UNC basketball makes unexpected splash by hiring former Nuggets coach
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 22: Michael Malone speaks before the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on May 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Malone’s key tie to UNC is through his daughter, who is a volleyball player in Chapel Hill, making this a reunion of sorts. However, the hiring has much more to do with adding some gravitas to a men’s basketball program that was limping along under Davis in both recruiting and performance, with UNC boosters and insiders growing increasingly frustrated with the program falling further and further behind Duke.
This move gives the Tar Heels some serious chops at head coach. Malone was unfairly fired by the Sacramento Kings to start his NBA tenure, before the Denver Nuggets saw potential in him as a tactician and team builder. Aided in large part by the emergence of Nikola Jokic, Malone helped lead the Nuggets to an NBA Championship in 2022-23.
The all-time winningest coach in Nuggets history, Malone was fired by the team in April of 2025 along with GM Calvin Booth, under the belief from ownership that a new coach and front office could lead to more playoff success than the feuding Booth and Malone.
A truly fascinating hire, Malone hasn’t had experience coaching college basketball since 2001 as an assistant for Manhattan. The bulk of his time has been spent in the NBA, which will lead to some fascinating recruiting challenges for the Tar Heels moving forward. Tactically and organizationally, this feels like a home run hire in a cycle where many top coaches committed to staying with their programs, even while the pitfall of Malone not having college experience is clear.
This is a new era for Tar Heel basketball, and it’s going to be fascinating to see it unfold.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 22: Michael Malone speaks before the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on May 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Even with the long list of possible names rumored for the vacant UNC men’s basketball job, the program still managed to make a hire nobody expected. It is now being reported that Mike Malone, former coach of the Denver Nuggets, will become the 20th coach in the history of the program, succeeding Hubert Davis, who was fired by the Tar Heels during the NCAA tournament after their upset loss to VCU.
Malone’s key tie to UNC is through his daughter, who is a volleyball player in Chapel Hill, making this a reunion of sorts. However, the hiring has much more to do with adding some gravitas to a men’s basketball program that was limping along under Davis in both recruiting and performance, with UNC boosters and insiders growing increasingly frustrated with the program falling further and further behind Duke.
This move gives the Tar Heels some serious chops at head coach. Malone was unfairly fired by the Sacramento Kings to start his NBA tenure, before the Denver Nuggets saw potential in him as a tactician and team builder. Aided in large part by the emergence of Nikola Jokic, Malone helped lead the Nuggets to an NBA Championship in 2022-23.
The all-time winningest coach in Nuggets history, Malone was fired by the team in April of 2025 along with GM Calvin Booth, under the belief from ownership that a new coach and front office could lead to more playoff success than the feuding Booth and Malone.
A truly fascinating hire, Malone hasn’t had experience coaching college basketball since 2001 as an assistant for Manhattan. The bulk of his time has been spent in the NBA, which will lead to some fascinating recruiting challenges for the Tar Heels moving forward. Tactically and organizationally, this feels like a home run hire in a cycle where many top coaches committed to staying with their programs, even while the pitfall of Malone not having college experience is clear.
This is a new era for Tar Heel basketball, and it’s going to be fascinating to see it unfold.
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#UNC #basketball #unexpected #splash #hiring #Nuggets #coach
May 17, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The first-place Cleveland Guardians can extend their American League Central Division lead when they visit Detroit to face the slumping Tigers for the first of a four-game series Monday.
Cleveland has won five of its last six games, including a 10-3 pounding of the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. The Tigers have lost 10 of their last 12 games.
Framber Valdez (2-2, 4.32 ERA) will start the opener of the four-game series for Detroit. The veteran left-hander delivered a solid performance in his previous outing after serving a five-game league suspension for beaning a Boston batter.
Valdez limited the New York Mets to two runs and five hits while striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings last Wednesday.
“Framber was dominating both sides of the plate,” utility man Zach McKinstry said. “It’s fun to play behind him when he’s dominating like that.”
Valdez was working with a one-run lead before issuing a two-out walk to the Mets’ No. 9 hitter, Luis Torrens, who eventually scored the tying run.
“This start mattered to him, just getting him back into the season,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He worked hard to get into the game and I thought he threw the ball extremely well. The two-out walk will haunt him and it’ll haunt us a little bit. But we asked a ton out of him (Wednesday) and he delivered.”
Valdez has been a Guardians killer during his career. He’s won all five of his appearances (four starts) against them, posting a 2.30 ERA.
He will be opposed by right-hander Slade Cecconi (2-4, 5.60). It’s been a rocky beginning to the season for Cecconi, who has allowed four or more earned runs in five of his nine starts.
He has shown signs of improvement in his last two starts. Cecconi limited the Kansas City Royals to two runs in 5 1/3 innings, then tossed four scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels. He posted seven strikeouts but required 89 pitches to record 12 outs.
He’s 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two career starts against the Tigers.
Valdez will try to cool down Angel Martinez. The Guardians outfielder has been on a power surge, homering in four of his last five games. He’ll carry a six-game hitting streak into the contest. He’s scored eight runs and knocked in eight during that span.
Martinez has nine homers this season, compared to 11 in 139 games last season.
“Honestly, I’m trying to not get too high,” Martinez said. “(Whether) you’re having a good day, you have a good week, good month, I try not to get too high. This game can humble you really quick. I’m just enjoying the moment, and what happened today, it doesn’t matter tomorrow.”
Manager Stephen Vogt believes Martinez’s improvement is a natural progression for the talented 24-year-old.
“I think every young hitter continues to grow and understand, ‘If I can shrink the strike zone, and I can bring that pitcher into the strike zone, I’ve got a lot better chance to hit it hard,'” Vogt said. “We’ve seen Angel struggle with chase at times. But when he does keep that pitcher in the zone, man, is he dynamic and hits the ball hard.”
#NFL #teams #royally #screwed #schedule">4 NFL teams who got royally screwed over by the schedule
The complete NFL schedule for each team was released on Thursday night, and now we have a full picture of how things could shape up. There isn’t a lot when it comes to who “won” with their slate of games outside of favorable bye weeks, or easy opening runs to set up the season — but there are definitely a handful of teams who really got screwed over when it comes to their schedules.
These are the four teams that got an added layer of complexity added to their seasons due to scheduling.
The Cardinals will need to reconcile two opposing aims in 2026: Establishing Mike LaFleur as a winning coach, while also trying to ensure they tank the hell out of the season so they can find their quarterback of the future in the 2027 draft, because lol no, Carson Beck isn’t the answer.
It’s all well and good to say “just tank the year, and give LaFleur a season of grace,” but that’s easier said than done when you’re trying to establish a winning culture inside a locker room. The main issue is that there’s no good place on the Arizona slate where you can find them to at least grab a few wins and prove to themselves that the path is working.
An absolutely brutal run kicks the season off due to playing in the NFC West and getting a rough schedule as a result. Look at this opponent run up to the Week 14 bye: Chargers, Seahawks, 49ers, Giants, Lions, Rams, Broncos, Cowboys, Seahawks, Rams, Chiefs, Commanders, Eagles. That is just horrific for a team trying to find a way to win. I don’t know what the Cardinals did to deserve having FIVE divisional matchups before their bye.
No. 2: Los Angeles Chargers
The big thing with the Chargers’ slate is how well rested all of their opponents will be heading into their games. This chart really tells the whole story, with Los Angeles having an incredible 24 fewer days of rest over the course of the season compared to their opponents.
Not only this, but the Chargers have a bye week that falls too early in the season. They will be off Week 7, and still have the bulk of their games ahead of them. It’s especially rough when you factor in that the rest of the AFC West got fairly beneficial schedules for 2026 and that adds more difficulty for them.
No. 3: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers’ have two international games, kicking off in Australia against the Rams, then heading to Mexico City later in the season. That would be difficult enough with irregular travel adding to the challenges of playing in the NFC West, but San Francisco also had a brutal run after their game against the Vikings in Mexico City, which comes at a critical time when they will be eyeing the playoffs.
From Week 13 until the end of the season here are their opponents in order: Seahawks, Giants, Rams, Chargers, Chiefs, Eagles, Cardinals.
The only gimme on the slate is Arizona, with so many tough games coming on the road to the playoffs. It’s incredibly easy to hit a skid, lose confidence, and limp into the playoffs at best. In addition, the 49ers have some brutal travel with their trip to Australia, as well as heading cross-country to New York and Atlanta. Overall this was just a brutal lineup of games.
This has much less to do with the fact that the Bears face the toughest strength of schedule in the NFL, and far more to do with their game scheduling. Across the 17 game regular season we see Chicago play five games in primetime, two with 4:25 p.m. ET kickoffs, and they play on both holidays. This means that over half the season sees Chicago moving around days, slots, and zones — which is really difficult when you’re trying to build routine and consistency.
Obviously, Ben Johnson is the kind of coach who can get solid performances out of his players, but there’s no doubt this is a tricky way to operate in a season with all the pressure of national games, the attention they bring, and changing up preparation from week to week. Throw that in with a tough opponent slate and it might be tricky for the Bears to have as much success this season.
“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.
Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.
On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.
Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.
When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.
The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.
“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.
Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.
On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.
Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.
When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.
The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.
Published on May 18, 2026
#Irans #World #Cup #football #team #leaves #Turkey #reports">Iran’s World Cup football team leaves for Turkey – reports
Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, the country’s media reported.
“The Iranian national football team… departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey, to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.
It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.
On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.
The team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US which paused 40 days of war that began on February 28.
The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the American embassy.
Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya.
The side has already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.
“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.
Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.
On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.
Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.
When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.
The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.
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