Hubert Davis is on thin ice. The storied North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program has not made the mark under him as it did under Roy Williams. Granted, it’s been only four years compared to Williams’ 17, but the expectations in Chapel Hill are championship-level and Davis hasn’t consistently met them.
The program’s glaring lack of signature wins, early NCAA exit, and a troubling pattern of late-game collapses, including three straight losses to Duke this season, have only added fuel to the fire. For a fanbase used to Final Fours and national titles under Roy, Davis’s tenure now enters a critical phase. Year five will not be about patience. It will be about proof. And this ESPN Analyst has highlighted the backing that Davis has received this season and now the ball is in his court to deliver.
Tim Donnelly said on ESPN 99.9 The Fan, “If you’re in the top five spenders, you should have top five quality. You get $14 million to spend; you better put together a roster that doesn’t come with excuses. You better put together a roster that wins you better put together a roster that fits your system perfectly because, let’s be real, it doesn’t matter if I don’t see $14 million worth of value on that roster.If Hubert Davis does and if that coaching staff and that front office do, because they’re the ones that have to go win with it, it’s a results-based business.”
This past season only deepened the concern. Despite rallying late to finish 23–14, UNC struggled mightily in Quad 1 games with just one win in twelve tries and needed a strong ACC Tournament push just to sneak into the NCAA Tournament as a First Four team. That Quad 1 statistic was the worst one for an at-large team ever since the metric was introduced. They beat San Diego State in Dayton but were bounced in the Round of 64 by Ole Miss, ending another year on a disappointing note.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: Final Four-Semifinals-North Carolina vs Duke, Apr 2, 2022 New Orleans, LA, USA North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis talks with his team during a time out against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half during the 2022 NCAA men s basketball tournament Final Four semifinals at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports, 02.04.2022 20:29:57, 18010279, Hubert Davis, TopPic, Final Four, NPStrans, NCAA Basketball, Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xBobxDonnanx 18010279
The program is giving Hubert Davis the resources to truly stamp his mark on this team. Reports indicate that North Carolina has invested around $14 million into its 2025–26 roster, the second-highest spend in the nation. That figure is nearly triple what was allocated just a year earlier, signaling a dramatic shift in commitment and urgency.
In addition, men’s basketball executive director and general manager Jim Tanner is earning an $850,000 salary, further underscoring the university’s dedication to elevating and preserving the standard of its most celebrated program. The total compensation for the staff could be upward of $7 million, the report said. Davis also received a two-year contract extension after last season as the university started to invest in the program. So they are leaving no stone unturned for Davis to later say that UNC did not support him as he has this past season.
He had called for UNC to change its approach and adapt to the new age of college basketball. “The old model for Carolina basketball just doesn’t work,” Davis said in February. “It’s not sustainable. It has to build out because there are so many things in play with NIL, the transfer portal, agents, and international players. You just need a bigger staff to be able to maintain things. You need a bigger staff so I can do what I’m supposed to be doing, and that’s coaching basketball.”
They have followed through on the calls of Davis by providing him not only with full institutional backing but also with substantial monetary support for his coaching staff. This move signals a serious commitment to his vision and leadership. According to Donnelly, this is more than just a show of confidence; it is a clear message to Davis that the expectations have been raised and that the pressure is now squarely on him to deliver results.
He said, “This feels like UNC looking at Hubert and Jim Tanner and everybody else involved and Shawn May and everyone else involved in their coaching staff and saying you can’t; you can’t say any of that.”
Whether this revamped roster justifies the reported 14 million dollar investment remains up for debate, as Donnelly pointed out. But one thing is clear: Davis had both the financial backing and the freedom to construct the team in his image, and this is the result. How that money was spent, however, has not impressed this national analyst.
North Carolina among offseason losers from Rob Dauster
Where have the Tar Heels spent their money? Hubert Davis has brought in five key transfers, led by former Arizona forward Henri Veesaar. They also landed highly regarded international guard Luka Bogavac, signaling a broader roster overhaul. Joining them are 6-foot-11 forward Jarin Stevenson, 6-foot-6 wing Jonathan Powell, and 6-foot-2 guard Kyan Evans, each adding length and versatility to the lineup. Guard Jaydon Young was added to provide depth in the backcourt. They also have senior guard Seth Trimble returning for them.
The addition of the Montenegro guard gives Davis’ roster some much-needed shooting and stability as a playmaker on the wing. As it stands, Bogavac figures to slide in as a starter in a lineup that could include Evans, senior leader Trimble, Wilson and Veesaar. In terms of high school recruits, the Tar Heels will welcome Caleb Wilson, Isaiah Denis, and Derek Dixon.
These additions have made it the No. 15 ranked class in the nation, which is 10 ranks back from last year. Still, not everyone is sold on the rebuild. Analyst Rob Dauster recently listed the Tar Heels among the losers of this transfer portal cycle, raising questions about whether all this investment will pay off.
Last season, UNC had a clear star in RJ Davis, who headlined the roster with his leadership and scoring. That kind of proven presence appears to be missing from this year’s group. While the Tar Heels may not have landed the marquee names they were targeting in the transfer portal, the overall roster composition still looks solid on paper. But it’s not only rankings that matter in the end but what Davis does with his players. He can make everyone play their best game; this can still be a decent season for the Tar Heels. But the pressure is on for Hubert Davis.
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