North Carolina delivered in Michael Malone's collegiate coaching debut last Friday, roaring back from a small halftime deficit to dominate USC, 88-70. Four Tar Heels scored in double-figures, Terrence Brown dunked late to put an exclamation point on the night and, with 10 guys playing a minimum 10 minutes, depth proved it'll be a valuable factor in the regular season.
Indiana thrived with a new-look roster in its own preseason debut, winning comfortably in a 96-68 victory over in-state rival Butler last Sunday. Four Hoosiers scored in double-figures, led by 13 apiece from transfers Darren Harris (Duke), Samet Yigitoglu (SMU) and Markus Burton (Notre Dame). Darian DeVries enters his second season as the Hoosiers' head coach, with hopes he leads the Hoosiers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2023.
The preseason is a great time for teams to test their rotations, which UNC and Indiana will certainly continue exploring on Sunday in the Pacers' home arena. North Carolina witnessed a few surprises in Greensboro, like Brown only scoring four points and Northwestern transfer Cade Bennerman not playing. The Hoosiers played 14 guys in their preseason opener, while 13 Tar Heels saw court time.
As you prepare for Sunday's exhibition clash, whether you're attending, watching on TV, your favorite streaming device or listening via radio, here's five things you should be paying attention to.
What Jarin Stevenson will deliver for an encore
Stevenson enjoyed his best collegiate season during UNC's 2025-26 campaign, starting a career-high 25 games, while averaging career-bests of 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per clash.
Stevenson recorded a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double during North Carolina's preseason-opening win vs. USC, proving he can be the go-to guy during his final year in college. Making 4-of-7 3-pointers and 5-of-6 free throws, Stevenson delivered an offensive impact all over the court.
It's difficult to replicate this kind of success in every game, but Stevenson is perfectly capable of doing so. What will he deliver for an encore Sunday?
How much of a scoring impact Terrence Brown has
When Malone landed Brown from Utah in the transfer portal, he gained a 20-points per game scorer. Brown started for the Tar Heels in Greensboro, playing 24 minutes (tied for second-most), but only scored five points.
That preseason exhibition vs. USC was Brown's first game in a UNC uniform. His role may change this coming weekend, but will we see the high-scoring version of Brown that Utes fans watched last season?
Is Isaiah Denis the most underrated played on North Carolina's roster?
Denis, a true sophomore guard from Charlotte, played just 36 minutes during the Tar Heels' 2025-26 season. Last Friday vs. USC, Denis played 20 minutes and scored a career-high 14 points.
Denis was UNC's best bench player vs. the Trojans, looking every bit of a starter. Why Denis didn't play more last year, North Carolina fans aren't quite sure.
Malone trusts his sophomore guard, who'll continue to see extensive court time if he plays like last Friday night.
Will Cade Bennerman play?
Bennerman, a 7-foot sophomore center from Nashville (Tenn.), transferred in from Northwestern as part of the Tar Heels' center overhaul last offseason.
People expected Bennerman to play vs. USC, but he never saw court time. Bennerman redshirted his lone year as a Wildcat and still hasn't played in a collegiate game.
There's no telling what Malone does for his second rotation, but expect to see Bennerman for a few minutes at Indiana.
Can Markus Burton still play star-level basketball?
UNC fans know Burton very well. Earning All-ACC honors his first three years at Notre Dame, highlighted by his 2024 ACC Rookie of the Year recognition, Burton is now the greatest offseason addition to an overhauled Indiana roster.
Burton missed the final 21 games of his junior season with an ankle injury, a tough setback for any basketball player. Burton quickly proved himself as a star during Indiana's 2026 preseason opener, scoring 13 points in 15 minutes.
North Carolina will need to pay close attention to Burton on Sunday. He's an elite scorer who can make any team pay on defensive lapses.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: What to watch for in UNC-Indiana basketball exhibition