Go Big or Go Home: Hubert Davis’ Make-or-Break Season at UNC Could Define His Legacy

Go Big or Go Home: Hubert Davis’ Make-or-Break Season at UNC Could Define His Legacy

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – For most college basketball programs, scraping into the NCAA Tournament and sneaking past the First Four might be enough to slap a “successful season” label on the year.

But this is North Carolina.

Here, banners aren’t raised for participation. The Tar Heels don’t hang their hat on being the 68th team in a 68-team field. And while an 8–2 finish to the regular season last year kept them from the embarrassment of missing the tournament for the second time in three years, it did little to silence the growing whispers around head coach Hubert Davis.

Instead, it lit the fuse on a season that feels like it could define his career.

Davis — the former UNC star who guided the program to a national title game appearance in his debut season back in 2022 — now finds himself standing squarely at a crossroads. There’s a new general manager already in place. A new athletic director is coming next summer. And there’s a fan base that loves its own but has zero patience for mediocrity.

If there’s any fear, Davis hides it well.

“Every year is important here at Carolina,” Davis said. “I can’t remember a time when the expectations haven’t been at the highest level. The things I always focus on are how you prepare, how you practice and how you play. I’m focused on the process.”

The Process Just Got a Lot Taller
Last year, UNC’s biggest weakness was painfully obvious: they simply didn’t have enough size. The Tar Heels were one of the smaller lineups in the ACC, and it showed. They struggled on the glass, surrendered too many second-chance points, and abandoned their classic inside-out game for a style that relied more on guard penetration.

Davis’ offseason approach was clear: fix it, and fix it fast.

Enter three towering transfers — all 6-foot-11 or taller. Henri Veesaar, a versatile 7-footer from Arizona who played key minutes in the Wildcats’ tournament run; Jarin Stevenson, the Chapel Hill native and 6-foot-11 Alabama transfer; and Ivan Matlekovic, a 7-foot raw but intriguing project from High Point. All three are taller than last year’s tallest Tar Heel.

“Getting bigger was a huge goal for us and I think we’ve achieved that,” Davis said. “We’re always an inside-out team. That’s who I am as a coach. Now we can go penetration, post, and offensive rebounding — the way Carolina basketball is meant to be played.”

The Star Recruit Who Could Change Everything
If size was the headline, then Caleb Wilson might be the plot twist. The 6-foot-9 freshman forward arrives in Chapel Hill carrying a 5-star pedigree, elite athleticism, and a polished scoring game that stretches from the rim to beyond the arc. He’s explosive, versatile, and, according to Davis, “always in a position of listening and learning.”

Wilson isn’t just another talented freshman — he’s the type of player who could change the arc of a season.

Not Just Bigger — Longer in the Backcourt Too
Davis also addressed another glaring issue: backcourt size. Last year’s small guard tandem — 6-foot RJ Davis and 6-foot-1 Elliot Cadeau — was often overmatched defensively. This year, UNC boasts more length and athleticism at the perimeter with returning senior Seth Trimble (6-foot-3), Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans (6-foot-2), and two highly-touted freshmen: 6-foot-3 Derek Dixon and 6-foot-5 Isaiah Denis.

“You can see it in the way they compete,” Davis said. “It wouldn’t surprise me that by the time they leave Carolina, both of their jersey numbers are up in the rafters.”

That’s lofty praise in a building where Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, and Tyler Hansbrough’s jerseys hang above the court.

A Program at a Turning Point
It’s been eight years since UNC cut down the nets. Eight years since they added to their six national championships and 18 ACC Tournament titles. And while Davis’ early Final Four run bought him goodwill, the Tar Heels’ uneven play since has made that credit line run thin.

Now, with a fresh roster, more size, and a clear identity, the 2025–26 season feels like a last chance to prove that Davis is the right man to lead one of college basketball’s bluest bluebloods.

The stakes? Enormous. The margin for error? Slim.

But if this is truly a “go big or go home” season, Hubert Davis has chosen to go very big.

“The expectations here are real and they are at the highest level every year,” Davis said. “North Carolina should never waver from those standards. I want this team to reach its full potential. I want to be one of the better teams in the country, and we’re going to work really hard to do that.”

And in Chapel Hill, “better” means only one thing: playing on the final Monday night of the season.