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Rodd Baxley
@roddbaxley.bsky.social
410 followers 150 following 610 posts
Sports writer | Basketball Jones | Covering North Carolina for fayobserver.com and the USA TODAY Network | USBWA
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roddbaxley.bsky.social
Luka Bogavac shines light on UNC basketball experience after first start with Tar Heels

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
November 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
roddbaxley.bsky.social
UNC basketball win vs. Radford, the Tar Heels’ first game with Seth Trimble sidelined. Stories attached.

On playing without Trimble: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...

On Jarin Stevenson showing UNC something Alabama didn’t see: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
November 12, 2025 at 4:48 PM
roddbaxley.bsky.social
On UNC basketball's first game of the season without Seth Trimble, who was sidelined with a cast on his left forearm during the Tar Heels' win vs. Radford.

Perspective from Hubert Davis (including an NBA story), Luka Bogavac and Henri Veesaar.

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
November 12, 2025 at 4:12 AM
roddbaxley.bsky.social
Brutal blow for UNC basketball after its win against Kansas

Senior guard Seth Trimble was injured in a Sunday workout, the team announced

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
November 10, 2025 at 1:33 AM
roddbaxley.bsky.social
Quick takeaways video from UNC football’s win vs. Stanford

Bill Belichick on an area UNC offense has done a “good job” in during the winning streak: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...

On the Tar Heels’ sack party, feat. Melkart Abou-Jaoude and Tyler Thompson: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
November 9, 2025 at 6:22 PM
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There will be plenty of highlights featuring UNC freshman Caleb Wilson’s dunks and jumpers, but these three clips are what impressed me most vs. Kansas

Rip-away rebound

Hitting the floor for a loose ball

Point-of-attack defense to force 10-second violation

www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
November 8, 2025 at 4:13 PM
roddbaxley.bsky.social
UNC vs Kansas stories

Caleb Wilson’s motivation: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...

Kyan Evans’ growth: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...

Hubert & Roy: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
November 8, 2025 at 10:13 AM
roddbaxley.bsky.social
UNC basketball vs. Kansas in a top-25 matchup at the Smith Center.

Preview, prediction: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...

Mike’s debut: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...

Key area for the Tar Heels vs Jayhawks: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
November 7, 2025 at 3:20 PM
roddbaxley.bsky.social
Caleb Wilson is the star of the UNC basketball show entering the Tar Heels' season premiere

Inside look at the freshman’s 18-minute introduction, a “furious” moment that fueled his workouts, and what he’s bringing to Chapel Hill this season

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
November 3, 2025 at 2:32 PM
roddbaxley.bsky.social
UNC, Duke will be a part of the 2K 'college basketball experience' in a video game

Full statement from 2K Games, with thoughts from a Tar Heel and two Blue Devils

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 30, 2025 at 10:22 PM
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Hubert Davis on UNC basketball continuing to schedule exhibition games vs. smaller North Carolina schools. Plus some thoughts from Winston-Salem State coach Corey Thompson and a look at the Tar Heels’ exhibition games since 2003

www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 28, 2025 at 2:07 PM
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Can confirm: UNC basketball's Luka Bogavac is out for the Tar Heels in their exhibition game at BYU

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 25, 2025 at 12:22 AM
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Great slate of college basketball exhibition games tonight, including UNC vs. BYU in Utah.

The Tar Heels are getting big bucks to play the Cougars.

A look at UNC's agreement with BYU and the Tar Heels' other contracts for nonconference games

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 24, 2025 at 7:54 PM
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Luka Bogavac cleared by NCAA, UNC 'working' toward getting him on court for Tar Heels

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 22, 2025 at 7:56 PM
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USA TODAY Sports has released its preseason men's basketball coaches poll for the 2025-26 season.

Here's a look at where UNC basketball is among the top 25 teams and where the Tar Heels landed in other polls/rankings

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
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Derek Dixon has been 'incredible' for UNC basketball in practice, according to the Tar Heels. On the freshman guard from Virginia and why he could play a key role for UNC this season …

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
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N.C. State basketball game contracts for its nonconference opponents in the 2025-26 season, including details about the series with Ole Miss

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 21, 2025 at 2:06 PM
roddbaxley.bsky.social
UNC basketball game contracts for its nonconference opponents in the 2025-26 season, including an eye-popping payout from BYU for the exhibition game in Utah

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 21, 2025 at 2:05 PM
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The fifth and final part of the ACC men's basketball anonymous player poll

Are players for or against NCAA Tournament expansion?

Here's a breakdown of what they said about March Madness

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
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Leaving Jersey with a road win … and winning record #KeepPounding
October 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
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UNC football fumbles chance at Cal on bizarre play in ACC road loss

“We did enough things to win, but we did too many things to lose,” UNC coach Bill Belichick said on the Tar Heel Sports Network. “We have to eliminate the losing.”

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 18, 2025 at 7:28 AM
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Part II of the ACC men's basketball anonymous player poll

Who is the most underrated player in the ACC this season?

Here's a breakdown of the 27 responses (16 players were named)

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 15, 2025 at 1:04 PM
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UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis has a checklist for Jarin Stevenson during practice. Here’s what’s on it and what Stevenson said about joining the Tar Heels after two seasons at Alabama.

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
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Part I of the ACC men’s basketball anonymous player poll

Who will be the best player in the ACC this season?

Here’s a breakdown of the 27 responses

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 14, 2025 at 12:45 PM
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UNC football's Caleb Hood has announced his retirement. Here's what the fifth-year running back had to say about his decision, along with thoughts from head coach Bill Belichick

Story: www.fayobserver.com/story/sports...
October 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM