Heading into the First Four game against San Diego State, plenty of questions surrounded Hubert Davis’ squad. And why not? They had just one Quad 1 win but still managed to sneak into the field ahead of ACC teams that finished above them. The criticism was fair, but Davis and his team didn’t let it get to them. “My communication with them is to always focus on us. It’s not the noise on the outside in terms of comments and critics. Focusing on our preparation, our practice and our play,” said Davis. And that’s exactly what they did.

UNC played like a team with a point to prove. San Diego came in with the nation’s best field goal percentage defense, but the Aztecs were no match for the Tar Heels. North Carolina shot 61% in the first half alone. RJ Davis also had a night to remember. He went a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond the arc as the Tar Heels cruised to a dominant 95-68 win. And the good news doesn’t stop there for UNC fans!

ESPN’s Adam Gold weighed in on UNC’s tournament chances on The Adam Gold Show. His take will definitely excite Tar Heel fans, especially after the season they’ve had. He says, “I have been saying for weeks that if they(UNC) get in they are gonna win games. I promised I would bet them to get to the Sweet 16 and I believe they will get to the Sweet 16.”

Gold isn’t alone at ESPN in his bullish take. Analyst Jay Bilas praised UNC’s ‘tournament toughness,’ noting, “Hubert Davis has this team clicking when it matters most—they’re not the same group that stumbled midseason.”

This might sound crazy to many, especially to the 15 other teams in the South region given that UNC spent most of the season outside the bubble. But now, they’re here–ready to write their own Cinderella story. First up is a tough Round of 64 matchup against 6th-seeded Ole Miss. And the Rebels won’t be an easy nut to crack.

Ole Miss had a strong season, finishing sixth in a stacked SEC. They secured big wins over ranked teams like Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The Rebels also picked up solid victories against NCAA Tournament teams like Colorado State, BYU, and Louisville. Overall they’re much more balanced than the Tar Heels and will be a hard team to overcome.

But Hubert Davis remains confident in his squad. He believes the team’s belief and momentum are building at the right time. Let’s see what the coach had to say.

Hubert Davis believes UNC is getting better at the right time

Back in mid-February, things looked bleak for the Tar Heels. They had just been blown out by Clemson, 65-85, and were sitting at a shaky 7-6 conference record. At that point, even securing a bubble spot seemed out of reach let alone a direct ticket to the big dance. But things changed for the Tar Heels.

UNC went on a six-game winning streak, only falling to Duke in the regular season finale. That momentum carried into the ACC Tournament, where they made a surprise push to the semifinals. It was enough to punch their ticket to the First Four, and Hubert Davis believes his team has peaked at the perfect time.

NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: Final Four-Semifinals-North Carolina vs Duke, Apr 2, 2022 New Orleans, LA, USA North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis talks with his team during a time out against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half during the 2022 NCAA men s basketball tournament Final Four semifinals at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports, 02.04.2022 20:29:57, 18010279, Hubert Davis, TopPic, Final Four, NPStrans, NCAA Basketball, Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xBobxDonnanx 18010279

Davis’ focus on internal growth over external noise isn’t just coach-speak—it’s a philosophy forged through adversity.

“I tell them every day: control what you can control. The scoreboard will take care of itself if we take care of our process,” Davis said postgame after the San Diego State rout. “I just feel like this group is getting better. Regardless of the outcome, I feel like we’re getting better – and I feel like our confidence is growing. It did during the ACC Tournament – and then after having a tough loss to Duke, it just continues to grow. We’re getting better. Over the last month and a half, two months, we’ve just gotten better and better. It’s coming at the right time.”

With confidence running high in the locker room, it wouldn’t be shocking if Adam Gold’s prediction turns out to be true. ESPN certainly thinks that way. They are giving the Tar Heels a 56% chance to come out on top. And while the expectations are always high for a program like UNC, making it to the Sweet 16 would still feel like a miracle considering how shaky they were during the regular season. Stay tuned for more updates!