Deborah Stroman and News Director Brighton McConnell chat for the first “Stroman on Sports” segment of 2026 on Friday, Jan. 9. With both UNC basketball programs coming off of losses to start the new year (and the early stretch of conference play), Debby discusses the narratives around both teams and what questions are being asked about the head coaches’ strategies. Men’s basketball has had a strong start — but the team is still building chemistry and is searching for an identity. The women’s team, meanwhile, has lost critical conference games in the closing minutes while missing crunch-time free throws. The pair share their thoughts, as well as react to the news of Miami football punching its ticket to the College Football Playoff championship game.
Dr. Deborah Stroman — who is a consulting professor for UNC and Virginia, sports businesswoman, former basketball player, and columnist — chats with 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell each week about headlines from the world of sports. Covering both local and national stories, Stroman specializes in connecting the on-field product to the impact of sports on business, culture and society. Listen to their past conversations on Chapelboro, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Stroman on Sports: UNC Men's Basketball Crashes Out + Women's College Basketball is BoomingDr. Deborah Stroman joins 97.9 The Hill on Friday, March 29, in the wake of UNC men's basketball being eliminated from the NCAA Tournament.

UNC Men's and Women's Basketball Unveil Their 2023-24 ACC SchedulesThe final pieces of the scheduling puzzle for UNC’s basketball programs fell into place on Tuesday, as the Atlantic Coast Conference released the schedules for 2023-24 conference play. The Carolina men’s and women’s teams joined the other 14 teams in seeing their schedules revealed during an ACC Network special Tuesday night, rounding out their games […]

UNC Women's Basketball Rises to No. 6 in AP Poll; Men's Team Tumbles to 18thThe latest edition of the Associated Press Top 25 polls for college basketball saw the UNC programs head in opposite directions following the Phil Knight Invitational. The UNC women’s basketball team rose from No. 8 to No. 6 in the Week 4 poll, after going 2-0 at the Portland-based showcase against two ranked teams. The […]

UNC Men's Basketball to Face Portland in 2022 Phil Knight InvitationalAs details continue to trickle in about UNC men’s basketball’s 2022-23 schedule, a report may indicate who the Tar Heels will face first in a special showcase. The Carolina program shared that the bracket for the upcoming Phil Knight Invitational is set, with head coach Hubert Davis’ team drawing Portland in the first round of […]

Social Media Erupts Following UNC's Buzzer Beater to Beat Duke, Court StormingNo. 14 UNC earned the 71-68 win over Duke off a buzzer-beating three-pointer, sending the Dean Smith Center and social media into a frenzy.

Financial Report Shows UNC Athletics Operated at $15 Million Deficit in 2024-25 YearThe newest financial report from the UNC athletic department to the NCAA shows the department operated at a deficit of more than $15 million during the 2024-25 fiscal year. The department reported revenues of $172,951,034 and reported expenses of $187,967,260. The UNC athletic department had operated at a profit in each of the past three […]

UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Up to No. 14, Women Back in at No. 25Both the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams are ranked in the latest editions of the AP Poll, which were released Monday. The men (17-4, 5-3 ACC) rose two spots to No. 14, while the women (17-5, 6-3 ACC) are back in the poll at No. 25 after three consecutive weeks unranked. The men played […]

Art's Angle: Lots to UnpackArt Chansky writes that UNC men's basketball's win over Georgia Tech was solid, but continues to raise some questions around their potential.

UNC Men's Basketball Rises to No. 16 in Latest AP PollAfter a home win against Notre Dame and a road win at then-No. 14 Virginia, UNC rose six spots in the latest AP Top 25 poll to No. 16 this week. UNC’s six-spot jump is the largest of any team in the poll. After dropping to No. 22 following road losses at unranked Stanford and […]

Art’s Angle: Big BoostUNC men's basketball's dramatic comeback victory over Virginia could be a turning point for the Tar Heels in solidifying their rotation.
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