My love for the University of North Carolina basketball program began long before I truly understood the game. I was just six years old when Michael Jordan hit that iconic shot against Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball, helping North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball and legendary coach Dean Smith capture the national championship in 1982. That moment sparked something in me that has never faded. From that day forward, I was a Tar Heel fan through and through.
Over the decades, I’ve watched Carolina basketball evolve. The sport itself has changed dramatically—from the way the game is played to recruiting, the transfer portal, NIL deals, and the ever-growing pressure placed on college programs. While Tar Heel fans cherish tradition, we’ve also had to adapt to a new era of college basketball.
To be honest, there are parts of the modern game that many fans—including myself—don’t love. But change is inevitable, and programs that succeed are the ones that learn to grow without losing their identity.
That’s why I smiled when a Facebook memory popped up for me recently. It was a post I made years ago that simply said: “I ride with Hubert Davis.” Even after everything that has happened since, that statement still holds true today.
As I write this, Carolina sits at an impressive 24–6 record and will finish the season undefeated at home with a remarkable 18–0 record in Chapel Hill. That’s a milestone the program has never achieved before. For most fan bases, those accomplishments would be cause for celebration.
Yet somehow, for some fans, it still isn’t enough.
The critics have been loud this season—especially after that tough loss to NC State Wolfpack men’s basketball. It wasn’t a fun game for Tar Heel fans to watch. The Wolfpack crowd was energized, and the result stung.
But let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment. Are we really going to define an entire season by one bad night?
Just a short time later, Carolina delivered a thrilling win against Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball—a victory that every Tar Heel fan celebrated. Rivalry games are emotional, unpredictable battles, and that one reminded us just how special this program can be.
The truth is simple: no team wins every game. Not even the greatest Carolina teams did.
There’s a saying that “comparison is the thief of joy,” and nowhere is that more evident than in the way some fans judge Hubert Davis. Too often, he’s compared to the legends who came before him—coaches like Roy Williams and Dean Smith.
But that comparison simply isn’t fair.
Those men are Hall of Fame coaches who built extraordinary careers over decades. Expecting Davis to immediately match that level of historical greatness is unrealistic. Great coaching legacies take time to build.
If we’re being fair, we should judge Davis based on his own journey—not by measuring him against icons.
And when you look at his accomplishments objectively, there’s plenty to respect.
In fact, several legendary coaches have career winning percentages lower than Hubert Davis’s current mark. That list includes names like Bob Knight, Billy Donovan, Kelvin Sampson, Rick Majerus, Frank Maguire, Jay Wright, Jim Calhoun, and Denny Crum.
That doesn’t mean Davis has achieved what those coaches did—but it does show that his performance deserves perspective.
Which brings me to the question that critics rarely answer.
If you want Coach Davis gone, who exactly do you think should replace him?
It’s easy to call for change. It’s much harder to suggest a realistic and better alternative.
Carolina basketball is one of the most prestigious programs in college sports, but that doesn’t mean the perfect coach is waiting around to take the job. Stability, culture, and leadership matter—and Davis brings all three.
Another thing worth remembering is that Hubert Davis understands Carolina in a way very few people do.
He played here. He wore the uniform. He understands the expectations, the pride, and the responsibility that comes with representing the Tar Heel program. That connection to the university and its traditions is something fans should value.
No coach is perfect. Not Dean Smith. Not Roy Williams. And certainly not Hubert Davis.
Even Davis himself would admit there are decisions he wishes he could take back. But what matters most is his willingness to learn, adapt, and grow. Every season, every game, every challenge becomes another opportunity to improve.
That’s the mark of a coach who cares deeply about the program.
More importantly, he respects the institution and the legacy that came before him. He honors the Carolina way while navigating a completely different era of college basketball.
For fans who truly love the program, that should count for something.
Rivalries will continue. Critics will always exist. And there will always be tough losses along the way.
But when I look at where the program stands today—winning games, protecting home court, competing against elite programs, and maintaining the culture that defines Carolina basketball—I see a team that is moving in the right direction.
That’s why my position hasn’t changed.
Through wins and losses, through criticism and praise, I still believe in the man leading the program.
And that’s why I proudly say it again today:
I ride with Hubert Davis.
