UNC Basketball: Hubert Davis erases all doubts with Tar Heel Final 4 run

After a rocky start in his first year as head coach of UNC Basketball, Hubert Davis will be going to the Final Four after ending the Cinderella run of Saint Peter’s.

When Hall of Famer and national champion head coach Roy Williams suddenly retired early last offseason, there was next to no real search for his replacement at UNC Basketball. It was Hubert Davis, former player, and longtime assistant that Coach Williams wanted to be his successor.

There were other names that were potentially involved, such as current Cincinnati HC Wes Miller. But Coach Davis got the opportunity to take a roster filled with potential, along with a chance in philosophy that included spacing the floor from the frontcourt position.

But it took a while to say the least. The non-conference campaign included blowout losses to Kentucky, Tennessee, and Purdue, with just a win over a mediocre Michigan team to cheer for. And after defeats to Notre Dame, Miami, and then to lowly Pittsburgh of all teams at home, Coach Davis was getting not only heavily scrutinized by fans and media, but some even thought he was on the “hot seat”.

Yet the Tar Heels didn’t crumble down the stretch, despite their “bubble” status. After the Pittsburgh setback, UNC won the last five regular-season games, including the massive road win at Duke in Coach K’s final home game to solidify their spot in the NCAA Tournament.

But Coach Davis and the team weren’t satisfied with just that. After destroying Marquette in the first game, they led by as much as 25 points against No. 1 seed Baylor in the Round of 32, before a Brady Manek ejection halted all momentum, and the team nearly lost, having to go to overtime. But credit to Coach Davis and UNC Basketball for coming back and getting the win in the five extra minutes.

The game was also close against UCLA but Caleb Love‘s 30 points allowed them to make the Elite 8 against the 15 seed Saint Peter’s. Some will say that the Tar Heels benefitted from a lucky draw but Baylor and UCLA alone should give them the credit they deserve in this run.

The game against the Peacocks proved to be a no-contest, racing out to a 9-0 run and being an insurmountable lead around 10 minutes into the game. Star forward Armando Bacot was too much for Saint Peter’s all night, finishing the game with 20 points and 22 rebounds in the team’s 69-49 victory.

Making the Final Four in your first full year as head coach is an impressive accomplishment, regardless of what talent was inherited. And remember this was the core of a team that lost as an 8 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Plus now, Coach Davis has the chance to really make a statement by being the head coach to knock out Coach K in the Final Four, in what will be a heavily anticipated matchup between Duke and North Carolina.

But regardless of what that result is or anything else in next year’s Final Four, one thing is clear; Hubert Davis is and will be the head coach of UNC Basketball for years to come and the seat won’t be getting “warm” anytime soon. And based on how he has coached in the past month, that’s not good news for the rest of the ACC.