UNC is tailored with a vast history. But is that steadily coming to an end? With March Madness approaching, UNC’s tournament hopes are dwindling, raising further questions about head coach Hubert Davis’s future. The team’s struggles this season have put their $16.7 million investment under scrutiny. UNC, currently ranked No. 7 in the ACC, faces mounting pressure as the postseason nears. As uncertainty looms, a Carolina icon has voiced concerns over whether the program made the right call.

In 2022, North Carolina showed its confidence in Hubert Davis by awarding him a six-year, $16.7 million contract extension, recognizing his leadership in taking the Tar Heels to the NCAA Championship Game.

However, as Van Pelt noted, “I adore the man, okay, everyone does, he’s the greatest human on Earth, but North Carolina is North Carolina, like the state went on a run last year and made the Final Four and that probably saved a man’s job, but like you can’t be once every couple years you go a run, you’re North Carolina.”

This criticism comes in light of NC State’s surprising run to the Final Four in 2023 under Kevin Keatts, their first ever since 1983, even though they lost to Purdue (50-63) in the Semifinals. Meanwhile, Davis’ Tar Heels, despite their historic 21 Final Four appearances and a successful 2022 run to New Orleans, were eliminated in the Sweet 16 in 2023 by Alabama (87-89).

Pelt’s point is clear, UNC’s legacy demands consistent success, not just the occasional tournament run, especially when their rivals like NC State can make an impact when least expected.

“I’m just amazed to think, I watched him last night against Pitt and it’s like you know” Van mentioned, “Jay calls him out and Jay’s gonna take -rap ’cause he’s a Duke guy, but he’s not wrong, and so I just can’t wrap my head around the idea that it’s okay for Carolina to be okay.” 

In their recent 73-65 loss at Pitt on January 28, broadcaster, Jay Williams didn’t hold back, openly criticizing the team’s lack of effort and communication.

“They are all fragmented on the court,” Williams said of the Tar Heels. “Look at Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is huddling in the middle of the court. It already looks as if, with 24.9 seconds left to go, North Carolina being down only four points, that the game feels over. None of them have huddled, none of them have talked to each other. This is what Hubert Davis has been talking about, the lack of leadership on this team.”

With questions surrounding their leadership and cohesion, UNC will need to find a way to rally together as they step into one of the toughest environments in college basketball.

A high-stakes showdown at Cameron

UNC faces a tough challenge on Saturday as they head to Cameron Indoor Stadium as clear underdogs against Duke. The Tar Heels (13-9, 6-4 ACC) have struggled lately, dropping three of their last four games. Meanwhile, the second-ranked Blue Devils (18-2, 10-0 ACC) are on fire, riding a 14-game winning streak—the longest in the nation.

However, the Tar Heels have an opportunity to make history in one of college basketball’s most legendary rivalries—something they’ve never done before.

For just the eighth time in the past century, UNC will enter its first home-and-home matchup with Duke carrying at least nine losses. Historically, the Tar Heels are 3-4 in these situations, with all three wins coming at Woollen Gym in Chapel Hill. However, they have yet to secure a victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium under these circumstances.

Breaking that trend won’t be easy, but UNC head coach Hubert Davis—who holds a 2-1 record against Duke in Durham—has been in this position before. He knows what it takes to walk into Cameron Indoor Stadium as the underdog and leave with a win.

In 2022, Duke had planned a grand sendoff for Mike Krzyzewski in his final home game, expecting to cap it off with a victory over UNC. Instead, the Tar Heels spoiled the celebration, silencing the crowd with a dominant 13-point win.

With their tournament hopes fading and leadership concerns mounting, the Tar Heels must prove they can rise to the challenge. A win at Cameron Indoor would not only make history but also send a strong message about the program’s resilience. If they fail to deliver, however, the scrutiny surrounding Hubert Davis and the team’s direction will only intensify.