The only way Hubert Davis can remove himself from the hot seat in Chapel is to win a championship, or get fired. And after an 82-78 overtime loss to VCU in the first-round of the national tournament, a championship doesn't seem likely.
North Carolina fans, long apathetic of Davis, have reached their boiling point after another disappointing loss, and now they want a pound of flesh. Davis took the Tar Heels to the national title game in his first year and the Sweet 16 in his third, but since then, it's been three consecutive first-round exits, with Thursday's disappointment coming after the Tar Heels took a 19-point lead. And now, If Carolina fans have their way, he won't get a chance for a fourth.
"UPSET MADNESS!"@VCU_Hoops COMES ALL THE WAY BACK TO DEFEAT NORTH CAROLINA IN OVERTIME. pic.twitter.com/DZW2wOC9Vi
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 20, 2026
Any real hopes of a Tar Heels championship likely evaporated when Caleb Wilson was ruled out for the rest of the season with injuries to both hands. Wilson, a five-star prospect, was actually even better than advertised and was a first-team All-ACC performer and a consensus second-team All-American despite missing the final nine games of the season.
Still, even without Wilson, North Carolina had plenty enough to get out of the first weekend or at least to the second-round game on Saturday. Instead, the Tar Heels continue to underachieve and come up short in the biggest moments. This happens regardless of who is in the lineup. The only constant is Davis.
And look, no one is saying Hubert Davis is not a great man who loves his university. We actually love him too believe it or not.
— Tar Heel Nation (@UNC_TarHeelFan) March 20, 2026
But after what I keep seeing, that's just not enough. Apathy is going to set in quickly for UNC basketball if something is not done.
UNC fans are ready to see an end to the Hubert Davis era
Davis is a good man that carries himself like a gentleman and cares for his players. In many ways, he should remind North Carolina fans of his more successful predecessors. But Dean Smith and Roy Williams won a lot of big games and that's where Davis has fallen short. The fans are ready to move on.
HUBERT NEEDS TO GO
— TarHeelTyler (@TarHeelMBB) March 20, 2026
Just a complete collapse. If we lose this game you fire the whole staff
— HubertsBurner (@UNCballTalk) March 20, 2026
Win or lose he’s gotta be fired
— UNC Sports Talk (@UNCSportsTalk) March 20, 2026
I’m done supporting UNC until we fire Hubert Davis.
— Bill Boobichick (@RamsesTar) March 20, 2026
Hubert Davis.....HE GONE.
— LaMichael Mitchell (@RiskyBusinessLM) March 20, 2026
UNC fans…it’s time to be loud right now. The Hubert Davis era needs to end. We’re becoming Indiana. Today is not a GDTBATH 😢
— Caniacforlife (@hurricanesmill) March 20, 2026
It's about a 45-minute flight from Greenville, South Carolina back to Chapel Hill, but it's going to be a long night for Davis and there will be a lot of questions for athletic director Bubba Cunningham about the future of Tar Heels basketball and whether Davis is going to be part of it.