The UNC Tar Heels are dipping into the NBA pool for its next men’s basketball coach.

After Hubert Davis was fired following a shocking loss to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, the Tar Heels are set to hire Michael Malone, according to ESPN.

North Carolina was previously linked to top college coaches, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who will be competing for an NCAA title on Monday night against UConn. But May took his name out of any running across college, while Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger were also rumored to be in the Tar Heels’ favor.

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But Malone, who the past 10 seasons leading the Denver Nuggets, is the man they’re settling on to lead the Tar Heels back to greatness.

Malone is the winningest coach in Nuggets history, tallying 471 career wins across his career there, while also winning an NBA title in 2023.

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However, Malone, despite what he means to the franchise record books, was fired by the Nuggets in April 2025. He quickly entered the sports media space, joining ESPN in May 2025, but he’s back in the saddle now in a whole new collegiate world compared to the pros.

Perhaps North Carolina wouldn’t have been searching for another head coach if Davis and the Tar Heels didn’t collapse against No. 10 VCU in the first round, as the Rams mounted the biggest first-round comeback in tournament history to ultimately defeat No. 6 UNC in overtime, 82-78.

“We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he has helped make special memories we will never forget,” athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level.”

Davis, who made four NCAA Tournaments, including the last three seasons, over his five campaigns with the Tar Heels, released his own statement on the matter. 

Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets watches the game against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

“Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill,” he wrote. “My desire was to continue to coach here. This opportunity has truly been such a blessing. I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together.”

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Davis added that he hopes to be coaching “in the very near future.”

Davis, who played for UNC from 1988-92 before being a first-round pick by the New York Knicks in 1992, left the program with about $5.3 million still guaranteed from his contract, per ESPN.

Davis went 125-54 during his 179-game tenure with his alma mater, which included a first-year Final Four appearance during the 2021-22 campaign. The Tar Heels reached the national championship game, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks, who also overcame a double-digit deficit to be crowned champions.

Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

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 After missing March Madness in 2023, the Tar Heels earned themselves a No. 1 seed in 2024, but they were taken down by No. 4 Alabama in the Sweet 16, cutting their national title hopes short. Still, Davis earned himself the ACC Coach of the Year Award that year. 

The Tar Heels want to get back to the Roy Williams days, as the legendary UNC head coach led his squad to six NCAA titles during his tenure, the most recent coming in 2017.

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence reportedly requested a trade from the team and has made clear to the organization he will not be at the team’s offseason workouts.

Lawrence has been trying to “negotiate a contract reflecting his value to the Giants” the last two years but talks have remained stagnant, ESPN reported on Monday. Discussions about a new deal reportedly haven’t moved forward even with John Harbaugh coming in as head coach.

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The burly 340-pound defensive lineman is a three-time Pro Bowler and has been with the Giants through some rough seasons. Despite that, he’s been one of their better defensive players since the team selected him in the first round of the 2019 draft out of Clemson.

Lawrence has 30.5 sacks, 15 pass break-ups and 341 tackles in 109 career games with New York.

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New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II gestures during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 9, 2025. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Last season, Lawrence played in all 17 games for the first time in his career. He had an interception to go along with 31 tackles and a half-sack.

The 28-year-old player signed a four-year contract extension with the Giants in 2023, reportedly worth $87.5 million. He has two years left on his current deal. He would be paid $18.5 million in 2026 and $15.5 million if a new deal isn’t negotiated.

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II returns an interception during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sept. 28, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

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It’s unclear what team would be interested in trading for Lawrence. But with the NFL Draft around the corner, New York would likely expect at least two picks from any team trading for Lawrence.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg said he “absolutely” plans to play in the national title game against UConn on Monday night.

Lendeborg sprained his left MCL and left ankle in the first half against Arizona on Saturday night, and an MRI on the knee Sunday morning came back “very clear,” according to Michigan trainer Chris Williams.

Williams told ESPN on Sunday that Lendeborg’s injury is a “low-grade” MCL sprain in his knee, which also has a “small bone bruise.” The ankle sprain is also considered “low grade” and has minimal swelling.

“He’s still tender and walking around a little bit gingerly, but good,” Williams said.

On Sunday night, when availability reports for both teams were released, Lendeborg was not listed by the Wolverines.

Lendeborg played just 14 minutes on Saturday against Arizona, spending much of the first half getting treated in the locker room. Coach Dusty May said Sunday that the decision to play will be up to Lendeborg and the Michigan medical staff, which has indicated confidence that he will be available.

“I’m sure he’ll give it a go tomorrow,” May said.

Lendeborg’s knee loomed as a bigger concern than his injured ankle, and he clarified that’s what the MRI revealed. He returned to the court and played nine minutes in the second half, wearing a compression sleeve over the injured knee, but he appeared clearly limited.

“He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA,” May said. “And a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA.”

Williams told ESPN that he stayed in Lendeborg’s room until 4:30 a.m. after the Arizona game, giving him treatment on the knee. Williams said that his aim for Lendeborg’s agility for Monday is a much younger version than May’s description. “Hopefully 18,” Williams said.

Despite being hobbled, Lendeborg drained a pair of second-half 3-pointers, as he finished with 11 points on four shots.

Williams said he’s “very optimistic” about Lendeborg’s availability. Williams laid out the next 30 hours or so until tipoff: “It should be a lot of treatment still. I’m going to be in his room a lot. He’s going to be in my room a lot. So, we’ll be doing treatment around the clock and just trying to manage his pain the best we can.”

He said that the treatment will be on the knee and ankle, and he plans to use a Hivamat machine and a Class 4 laser.

Williams told ESPN on Saturday night that he’ll be spending a lot of time with Lndeborg.

“He might move into my room,” Williams said Saturday. “You’re laughing, but he might move into my room. We have two beds in there, so we might have to find another room for my wife and my son.”