Saturday night felt like a low point for Hubert Davis' tenure as head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. It's never easy to lose a rivalry game to a hated rival, but the Duke Blue Devils were in another stratosphere compared to the other school down Tobacco Road, facing a 22-point halftime deficit in an ultimate 87-70 loss at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Blue Devils were always likely to win this game. They're the No. 2 team in the country; North Carolina is unranked. Duke also had the benefit of playing on their home court, one of the most difficult environments for a road team in the country.
But the blowout loss wasn't only evidence that Duke has more talent. It also indicated that Davis may no longer be the right man to lead the Tar Heels.
An embarrassing loss at the hands of the hated rival Duke Blue Devils must have the North Carolina Tar Heels rethinking Hubert Davis' position.
Davis had the misfortune of following a legend in Chapel Hill in Roy Williams. He arguably also had the misfortune of finding quick success. His first regular season was mediocre by North Carolina's lofty standards. but his team made a crazy run to the national championship game, ending the career of Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski in the process.
The following season was one of the most disappointing in the sport's recent memory. Bringing back much of the previous year's team, the expectation was for North Carolina to make a Final Four, perhaps win a national title. Instead, the Tar Heels didn't even make the NCAA Tournament. They passed on going to the NIT, too.
That's what the Hubert Davis experience has been like at North Carolina. Success and disappointment seem to seesaw back and forth like kids playing in a park. Saturday marked the height of disappointment, particularly from a preparation standpoint; North Carolina was had from the start.
Davis doesn't actually have a significant Duke program. A list of the games between the rivals since Davis took over is reminiscent of a tennis tiebreaker; Duke dominated the first, then UNC won two straight (including the Final Four game), then two for Duke, two for UNC, and now back to Duke. Overall, Davis is 4-4 against the Blue Devils as a coach.
But Saturday was an embarrassment, one North Carolina fans aren't likely to stand for. North Carolina should've been competing for an ACC title this season, but again are virtually on the ropes in terms of making it to the Big Dance. It's not what the Tar Heels are accustomed to.
Favorite sons often get extra chances, which is fair. Just look at Mike Woodson at Indiana, who has seemingly been on the hot seat from the start of his Hoosiers tenure, but continues to roam the sideline years after starring for the program.
The most apt comparison for Davis, however, may be a college coach from another sport. Ryan Day has led the Ohio State Buckeyes football program to success year after year, but has struggled to beat the school's biggest rival, Michigan. People were calling for his job after the latest loss to the Wolverines, only for Day to proceed to guide Ohio State to a national title. Still, the noise will rise back up if Ohio State loses to Michigan again next year.
At times during his tenure, Davis has led the Tar Heels to greatness. But rough outings against rivals have an ability to be louder than anything else. And right now, the noise is building in Chapel Hill.