baffling basketball scheduling, proposing geographic pods to cut travel and preserve rivalries like North Carolina Tar...

We so often discuss the starting lineup and how important it is, but we all know how critical the depth pieces are behind that. Who will step up for Carolina  beyond the starting 5? The Tar Heels' ceiling in Year 1 of the Michael Malone era will be dependent upon the level of the 3-4 players behind the starters.

USC comes to Chapel Hill on an offensive heater off the weekend in the College Station Regional. Was it a one-weekend outlier or have the Trojans found something? The Carolina pitching staff is going to have to lock in!

Even after the addition of Alexandros Samodurov and confirmation of Matt Able, multiple national pundits are still not ranking the North Carolina Tar Heels and it doesn't make sense.

Carolina is going to have to deal with USC's VERY difficult pitching staff this weekend. Speaking of which - how will Scott Forbes deploy his starting pitchers?

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Looking at the history of recent head coaches in their first year coaching the UNC Basketball team, there's a possibility that this could be a very successful year for Michael Malone and the Tar Heels. How will things come together?

The Diamond Heels are SET for the Super Regional round this weekend where they will host the USC Trojans. How will things go? If the oddsmakers have anything to say about it: very well!

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Michael Malone has landed ANOTHER international frontcourt player - does that mean that the frontcourt is now finished and ready to go? Or will there be more pieces added?

The Diamond Heels are off to the Super Regional round for a 3rd straight season thanks to working their way perfectly through the "Regional of Death". The offense did the work early on Sunday and freshman Jackson Rose finished off the last four innings on the mound nearly flawlessly!

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Alexandros Samodurov has officially committed to UNC. This is great news for UNC's frontcourt and is likely the last KEY piece for Michael Malone's first frontcourt. He and Neo Avdalas have previously played together! Will Samodurov start at center over Sayon Keita? Also...is this now a top-25 roster?

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The ACC revealed the 2026-27 conference opponents on Thursday for men's basketball. The Tar Heels, as usual, will play Duke twice, with Louisville as the other two-play. Carolina WON'T play Clemson (WHAT?!), and plays every other team once, including State only at home.

GEAR up for the Diamond Heels NCAA Tournament Regional, which starts on Friday at the Bosh with (2)Tennessee, (3)ECU, & (4)VCU all coming to Chapel Hill.

Isaac Schade & Josh Marlow take you through all the action!

Sherrell McMillan article: https://www.on3.com/teams/north-carolina-tar-heels/news/terrence-brown-humbling-journey-led-him-to-unc-basketball/

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ACC football recruiting faces a shock as North Carolina stalls under Bill Belichick—no four-star recruits and uncertainty swirling around the program’s direction. Is Belichick’s NFL pedigree enough, or are systemic issues holding the Tar Heels back from their “sleeping giant” potential? Analysts debate UNC’s future, the impact of key administrative missteps, and whether a coaching change is the answer to beat perennial ACC and SEC recruiting powerhouses. Elsewhere, the crew highlights Clemson’s stagnant strategies under Dabo Swinney, with rival coaches questioning their offensive evolution and player development. SMU garners surprising praise for its recruiting consistency an...

North Carolina Tar Heels & Tennessee Volunteers brace for a likely high-stakes clash in the fiercely competitive Chapel Hill NCAA Baseball Regional. With the region featuring standout pitching from UNC, ECU, and VCU, and Tennessee’s explosive offense poised to challenge elite bullpens, the stage is set for a nail-biting weekend. Can Ryan Lynch and Jason DeCaro anchor the mound for the Diamond Heels, or will the Volunteers find enough firepower to advance?

Isaac Schade and Eric Cain break down key matchups, including UNC’s disciplined approach and the depth of both bullpens led by freshmen sensation Caden Glau...

North Carolina seems just about set in the backcourt, but the bigs don't have much size, in terms of weight. But the question is: Is Coach Michael Malone specifically targeting slender bigs, or is it just coming together that way? Did Matt Able make the right choice? Also...does the bipartisan bill being proposed have any hope of being passed?

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NC State transfer Matt Able has finally made his NBA Draft Decision - he is pulling out of the draft and will enroll at North Carolina to play for Michael Malone in his first year as the Tar Heels head coach. What does this mean for UNC's chances this season?

What else does Carolina now need to add? Are they done in the backcourt?

Join Isaac Schade & Riley Davis to unpack it all!

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Matt Able is officially withdrawing from the NBA Draft and will join the North Carolina Tar Heels this upcoming season. HUGE news for Michael Malone and staff in their first year!

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Michael Malone is in the midst of putting together his first UNC roster and it projects to be MASSIVE from a height standpoint, but less so from a girth-standpoint. Who will be in the starting 5? And how do you adjust if either Matt Able or Alexdros Samodurov aren't on that roster?

What is the most interesting starting 5 matchup?

The D1 Baseball NCAA Tournament field was announced on Monday. Carolina will be the No. 5 national seed. Will they advance past regionals?

It's time for the baseball Selection Committee to do more! These regions have...

North Carolina Tar Heels anxiously await Matt Able’s NBA Draft decision as NCAA eligibility rules loom large. Will Able suit up for UNC or pursue his pro dreams? Isaac Schade breaks down the latest on high-profile draft choices, new NCAA guidance impacting international player eligibility, and what this means for Tar Heel prospects like Sayon Keita.

Key topics include Carolina Diamond Heels’ ACC Championship loss to Georgia Tech, their confirmed regional hosting spot for the NCAA baseball tournament, and seeding predictions against SEC powerhouses. The show also spotlights women’s lacrosse falling to Northwestern in the nation...

North Carolina Tar Heels baseball finishes as the ACC runner-up to Georgia Tech in a top 3 battle. Both teams will be top 8 (top 4?) national seeds when the NCAA Tournament field is revealed on Memorial Day.

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The North Carolina Tar Heels are 1 win away from the ACC Championship after back-to-back wins over Virginia Tech and Pitt. It wasn't pitching gems from either Jason DeCaro or Ryan Lynch, but the bullpen came through as they usually do. Moreover, the UNC offense did their work as well.

Now the question becomes - can they win an ACC Championship over Georgia Tech, who they won a series over in the regular season? 

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