Hubert Davis’ postgame press conference on Thursday mirrored the struggles seen in his team’s second half.
The North Carolina coach appeared at a loss for words after his sixth-seeded squad faced an unexpected 82-78 overtime defeat against VCU, having squandered a 19-point advantage.
Leading 70-56 with just over seven minutes left, the Tar Heels went cold, managing only three points in overtime while failing to connect on all six of their shots.
Davis responded oddly to a reporter’s inquiry about what went wrong in the game against the 11th-seeded Rams. “What do you mean?” he said, responding to what seemed to be a straightforward question.
When asked about an offense that had dominated earlier, allowing a 57-36 lead, Davis provided a lengthy answer but sidestepped the essence of how the Tar Heels went from dominant to barely functional.
“Just because we missed shots doesn’t mean there’s something wrong. We had some open looks, executed plays, but missed eight free throws. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t go in,” Davis lamented following another early exit from the tournament. He praised VCU’s determination to come back from a significant deficit, mentioning they capitalized on mistakes, something North Carolina had struggled with throughout the season.
His handling of the second half drew attention as well. Critics pointed out that despite primarily using a six-man rotation, the Tar Heels seemed fatigued in the last 20 minutes, which contributed to VCU’s comeback.
North Carolina (24-9) couldn’t find the basket, missing their last nine attempts after a dunk had put them ahead 74-70 with just under three minutes to go, only scoring via free throws thereafter.
Moreover, the absence of star guard Caleb Wilson, who broke his right thumb earlier this month and required season-ending surgery, was clearly felt.
When asked if he noticed fatigue in his team late in the game, Davis firmly stated, “I didn’t think so. It never happened.”
Questions about his decision to maintain a six-man rotation in the second half met with minimal explanation. “Because it was my decision,” he simply replied.
This choice will likely become a point of contention among fans in Chapel Hill, and speculation around Davis’s future with the program is intensifying.
After reaching the national championship game in his inaugural year and losing a significant lead against Kansas, the Tar Heels find themselves with a disappointing 2-3 record in the NCAA Tournament over the last four years.
They missed the tournament in 2023, faced a Sweet 16 upset by Alabama in 2024, and now face another first-round elimination as favorites.
Yet, much like the rest of his press conference, Davis refrained from exploring the deeper issues surrounding the program. “That’s a very thought-provoking question, and I’m sorry, but I’m just not there right now. I love this team, I enjoyed it, so it’s really sad that we can’t continue to play and move forward,” he expressed.
“I really enjoyed coaching this team and wanted this group to gain more experience. Beyond that, my thoughts are with them and the guys in the locker room.”
