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Pete Nance shares his side of the lemon Oreo story with Hubert Davis

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•03/01/23•

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North Carolina forward Pete nance and coach Hubert Davis
Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Just as North Carolina legend Michael Jordan had his “Secret Stuff” in Space Jam, current Tar Heel Pete Nance has some of his own. His is a little different than Jordan’s, though.

Following Saturday’s win over Virginia, Nance told his side of the now-viral lemon Oreos story.

Nance, a transfer from Northwestern, went up to coach Hubert Davis’ office to chat before the game. That’s not unusual. He said they usually talk about things beyond basketball — and, in this case, they were talking about cookies.

Somewhere in their conversation about whether Insomnia Cookies or Crumbl Cookies is better, Nance mentioned he liked lemon Oreos. In fact, those are his favorite. So, when Nance took his usual pregame nap, Davis went to work.

“We were having a debate between Insomnia Cookies and Crumbl. I told him my favorite that I have in my house all the time are lemon Oreos,” Nance said. “He said he had never tried them, so he went to Harris Teeter and got himself a pack.

“I always take a nap in Coach Davis’ office right before the game, so he left me a package of lemon Oreos on the couch. I think a lot of credit to the Oreos, too, I think big time.”

After Davis bought him the box of Oreos, Nance dropped 22 points on Virginia to help UNC upset the then-No. 6-ranked Cavaliers. Contrary to other reports, he didn’t eat any before the game.

He wanted to save them for afterward.

“I didn’t eat one,” Nance said. “It’s for after the game. I couldn’t risk being sluggish.”

That all lines up with Davis’ account of the conversation. After the game, though, Davis had a message for the Tar Heels. He had to tell them what the secret ingredient was to their big victory. Then, he had to make sure he didn’t lose the magic.

“Right after the game, I walked into the locker room and said, ‘Guys, you have no idea what allowed us to be pretty good today,'” Davis said. “I went into the locker and threw the Oreos. He didn’t eat it yet. Threw it right there on the ground. Coach May said, ‘You’ve got to go to Harris Teeter today.’ So as soon as I leave you guys, I’m going to Harris Teeter to go get some more lemon Oreo cookies.”