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“The only work that needs to be done is preparation for our game on Saturday. I don’t look down the line, the remainder of the season. I just think that’s a waste of time. I think what is in front of you is our next game, and our next game is Saturday at Syracuse.” said a disappointed Hubert Davis, as he watched his North Carolina Tar Heels, lose to a ranked team once again!

The Tar Heels got a harsh reality check as the Clemson Tigers dominated them 85-65, handing UNC its worst loss in the history of their 161 all-time matchups. With five losses in their last seven games, UNC is in a downfall, and Hubert Davis is feeling the heat as his squad tumbles to 14-11 overall and 7-6 in ACC.

The 2024 ACC Coach of the Year who took the Tar Heels to the NCAA finals in his very first season in charge faces the dilemma of not even making it to the tournament this season and could miss out on a potential $100,000 in incentives due to not making it. Now this is something I am not speculating about, these are the words of Randolph Childress of The Field Of 68: After Dark podcast.

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John Martin of The Field of 68: After Dark tried to leave a window of hope open for Tar Heels fans, cautiously stating, “If they run the table, they’ll be in the tournament. Just because they’re North Carolina, they’ll be in.” But before he could even finish that thought, Randolph Childress shut it down with a resounding, one-word answer,  “No.”

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John Martin doubled down, insisting that North Carolina’s brand alone would be enough to punch their ticket to the tournament, even if they didn’t truly deserve it. But before he could build his case, he was immediately hit by another barrage of “NOs” from Randolph Childress. A fall from grace for a team who were the first seed in the NCAA tournament just last season.

With a possible job on the line for Hubert Davis, let’s take a look at who his Tar Heels play next as they try to claw their way back into the NCAA tournament conversation!

What’s next for Hubert Davis and co?

The Tar Heels will be itching to erase the nightmare of their blowout loss to Clemson and get back on track. With their tournament hopes slipping away, every game is now a fight for survival. The next stop is New York, where they’ll clash with Syracuse in the hostile JMA Wireless Dome on February 15th. Can the bruised Tar Heels rise to the challenge?

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Well, ESPN definitely thinks so! It is predicting a 72.4% chance for Hubert Davis and his men to come away with a win, a win which they badly need! Much will depend on how RJ Davis, the senior guard plays. He has been the best Tar Heel for a couple of seasons now and is averaging 17.4 points per game, 3.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and shooting 40.7% from the field this season.

The Tar Heels will have to keep a close eye on the dominant Eddie Lampkin Jr, whose presence in the paint could spell disaster for a squad that’s already undersized and heavily reliant on their guards. Averaging 9.3 rebounds per game, if the senior center from Houston gets rolling, it could be a long night for UNC!

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