The North Carolina Tar Heels and their NIL woes aren’t exactly a secret. A large part of the program’s dwindling success this season has been its ineffective utilization of the transfer portal. Hubert Davis, try as he might, was not able to assemble the squad that he needed to win. However, it doesn’t look like he’s going to let that happen again, as rumors of a new head coach are afoot. On his radio show, Coach Davis committed to hiring more staff at Chapel Hill to handle the NIL deals and the transfers.
On The Goodman and Hummel Basketball Podcast, show hosts Jeff Goodman and Robbie Hummel discussed the situation. “I hesitate to say that making the ultimate change is the right play,” Hummel said, pointing out the success that Davis brought initially. “I think it’s about finding talent that fits… But something has to be different,” he said about UNC’s transfer portal failure and roster construction this year. “I don’t know if it needs to be Hubert is gone.”
Hubert Davis’ amazing first year as head coach led to a massive contract extension. His contract is till July 2028, with a base salary of $400,000. However, with all of the supplementary compensation, the Chapel Hill head coach is all set to make upwards of $5.4 million in the next 3 years. However, if push comes to shove, UNC will only have to pay Davis less than $1.5 million if they were to buy out his contract.
“They’re talking about a GM now,” Goodman continued, to which Hummel replied. “That’s not unheard of, teams have that.” He cited the example of Illinois hiring Neel Ganta, a former NBA executive, as their general manager.
Although there are no concrete plans for a buyout or dismissal, rumors have been flooding Chapel Hill for a while. His staff expansion, however, could be the lifeline he needed.
Hubert Davis’ nightmarish ACC stretch
What is going on at Chapel Hill? In the last five games, the North Carolina Tar Heels have lost four. Yes, you heard that right. Their only victory in the last three weeks came in an overtime win against Boston College. With how they are playing, the UNC team looks ready to miss the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years.
Jeff Goodman spoke about the problems plaguing Chapel Hill on a recent episode of The Goodman and Hummel Basketball Podcast. “I feel like the problem with Carolina has been a couplefold. One, obviously in the portal, they didn’t deliver. They didn’t get a big.” The national reporter said.
Feb 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis with guard Elliot Cadeau (3) in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
According to Goodman, UNC is stuck in its ways. They haven’t been able to adapt to how things are right now, while Duke has been ahead of the curve. If Hubert Davis doesn’t adapt quickly, it could be the end of an era for the North Carolina team.
The Tar Heels need to buckle up and lock in if they want to stand a chance to compete in the NCAA tournament. Hubert Davis will have to capitalize on all the opportunities that he gets. The team is not bad, not by a long shot, as they have shown promising signs this season. It is just a question of whether they will be able to band together at the right time.
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