Why 2024 could be a special season North Carolina, Hubert Davis

The North Carolina Tar Heels notched two wins in three days after defeating Virginia on Saturday and Miami on Monday to improve to 22-6 on the season and 14-3 in the ACC to remain at the very top of the conference standings.

Things are looking optimistic in Chapel Hill amid the program’s third season under head coach Hubert Davis. Which were proceeded by an improbable trip to the NCAA Tournament championship game and a disappointing season in 2022 where the Tar Heels missed out on the NCAA Tournament after entering the season ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“The panic button was hit at North Carolina,” On3 Bracketologist James Fletcher told Andy Staples. “What is the Hubert Davis era going to be? Is it going to be highs and lows or did we all get fooled by one good month of basketball? Because we were this close to having two straight non-NCAA Tournament seasons.”

Through the highs and lows of years one and two under Davis, North Carolina now looks stronger than ever in year three. Firing on all cylinders as the No. 9 ranked team in the nation with the ACC’s top-scoring offense and the conference’s best rebounding team ranked eighth nationally in boards per game.

“This year they go in and they change up the roster a little bit. Of course, Caleb Love ends up hitting the exit door, and RJ Davis and Armando Bacot, there were I think some questions from people around the country. Can that duo really take you to the level that North Carolina should be at given the fact that they just hadn’t in the last few years?” Fletcher asked. “Well this year they really have.”

The Tar Heels star players and new additions have answered the call this season, with Davis leading the ACC in scoring with 21.7 points per game following his 42-point performance against Miami and Bacot leading the conference in rebounding for a third consecutive season. Properly positioning North Carolina for success for both the ACC and NCAA Tournaments this postseason.

“They are the fifth overall seed, they’re the one knocking at the door waiting for one of those one-seeds to fall off that line,” Fletcher said. “It’s nothing against Caleb Love, nothing against anyone else who was in that program last year, but the fit. The basketball fit it just a little bit better and they seem to have a great chemistry and that just comes with playing better basketball sometimes.”

“RJ Davis at the guard spot, him having more freedom, being on the ball a lot more has opened him up. Armando Bacot not having to worry about trying to get two guards involved in the play has opened him up to do a little bit more on the post,” Fletcher explained. “Of course he’s got some shooters around him, Cormac Ryan comes in there, and so I think that they just have a little bit better flow and you hope that this is some kind of formula that Hubert Davis is able to repeat and continue to put on the floor for North Carolina.”

With three games remaining in the regular season following three straight wins, the Tar Heels seem to be peaking at the right time ahead of the postseason. As it will surely be interesting to see how North Carolina performs given their recent history and impressive play as of late.