Tag: Hubert Davis

Former Wisconsin high school star enters transfer portal

Wisconsin pursued him coming out of high school:

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin native Seth Trimble announced his decision to enter the transfer portal via Instagram on Tuesday.

At 6-foot-3, Trimble played his first two seasons of collegiate basketball for head coach Hubert Davis at the University of North Carolina. The Wisconsin native averaged 17.1 minutes per game in 35 appearances during the 2023-2024 season.

Wisconsin offered Trimble on February 17, 2021, but he elected to commit to the Tar Heels program shortly after receiving an offer in June of 2021. He was 247Sports’ No. 30 player in the class of 2022, No. 7 point guard and No. 1 recruit from the state of Wisconsin.

At Menomonee Falls High School, Trimble earned Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin in 2022 after averaging 27.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.3 swipes as a senior. That summer, he won a gold medal with USA Basketball’s U18 Men’s National Team in the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Mexico. 

Trimble ultimately saw his role diminish at Chapel Hill – he averaged under five points and started in just three of 68 total games while at North Carolina.

Given his Wisconsin roots, Trimble could be a prime target for Greg Gard and Wisconsin’s staff. Even though UW’s backcourt already boasts supreme talent, the hyper-athletic guard could compliment Chucky Hepburn and John Blackwell nicely in Madison. 

247Sports lists reason for optimism for UNC basketball in 2024-25

Here’s why you should be optimistic about the UNC basketball program for the 2024-25 season and beyond.

North Carolina’s 2023-24 season didn’t end the way the Tar Heels had hoped, bowing out as a No. 1 seed in the Sweet 16 to Alabama. But it was somewhat of a successful season in Chapel Hill for Hubert Davis and his staff.

A year after failing to reach the NCAA Tournament, North Carolina won the ACC regular season title and earned that No. 1 seed. They looked like a totally different program after some key transfer portal pickups. And now they are hoping to continue building off this season for the future.

As the college basketball season winds down on Monday, 247Sports revealed some reasons why big programs should be optimistic moving forward. That included North Carolina as Inside Carolina’s Adam Smith wrote:

“As for reasons for optimism, look no further than a year ago, when coach Hubert Davis oversaw a sweeping overhaul and extensive rebuild of UNC’s roster. Seven players from the 2022-23 team departed through the transfer portal, and two more players, both starters, moved after using up their college eligibility. Davis responded by adding five transfer pickups through the portal and two freshman newcomers (while also dealing with an incoming signee backing out of his national letter of intent days before he was due on campus). Ultimately, the results included an ACC regular-season title, No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and ACC Coach of the Year recognition for Davis.

“He has proven himself a capable portal recruiter and effective roster constructor amid the challenges of today’s on-the-fly climate. Plus, Carolina always figures to stand as an attractive destination, particularly given its blue-blood status as a traditional power and lucrative NIL opportunities. Throw in point guard Elliot Cadeau, with a year of college experience under his belt and the arrival of a highly regarded recruiting class topped by five-star prospects Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, and the reasons for optimism — despite the question marks that can be prevalent at this time on the calendar — are there for the Tar Heels.” — Inside Carolina’s Adam Smith

This season was important for Davis. Another disaster of missing the NCAA Tournament surely would have put him on the hot seat. However, he showed that he can get the team back to playing at an elite level.

The recruiting as well as the transfer portal didn’t hurt either. Both have been bright spots for Daivs in his tenure as head coach of the program.

Now, the task ahead is to continue to find success and get his first title as head coach.

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Hubert Davis holds his head high during Monday meetings

Just how much does UNC head coach Hubert Davis love his players? Read the quote – in this article – from Monday’s team meetings to find out.

How the UNC basketball season ended was pretty tough, but considering how North Carolina missed the NCAA Tournament entirely last year, you could call the 2023-2024 campaign a success.

The Tar Heels earned the West Region’s top seed, won games against Wagner and Michigan State, then lost a heartbreaker to Alabama in which very little went right late.

One area I was impressed with most is coaching. UNC head coach Hubert Davis came under some fire last year for not using his bench, then figured out how to effectively utilize his extras this season.

In short, we learned Hubert was a good coach who knows how to connect with his players. That was particularly evident in team meetings Monday via Inside Carolina:

“I want to know how the year has gone,” Davis said. “As the season ends, just to catch up and just see how the year went for them. Anything that they liked, things that they didn’t like, my expectations early on of what I expect coming back next and what I want it to look like. Those conversations were really good today (Monday). It was a lot of fun.”

Hubert doesn’t just treat his players like employees, but as they were his own sons. You watched that firsthand during games, with cameras consistently showing Hubert encouraging his players in huddles or at the scorer’s table.

While Hubert won’t have the likes of Armando Bacot next year, his fourth season as head coach could be bolstered if RJ Davis decides to return.

I can’t wait to see how much further Hubert grows in Year Four.

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Hubert Davis makes questionable roster decisions in second half of Sweet 16 loss

Seth Trimble is UNC’s best defender by a mile. He only played 11 minutes in last night’s, to no fault of his own, in last night’s Sweet 16 loss to Alabama.

I know I’ve been a huge proponent of UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis playing his bench in games, which has certainly paid off.

A team’s biggest moments – say, the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round – are when you want to play starters.

North Carolina experienced a disappointing end to yet another season on Thursday, March 28, as the West Region’s top seed lost 89-87 to Alabama. Yes, Jae’Lyn Withers made a questionable decision to take a 3-pointer late, but he was not why the Tar Heels lost.

UNC (29-8, 17-3 ACC) fell prone to several Crimson Tide runs, including one that saw UNC’s 8-point halftime lead dissipate quickly. North Carolina endured a second-half stretch in which it only scored three points in just under seven minutes, which allowed Alabama to come back.

It makes you wonder if the Tar Heels played Seth Trimble more – would the Tide have won? Trimble, UNC’s best defender by a mile, only played 11 minutes the whole game. That was Trimble’s lowest minutes total since Feb. 13, when North Carolina lost to Syracuse in the midst of another rough stretch.

It’s tough for Hubert to keep track of every single minutes log, but how did he not realize – in the biggest moment on the biggest state of college basketball – the impact that Trimble could’ve had on the outcome?

Paxson Wojcik played solid in 15 minutes off the bench, but he’s the same guy who gave up a couple easy layups last night. Wojcik hadn’t played 10 minutes in a game since Feb. 10 against Miami – why the sudden switch?

I really do think Hubert is the guy to lead UNC, but he’s proven time and time again to make questionable decisions in big moments.

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Hubert Davis compliments the job done by Nate Oats at Alabama

Hubert Davis compliments Nate Oats, Alabama!

When Alabama and North Carolina tipoff on Thursday night in Los Angeles in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, it will be the second meeting between [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and Hubert Davis in as many seasons.

Last season, Coach Oats and the Tide got the best of Davis and the Tar Heels with a 103-101 win in quadruple overtime on Nov. 27, 2022, in the Phil Knight Invitational.

The stakes will be higher on Thursday night with a spot in the Elite Eight up for grabs as each team sets its aim for the Final Four in Glendale.

On Wednesday, Coach Davis spoke with the media ahead of the matchup and would offer up a tremendous compliment for the job done by Coach Oats in Tuscaloosa.

Coach Oats has done a terrific job at Alabama. He’s a great coach. His teams have been consistent every year, from a defensive standpoint, tremendous athleticism. They can get steals and deflections, great rebounding team. They pressure you. They try to dictate and decide how you play on the offensive end.

Then from an offensive standpoint, it’s straightforward and clear. They’re trying to get 3s, layups, and dunks and free throws. And they’ve got the personnel to be able to do it. Great guard play, size at the 4 and the 5 positions that can shoot 3s and can finish around the basket.

They propose a lot of problems and challenges for you, but we’re really excited about the challenge of playing them tomorrow night.

Coach Davis is more than familiar with what it takes to make a deep run in the tournament having made the national championship game in his first season as the Tar Heels’ head coach in 2021-22.

Tipoff between the Tide and Tar Heels is scheduled for 8:39 p.m. CT and will be televised on CBS.

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Hubert Davis left off Naismith Coach of Year finalists

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis was snubbed from the Naismith Coach of the Year finalists ahead of the Sweet 16.

Hubert Davis will be coaching his team on Thursday night with the chance to make another Elite 8 and take a step forward to the Final Four. But on Monday, Davis was left off an award list.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the four finalists for the 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year award, leaving Davis off the list. Instead, the award named Dan Hurley (UConn), T.J. Otzelberger (Iowa State), Lamot Paris (South Carolina), and Kelvin Sampson (Houston) as the four finalists.

The list was cut down to four from the 10 semi-finalists that were announced a few weeks ago. Davis was among those 10 semi-finalists to make that initial list.

After not making the tournament a year ago and overhauling a big part of the roster, he has taken his team to the Sweet 16. The Tar Heels won the 2024 ACC regular season title and by doing so, Davis was named the conference’s Coach of the Year.

The 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year announcement will take place on Sunday, April 7, at the Naismith Awards Brunch during the Final Four in Phoenix.

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Hubert Davis remains unbeaten in this key betting stat in NCAA Tournament

UNC Basketball head coach Hubert Davis remains unbeaten against the spread in the NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis has made the Sweet 16 in two of his first three seasons with the program. And this turnaround in 2023-24, a year after missing the NCAA Tournament, is impressive.

With the Tar Heels beating Michigan State on Saturday, they punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 where they will face off against Alabama. North Carolina will be the favorites in that game but it will be another tough task ahead for Davis.

In his three years so far as head coach, Davis has compiled a 7-1 record in the NCAA Tournament but he’s unbeaten in one betting area. Davis is now 8-0 against the spread in the NCAA Tournament after the team covered the 3.5-point spread easily against the Spartans.

That’s an impressive feat.

Of course, Davis’ lone blemish overall in the NCAA Tournament is that national championship game, a game in which they had a double-digit lead at halftime. But it also includes some big wins including that Final Four win over Duke to get to the title game.

Can Davis and the Tar Heels make it 9-0 when they face off against Alabama?

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Hubert Davis benefitting from UNC’s on-court success with several bonuses

Not only is each UNC win satisfying players, fans and coaches, but each win is also netting head coach Hubert Davis a monetary bonus.

When the ACC Tournament started, I don’t think many sports fans expected the UNC and NC State men’s basketball teams to face off in the final.

North Carolina was a significantly more popular pick, as it was in the midst of yet another long winning streak, while the Wolfpack needed to win the conference tournament for a Big Dance chance.

NC State won five games in five days to win the ACC Tournament, advancing and getting a well-deserved shot at a national title. It would’ve been nice for the Tar Heels to capture their first conference tourney since 2016, but they’ll have to wait until next year.

Not only are both UNC and NC State playing some of their best basketball at the right time, but head coaches Hubert Davis and Kevin Keatts are benefitting from their respective programs’ on-court success.

Davis, the North Carolina head man, earned a combined $75,000 extra for being named ACC Coach of the Year and leading the Tar Heels to the ACC Regular Season Championship. Entering the Big Dance earned Davis an extra $100,000, while beating Wagner in the Round of 64 did the same.

Davis will earn an extra $75,000 for UNC reaching the Sweet 16, $200,000 for an Elite 8 appearance, $200,000 for a Final Four spot and $250,000 if the Tar Heels reach the promised land.

If North Carolina keeps dominating opponents like it did Wagner and largely throughout the regular season, Hubert’s pockets are going to be heavy.

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UNC has one of college sports’ best MBB/football coaching tandems

UNC coaches Hubert Davis and Mack Brown are two of the best in their respective sports. They land the Tar Heels a high overall ranking.

If you’re looking for a school with consistently productive athletic programs across the board, there’s few you could name with conviction besides the University of North Carolina.

Including sports like field hockey, lacrosse and women’s soccer, the Tar Heels always seem to be sending teams to the NCAA Tournament. Even with late-season collapses in recent years, UNC football sports plenty of high-end talent and consistently makes bowl games.

North Carolina is best known as a basketball school, with its men’s basketball team being one of the sport’s storied programs. The Tar Heels are looking to capture their seventh National Championship this year, kicking off NCAA Tournament play on Thursday, March 22 at 2:45 p.m. against Wagner.

With the success both UNC football and basketball have enjoyed over the years, Mack Brown and Hubert Davis were named CBS Sports’ fourth-best football/men’s basketball coaching tandem.

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Brown and his football players wait until August 29 to kick off their season. The Gridiron Heels will be led offensively by Omarion Hampton, plus defensively by Kaimon Rucker.

In the Big Dance, North Carolina is trying to prove it deserves the West Region’s top seed. UNC will, undoubtedly, use last season’s disappointment as a motivating factor for another title.

Wouldn’t it be great if both Hubert and Mack won National Titles this season?

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Hubert Davis one of four UNC coaches to accomplish this feat

There haven’t been many recent coaches in UNC basketball history, but they’ve all enjoyed success. What rare feat has Hubert Davis achieved?

It’s March Madness week, which means tons of excitement and decreased productivity.

Yes, most of us are either in school or working jobs, but that doesn’t stop us from gaining emotional highs during the NCAA Tournament. People fill out their brackets, then watch as their picks progress or brackets are busted by Cinderellas.

After missing the Big Dance last year, UNC is back in this year. The Tar Heels won the ACC Regular Season Title, while falling to rival NC State in the tournament championship.

Not only did North Carolina make the NCAA Tournament, but it also holds a Number One seed – in the West Region. Major props to Hubert Davis and his players for the massive turnaround.

As a result of leading UNC to a top seed, Davis is now just one of four coaches in program history to do so.

Recognize the other coaches on that list? Bill Guthridge advanced North Carolina to the 1998 and 2000 Final Fours, but never won a National Championship.

Dean Smith and Roy Williams aren’t just two of the most legendary coaches in program history, but in all of college basketball.

Smith led UNC to the 1982 and 1983 NCAA Titles, making 11 Final Fours during his 36 years in Chapel Hill. Williams won three titles as the Tar Heels’ head coach – 2005, 2009 and 2017 – while making nine Final Fours in his 18 years leading North Carolina.

Will Hubert be able to turn UNC’s 1-seed into a National Championship?

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