A basketball analyst has spoken out against fan reactions to Ivan Matlekovic’s commitment to North Carolina. The analyst addressed supporters who misunderstood the 7-foot Croatian forward’s role. The analyst pointed out that the fans missed the strategic purpose behind adding the High Point transfer to UNC’s roster for the 2025-26 season.
He called the move smart roster building, explaining Matlekovic’s role as practice depth rather than a rotation player.
Matlekovic’s Strategic Role as Practice “Insurance Policy”
The “Locked on Tar Heels” host explained that Matlekovic is an “insurance policy” for UNC’s frontcourt. “He is an insurance policy and frankly and critically someone to help in practice,” he stated.
The analyst added that Matlekovic “is somebody who is going to come in and not be expected to really see the court, except in the type of mop-up duty we would usually see from walk-on level players.”
He talked about the adverse reactions that came up when the news broke.
“Even Carolina fans in some chats that I had already seen on Thursday evening, as this news broke, boy, this is all we can get. I don’t understand it.”
He emphasized that critics were “completely missing the point” and stressed Matlekovic’s primary purpose involves helping seven-foot starter Henri Veesaar in practice.
“So it’s somebody that Henri Veesaar can go up against every day in practice.”
He compared this role to dedicated practice players, explaining, “To come in day after day after day and get beat up on every day in practice to make the varsity players better. That is the role that Ivan Matlekovic will serve with this team.”
The host talked about the importance of understanding different player roles on college rosters. “So don’t you dare, me included, undervalue or underestimate Ivan Matlekovic’s role. If you ask the coaches, if you ask his soon to be teammates, they will tell you how critical what he does is to their success,” he stated.
He explained the difference between types of roster depth that fans often confuse. “Rotational depth is somebody that will actually play if it’s in like the top eight or nine of your rotation. That’s not Ivan. What Ivan is, is practice depth.”
Before joining UNC, Matlekovic spent the 2024-25 season at High Point University, where he helped the Panthers capture their first-ever Big South Conference championship. The historic title sent High Point to the NCAA Tournament for the first time, though they fell in the opening round. UNC was already ramping up its recruitment efforts, and it seems that it’s paying off now.
For Matlekovic, joining UNC gives him a chance to grow within a top program while helping right away through practice. His 7-foot height and tough European playing style give the team exactly what it needs to challenge its big men every day in practice.