NBA draft, 1992 1st round, 20th overall pick Coach Hubert Ira Davis Tar Heels Made Honest Admission following NCAA Tournament
To the surprise of many, the North Carolina men’s basketball team is making a March appearance in the tournament.
After a disappointing start to the season, the Tar Heels found their stride late, winning 9 of their last 12 games. They were eliminated in the ACC semifinals by Duke on Friday night, and with unimpressive metrics, including a 1-12 record in Quad 1 games, many speculated that UNC might not make the cut for the NCAA Tournament when the bracket was revealed on Sunday night.
“What I’m most proud of with this group is their focus—especially with so many questions surrounding the NCAA Tournament that have been asked for over a month,” said UNC head coach Hubert Davis after the loss to Duke. “Our players stayed concentrated on the reality of improving as a team, committing to their preparation, practice, and performance. They kept their focus on the immediate competition ahead and aimed to be their best. For the past month and a half, we’ve essentially been in must-win situations.”
Fortunately for Carolina fans, good news came quickly. When the South Region was announced during CBS Sports’ Selection Show, UNC was featured in the First Four in Dayton, set to face San Diego State for the opportunity to secure the 11th seed in the South.
The Tar Heels’ spot in the tournament is bound to spark discussions in the coming days, but the program is simply thrilled about the chance they’ve been given, posting a straightforward two-word message on X/Twitter right after the draw was revealed.
“LET’S DANCE,” read the tweet.
For those keeping score, UNC was among the “Last Four In,” along with San Diego State, Xavier, and Texas. All four teams will head to Dayton for games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
If UNC manages to defeat the Aztecs, they will face No. 6 seed Ole Miss on Friday in Milwaukee. It’ll be interesting to see if they can prove the committee right!
UNC’s Jae’Lyn Withers and coach Hubert Davis talk about the lane violation that dashed their hopes for an upset against Duke.
UNC was called for a lane violation on the potential game-tying free throw 😳
Duke won the game to advance to the ACC tournament final. pic.twitter.com/TyaWtF4htu
— ESPN (@espn) March 15, 2025
North Carolina made a dramatic comeback from a 24-point deficit against Duke in the ACC Tournament, but fell short as a late free throw miss and a lane violation thwarted their chances to take the lead. With 4.1 seconds left and trailing 72-71, Ven-Allen Lubin hit a free throw that was negated due to a lane violation by Jae’Lyn Withers. Duke’s Kon Knueppel then sealed a 74-71 victory with two free throws, securing their spot in the final. The 22-13 Tar Heels were on the NCAA Tournament bubble, needing to win the ACC Tournament for a bid.
Hubert Davis stood arm-in-arm with Jae'Lyn Withers for his postgame media availability:
"I mistimed the shot. I was just trying to make sure I crashed hard"
"Guys, we're not even sitting here in the semifinals without Jae'Lyn. I love him to death." pic.twitter.com/SrigSpTFlM
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 15, 2025
Despite the odds against them, the team showed resilience, rallying back from an 18-point deficit, but ultimately fell just short. Coach Hubert Davis defended Withers, emphasizing his importance to the team’s success.
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