MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: ‘NOT SUSTAINABLE’ – UNC HC HUBERT DAVIS TO REWORK ENTIRE NORTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL PROGRAM…
North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Hubert Davis announced plans for major changes within the program, driven by the need to adapt to new challenges in college basketball.
The decision, sparked by recent struggles, was framed as necessary to maintain competitiveness in an era when NIL, the transfer portal and international players have transformed the landscape.
Hubert Davis Responds to UNC’s Struggles
The Tar Heels were having a tough season, with their recent loss to Duke pushing them to the brink of missing the NCAA Tournament.
At 13-10 and 6-5 in the ACC, North Carolina’s tournament hopes were in jeopardy. During an episode of Hubert Davis Live on Monday, Davis outlined a strategic pivot, calling it critical to the program’s future.
“The old model for Carolina basketball just doesn’t work,” Davis said.
The reality of the modern college game was quickly becoming clear. As Davis noted, too many off-court variables now influence team success—NIL deals, the transfer portal, agents and the involvement of international players. It was no longer enough to operate under a traditional coaching model.
“It’s not sustainable,” Davis continued. “It has to build out, because there’s so many things in play with NIL, the transfer portal, agents, international players. You just need a bigger staff to be able to maintain things.”
The Need for Change Amid Declining Performance
North Carolina’s struggles had reached a tipping point. The loss to Duke, which ended 87-70, was more than just another defeat; it underscored the team’s broader issues. It marked the fourth loss in the last five games, and UNC was slipping further from its previous dominance.
The situation had become dire, with NCAA Tournament hopes hanging in the balance. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi updated his bracketology projections, placing North Carolina outside the tournament field at No. 71 overall. This indicated just how much work the Tar Heels had left to do to return to the NCAA Tournament.
Despite the challenges, Davis was clear there was still hope.
“We need to be much better than we’ve been of late,” Davis said.
North Carolina still had opportunities to play their way back into contention, but the team would need to improve if they were to secure an at-large bid drastically. The addition of a general manager was one step in the plan to help stabilize the program and create a more structured approach to the season’s remaining challenges.
The team’s next test came with a home game against Pittsburgh, a crucial opportunity to turn their season around.
