It was the same story for North Carolina the whole season. The only times the best version of this Tar Heels bunch showed up was when they were about to get absolutely embarrassed. A program with six national titles and a wild number of Elite Eights and Final Fours ended their year at 23-14. And yet, despite the chaos, the disappointment, and the missed chances, the magic of the blue blood still pulls weight. Tar Heels, under coach Hubert Davis, may not have made much noise, but their legacy still whispers (or yells, really) in the ears of top-tier talent.

But first, let’s rewind a bit. This season was a rollercoaster, and not the fun kind. It kicked off with a heartbreak at Kansas, where they fought back furiously only to fall short. Then came the wild Maui win—down 21 to Dayton and somehow pulling it off. Keeping up with the atmosphere, they followed it up with an OT loss to Michigan State after almost stealing the game.

There was another comeback attempt against Florida, leading with four minutes left and then—poof—gone. One of those efforts finally worked when they beat UCLA later that week. And then came the chaos: a 24-point comeback against Duke in the ACC tourney, only to get undone by a lane violation. Then, just when folks thought maybe, just maybe, the Heels were heating up—after a massive First Four win over San Diego State—UNC did what they do best. A first-half disappearing act and another too-late rally. And that was the season.  

And yet, when the dust settled, UNC was still sitting pretty at the top—with a whopping $378 million valuation. A team that didn’t even make past the first round is still college basketball’s cash king. That kind of power does things. This time, case in point…Kyan Evans. One of the top guards in the portal just packed his bags for Chapel Hill.

The sophomore out of Colorado State had a breakout year, dropping 10.6 points and dishing out 3.1 assists per game. But it was March where he really made noise. He lit up Memphis with six threes in the first round and finished the season hitting 60% from deep in March Madness. And with offers likely flying in from everywhere, Evans picked the Heels.

Why? Maybe it’s the history. Maybe it’s the blue blood swagger. Or maybe it’s that $370M flex. Because no matter how chaotic the season was, UNC is still UNC. But it is also true that the 14-loss season opened up a whole new set of questions for coach Davis. In four seasons since taking over for the legendary Roy Williams, Davis has swung from March Madness magic to straight-up mayhem. Two deep runs. Two brutal flameouts. This year was definitely in the latter camp.

We saw RJ Davis returning for a fifth year, looking every bit like an All-American. But the supporting cast, especially in the frontcourt, was total swing and miss. The portal moves just didn’t land, and it showed. Now with RJ finally graduating and others hitting the portal, the Heels are staring down a very different roster next year. Which means, it’s make-or-break time for Davis. 

Because if this summer goes south? Well… Davis might not be the one leading the team much longer. Sure, landing Kyan Evans is a bright spot. But it’s not all wins. San Diego State’s Nick Boyd (who could have been a great addition) is heading Wisconsin instead. And when Baylor’s Robert Wright popped into the portal, it was another golden chance slipped away too as he is reportedly off to BYU.

But even more than recruiting, the real story starts after the roster’s built. Because it is highly believed Davis didn’t exactly maximize what he had this year. 

Hubert Davis’ Ian Jackson misstep raises questions

Ian Jackson, once hyped as a “one-and-done” future first-rounder, is officially one-and-done at North Carolina. And that’s a brutal look for Hubert Davis. Jackson wasn’t just another recruit. The hooper had flashes of stardom—six 20+ point games in a seven-game stretch, including a 27-point heater vs. Notre Dame. It felt like he was on the verge of something special. 

But the minutes dried up. His role shrunk. Just like that, he vanished from the rotation during UNC’s most crucial stretch. The question that keeps echoing: why didn’t Hubert do more to make it work? The fit was never right, but it didn’t have to be this bad. Jackson came off the bench early in the year and could’ve easily been UNC’s sixth man spark plug.

Instead, he was forced to play out of position in a small-ball lineup that didn’t suit him, guarding bigger wings and rarely being put in positions that highlighted his scoring strengths. Meanwhile, even when RJ Davis wasn’t himself, the offense never pivoted. Jackson was left hanging, despite showing he could carry the load.

And now, the worst part is it’s not just Jackson leaving. Elliot Cadeau already left for Michigan. Then Jackson’s gone too. That’s two five-star guards exiting the program in the same offseason. Whether it’s a lack of flexibility or broken promises, it’s not a good sign for UNC’s future recruiting. Let’s hope that this trend doesn’t continue because if it does, no amount of portal wins will matter.