UNC men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone met with the media at the Dean Smith Center Thursday morning. In his comments, Malone addressed eligibility issues around center Cameron Fens, the shifting legal landscape across the country, his coaching style and more. Read highlights from the press conference, which have been lightly edited for clarity, below:
On international signee Sayon Keita
He’s a terrific runner of the floor. A guy that can get out in transition, very athletic, what we call a ‘rim runner,’ gets on the rim. I think he’s an exceptional pick and roll player. And what has really been a pleasant surprise watching him play the last couple of weeks, he’s a lot more skilled than I gave him credit for initially. His ability to catch the ball in the pocket and make plays. A lot of guys catch the ball in the pocket and they can go and finish. Sayon is demonstrating the ability to catch the ball in the pocket and score, but also facilitate and make the right reads, which is a great sign for him.
But I think the area that translates is his defense, his rim protection. Not only blocking shots, but changing shots. And if you’re a guy that can do that, be the anchor of your defense, you can run the floor, you can play pick and roll offense, and you can work to get second and third opportunities on the offensive glass, there’s going to be minutes for you. And so Sayon Keita will be on the floor this year and I’m excited about his growth. And as he gets stronger, I think that’s gonna be a big part of his personal development: adding weight, getting stronger, as well as just building and adding to his game from an offensive skill standpoint. Right now, everything’s a roll to the basket. Can he develop a pick and pop jump shot? But he’s intelligent, hardworking, bright, and I think the sky’s the limit.
On Cameron Fens’ eligibility situation
Simply stated, he’s eligible to work out and practice and lift and condition and he’s a huge part of our team right now. And obviously, all those things will take care of themselves in the coming weeks. And just like every other player on our roster, we love him, we care about him, we pour into him. And I think Cameron and his family have felt that from day one when he decided to come and join the Tar Heel family.
Cameron Fens is currently ineligible to play for UNC, but the program is hopeful that will change. (Image via South Dakota Athletics/Hailey Price)
What if Fens remains ineligible, as he is now?
Next man up. There’s going to be points in the season where you’re missing players. We have Sayon Keita, we have Alexandros Samodurov, we have Cade Bennerman, we have Jarin Stevenson. So we’ll figure out ways to cover up that void if indeed we are playing without Cameron Fens. But right now, I’m just thrilled that Cameron’s a part of this team and that he’s working on not only improving his game every day, but helping us improve as a team every day as well.
On the style of play he envisions for his team
If you asked our players right now, what do you guys spend a lot of time on? It’s defense. I’m a firm believer that defense wins championships. And for us to play the way we want to play offensively, you have to defend, you have to rebound, because I don’t want to be a team that’s trying to run and you’re taking the ball out of the net every time. So the importance of defense, rebounding and then playing an up tempo, attacking style of basketball. And then the last part of that would be the importance of valuing and sharing the basketball. Sharing the ball unites teams, brings teams together.
But more important than the style of play would be, I just want to make sure every night when that building has 21,000-plus [spectators], that everybody says, you know what? That team plays hard, they play together, and they have a toughness and a discipline about them that is going to lead to good things. And that’s something that we talk about every single day. Not just a style of play, but what is our culture and how do we want to build those habits on a daily basis?
Then-Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Feb. 2025. (Photo via AP Photo/David Zalubowski.)
On his coaching style
I think a lot of people are afraid to hold people accountable. And if you don’t hold people accountable, you don’t have discipline. If you don’t have discipline, then what are your standards? What do you have? If I ask you a question and you can’t answer that, that means that you are not prepared. And if you’re not prepared, that means you’re not getting better. And when you don’t get better, unfortunately, the opposite happens, you get worse.
There were times when I would do a press conference and people would say, Coach, you really called your team out. I don’t think I called my team out. I think I gave you an honest answer. If we’re not doing what we need to do, that’s coaching. I am not afraid to coach my team. I’m not afraid to coach my players. I think Vince Lombardi probably said it a lot better than I could ever say, but deep down inside, the great players want to be coached. Deep down inside, the great players want to be disciplined and held accountable. And that is how you build a culture that has a chance to win and win at the highest level. And that’s what we did in Denver. And that’s one of the reasons I came to Carolina, because I think we have the same opportunity to do something special here in Chapel Hill.
On becoming a part of the UNC community
I have gone from being the head coach of an NBA team where it’s just you, to now I’m a head coach with 27 other head coaches. I am a part of something much bigger than myself. And I love that about college athletics. That’s probably one of the best things about college athletics, is that I can hang out with [UNC baseball head coach] Scott Forbes in Omaha. I can go watch [UNC women’s lacrosse head coach] Jenny Levy’s team have a home game before going to the Final Four out at Northwestern. There are some really talented and successful coaches within this department, coaches that have won a lot of championships, and I look forward to spending time with them, getting to know them. And then when I’m at a volleyball game, yes, I am there primarily to be a supporter for my daughter [Bridget Malone] and her teammates and the squad, but unless I plan on putting on a disguise, there’s also going to be people that want to be able to come up and talk and take a picture. And that’s something that I welcome as well.
Featured image via Chapel Hill Media Group/Todd Melet
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