All articles tagged with #tar heels
UNC is finalizing Chuck Martin as associate head coach on Michael Malone’s staff, adding a veteran assistant with more than 25 years of college coaching who helped Arkansas and Kentucky recruit top classes and has previously worked with Malone at Manhattan; the hire, reported by Inside Carolina and Jon Rothstein, underscores Malone’s plan to strengthen UNC’s coaching and recruiting reach for the coming seasons.
UNC is conducting its first national men’s basketball coaching search since 1952, pressed to hire quickly as the transfer portal opens April 7 and staff planning becomes essential, with Final Four coaches Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May among early targets; pursuing an NBA head coach could complicate timing since the NBA season runs past April 12, a dynamic that underscores how the transfer era reshapes the Tar Heels’ hiring timetable and fuels fan anticipation while other Carolina programs post victories.
UNC announced a leadership change in its men's basketball program: head coach Hubert Davis will not return after five seasons. A national search for his replacement is underway, led by athletic director Bubba Cunningham and executive associate AD Steve Newmark (who will become AD on July 1), with Turnkey ZRG assisting and an advisory group of key stakeholders guiding the process. UNC will honor Davis’s contract. Davis, a former Tar Heel player and NBA veteran, helped UNC win a national title as an assistant in 2017 and became head coach in 2021.
The article notes there is little new information about Hubert Davis’s future as UNC’s head coach and reports that the weekly Hubert Davis Live radio show was postponed, signaling a likely upcoming formal announcement and possible end to his tenure.
North Carolina’s Hubert Davis finds his tenure in jeopardy after a first‑round NCAA Tournament exit to VCU, as boosters and UNC officials weigh a potential coaching search and the program’s fundraising dynamics, with meetings among campus leadership set to decide the next move in the coming days.
UNC’s 80-79 ACC Tournament loss to Clemson puts the Tar Heels at a crossroads, needing a collective, desperate effort to revive their NCAA Tournament hopes. Henri Veesaar led with 28 points and 17 rebounds but Carolina couldn’t sustain momentum against Clemson’s physical defense until a late rally fell short, and Caleb Wilson was unavailable. Hubert Davis acknowledged the team didn’t respond to the physicality early, echoing warnings from UNC’s famous 2000 run after a similar setback and underscoring the urgency to play desperate every minute going forward.
UNC freshman Caleb Wilson underwent surgery on a right-thumb injury suffered in non-contact practice, ending his season. He posted an emotional Instagram message thanking Tar Heel fans and teammates, reflecting on his time in Chapel Hill and vowing to support the squad as he recovers.
Duke closed the game with a 16-0 run in the second half and a larger 24-2 burst overall, turning 24 UNC turnovers into 24 points and defeating North Carolina 76-61. Maliq Brown anchored Duke with five steals and 15 points, while UNC's Derek Dixon poured in a career-high 17 on five 3-pointers but Duke dominated on the boards 42-29 and wore down the Tar Heels. UNC finishes the regular season 24-7, 12-6; Duke honors its seniors and advances toward the ACC Tournament, with a likely quarterfinal vs Clemson in Charlotte around 9:30 p.m.
UNC is evaluating seven options to renovate or replace the Dean E. Smith Center, with projected costs from $153 million to $786 million and potential completion windows around 2028–2031. Top options include a Smith Center renovation, a new on-campus arena at Odum Village, or a new off-campus site at Carolina North, with funding largely reliant on capital gifts and Rams Club contributions. The plan also discusses legacy and premium seating, student seating shifts, and ongoing stakeholder input, with no final decision yet.
UNC celebrated what would have been Dean Smith’s 95th birthday with an 89-82 win over Virginia Tech at the Smith Center, as backups Zayden High and Jonathan Powell sparked the comeback while Henri Veesaar and Seth Trimble powered the offense; the sellout crowd (21,750) underscored the program’s storied legacy and Smith’s enduring influence on the game.
Carolina rallied to an 89-82 win over Virginia Tech after a sluggish first half, led by Henri Veesaar’s 26 points (12 in the second half) and Seth Trimble’s 20. The Heels tightened transition defense, shot better from the line (23 of 30) and received a strong bench contribution (21 in the first half, 32-13 edge overall). UNC improved to 17-0 at home, tying the program record for home wins and keeping pace for another undefeated Smith Center season. Caleb Wilson was unavailable, VT’s Tobi Lawal scored 16, and UNC’s 14 turnovers were a concern. Tuesday’s game vs. Clemson is senior night, with the ACC Tournament outlook favorable amid a tightened home-dominance streak.
Carolina edged Louisville 77-74 at the Smith Center behind Seth Trimble’s career-high 30 points (16 in the first half) and a balanced team effort from Henri Veesaar, Jarin Stevenson, Luka Bogavac and Zayden High. UNC remains undefeated at home (16-0) and strengthens NCAA/ACC seed implications, aided by a spirited stripe-out crowd and High’s energy, while 9-of-19 free throws nearly cost them in a hard-fought win.
Without Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, UNC beat Pittsburgh 79-65, embracing a relentless team effort sparked by the 'subway rats' mindset; they jumped out 18-8, thrived in transition with 18 assists, and saw Jarin Stevenson (19 points) and Zayden High (career-high in points/rebounds) lead the way as the Tar Heels displayed depth and cohesion.
No. 14 North Carolina erased a late deficit to beat No. 4 Duke 71-68, capped by Seth Trimble’s 0.4-second, game-winning 3. Trimble scored 16 in the win, while Cameron Boozer led Duke with 24 and Caleb Wilson had 23 for UNC. UNC improves to 19-4 (7-3 ACC) and Duke falls to 21-2 (10-1 ACC), with a rematch scheduled for March 7 in Durham.
UNC relies on Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar, and Seth Trimble, but Luka Bogavac has surged after a staffer’s mustache shave, averaging 12.3 PPG with improved shooting as the Tar Heels enter a tougher ACC stretch.