Grade Hubert Davis as a Coach

[What Would Jesus Do?]

We've seen him for 4 years. We have been through highs and lows. His overall record is solid. Top tier in the ACC. He's made some changes and may make more.

How's he doing at this stage of his career, in your opinion?

I've listed 10 aspects of coaching. No doubt I've left some things out - so feel free to bitch about my choices - but it's somewhere to start.

 

[AllAboutHeels]

Of all the elements you listed, only thing is good about Hubert is He represents well. Everything else is below par in my opinion.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Of all the elements you listed, only thing is good about Hubert is He represents well. Everything else is below par in my opinion.

I think he's good at a number of things.

His recruiting - both from HS and from the portal - is way above average imo. Sure he's whiffed a few critical times and, yes, occasionally a touted player fails to live up to the hype. But that happens to every coach. His hits are way better than his misses. He gets an A or A- on recruiting from me. At worst, he's second best in the ACC (Scheyer has the edge out of HS and Louisville's Pat Kelsy is making a case for himself as top portal recruiter - but Hubert is good at both).

I've also noticed on many occasions that he gets his teams fired up coming out of halftime. More than I've noticed the opposite. I give him a good grade there. At least a B.

While he doesn't seem to be able to get his kids spitting fire at the beginning of every game, they usually look prepared. And even when we lose, they're always cranked for Duke. B. Maybe B-..

 

[Bubspub88]

I would probably give him a B- overall. That is not terrible except his predecessors (excluding Gut and Doherty because short tenure) for the most part were A+ and A.

 

[heels05champs]

C- overall from me. Dozens of coaches nationally could equal or exceed what he’s done in 4 years if given the same opportunity.

 

[Ozheelfan]

D-

 

[gunslingerdick]

Yeah, somewhere in the C range for me. Probably the lower end. I think he recruits high school players fairly well and I think he obviously reps the school in a way that is desirable. And I’ve also seen him come up with a cool out-of-bounds play from time to time. I think he’s decent in that regard.

But he’s really bad at roster construction, really bad at player development and really bad at player management. Those are pulling his overall grade down significantly. But one of the options absent above is “scheme creation”. He’s abysmal there.

 

[tarheels0015]

If we had a secret high donors club like Dook to land the top class almost every yr like Dook ... his grade would be much higher in my book ... he just needs the top at almost every position would make him get a B plus .... now for me it's a F

 

[kevindow]

Great person. Great player. Great Assistant Coach. Unfortunately, he and his coaching staff do not have top 10 level talent that UNC needs and deserves.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

At the moment, Hubert is getting his best marks for

Representing UNC
Recruiting out of high school
Halftime adjustments
Recruiting from the portal

 

[RP12]

We've seen him for 4 years. We have been through highs and lows. His overall record is solid. Top tier in the ACC. He's made some changes and may make more.

Solid and top tier compared to the average program? If he had the same success at Pitt he would have a great reputation, although his strategy and talent management would still suck. This isn't Pitt.

 

[dtodd4475]

B- would be my overall.

 

[Kool1234567]

Its border line B- to C+…..Just 2 many up and down years thus far….

Its Year 5 coming up and I have always felt that a coach should get 5 years to put his system and get his players in place…

Basically Year 5 needs to look like Year 3 with better NCAA Tournament results…

 

[superstar57]

I only could only vote for represents school. I can't make an honest assessment of his x and O's, very high IQ of many of the posters here, but a high level of X and O's I go elsewhere for that type of Info. His end of game coaching can be judged by the naked eye, and we lost to many close games to say he is good at that aspect. HD is good at improving his team as the year goes along. Player development I could say yes, my example would be Amando Bacot and RJ Davis. I didn't vote yes in development because HD has not made a star player better. Latest example is Ian Jackson.

 

[RoseHeel]

D-

 

[BL1987]

D. And getting worse.

 

[Ozheelfan]

I rated him a D- above and was thinking about it…. Hubert never coached at a junior level, nor HS or in a small college…. And I believe the lack of a ‘humble’ start in coaching is hurting his development as a coach. All coaches need to be able to self evaluate, they need to recognise mistakes and work to adjust in order to not repeat those mistakes.

I think Hubert has made plenty of mistakes, but I don’t think we’re seeing much change, or for want of a better word, humility enough to make a difference… yet.

Maybe if Hubert had coached at a lower level first, made his mistakes, failed once or twice he’d be better off for it. Not every coach has needed such a beginning, but maybe he did.

 

[notashelbyfan]

He is a D and the only reason he isn't an F is because he did make it to the championship game and he end K's career.

 

[FORREST GUMP]

We've seen him for 4 years. We have been through highs and lows. His overall record is solid. Top tier in the ACC. He's made some changes and may make more.

How's he doing at this stage of his career, in your opinion?

I've listed 10 aspects of coaching. No doubt I've left some things out - so feel free to bitch about my choices - but it's somewhere to start.

Hubert is a good man and I think he tries hard to succeed and I believe he is a decent coach but not the coaches need to succeed at the highest level.

 

[DSouthr]

This kind of strikes me in a different way, as if: Mom & dad, he is a really good guy, he has a good job, he helps me with the dishes, and he leaves the toilet seat up all the time, please don't hold the fact that he is a serial killer against him so much, he is cutting back some, he is trying? LOL

Guys, there is only 2 things I think of that have me grading him with the "F", which stands for failing. It is the lacking of being able to properly evaluate the talent he has and is bringing in and his inability to play his players in roles that allow them to play to their strengths. In my view if you can not pass either you do not deserve the job, they are just so basic to the job, they are like the basic bed rock everything else has to be built upon.

 

[GoNtheDistance]

Hubert sucks. Bottom line.

 

[KeeLo]

...Mom & dad, he is a really good guy, he has a good job, he helps me with the dishes, and he leaves the toilet seat up all the time, please don't hold the fact that he is a serial killer against him so much, he is cutting back some, he is trying...

Makes sense, though bizarre, being attracted to a serial killer as she thinks leaving the seat up is a positive! Lol

 

[al would]

He's not good at anything you poasted in the poll ... should have given the same options and asked "what does hubcap need to improve on"?

 

[WoadBlue]

We've seen him for 4 years. We have been through highs and lows. His overall record is solid. Top tier in the ACC. He's made some changes and may make more.

How's he doing at this stage of his career, in your opinion?

I've listed 10 aspects of coaching. No doubt I've left some things out - so feel free to bitch about my choices - but it's somewhere to start.

Top tier (kinda) in the ACC when ACC basketball its at its all time lowest point aint much to hang your hat on. .

 

[WoadBlue]

Makes sense, though bizarre, being attracted to a serial killer as she thinks leaving the seat up is a positive! Lol

I think Ted Bundy's mother actually said that about him: he was always so kind and thoughtful, always placing the toilet seat down for his mother.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Top tier (kinda) in the ACC when ACC basketball its at its all time lowest point aint much to hang your hat on. .

Well, there is that.

 

[vbrs]

I think Hubert gets a C. He has done ok by the standards of most schools. We have gone to the NCAA 3/4 years. Many schools would be happy with that. Of course UNC is not most schools. Obviously, Hubert should be replaced if he can't improve next year.

 

[NathanFielder]

I'll be generous and give him a C/C-.

And that's mainly because UNC won at Duke in K's final home game, and UNC beat Duke in K's final game in the Final Four. Those two wins may not be the biggest in program history, but they're definitely 2 of the most satisfying wins in program history.

There hasn't been anything all that great apart from that and there's been plenty of down. Also, the overall trajectory of the program looks iffy right now. But those 2 wins carry a fair amount of weight. His resume would be absolutely disastrous without them.

 

[gunslingerdick]

I'll be generous and give him a C/C-.

And that's mainly because UNC won at Duke in K's final home game, and UNC beat Duke in K's final game in the Final Four. Those two wins may not be the biggest in program history, but they're definitely 2 of the most satisfying wins in program history.

There hasn't been anything all that great apart from that and there's been plenty of down. Also, the overall trajectory of the program looks iffy right now. But those 2 wins carry a fair amount of weight. His resume would be absolutely disastrous without them.

All facts. Well said.

 

[dtodd4475]

I'll be generous and give him a C/C-.

And that's mainly because UNC won at Duke in K's final home game, and UNC beat Duke in K's final game in the Final Four. Those two wins may not be the biggest in program history, but they're definitely 2 of the most satisfying wins in program history.

There hasn't been anything all that great apart from that and there's been plenty of down. Also, the overall trajectory of the program looks iffy right now. But those 2 wins carry a fair amount of weight. His resume would be absolutely disastrous without them.

That entire run to the National Title game for me holds weight, some very good coaches have not got to a title game. The Baylor and UCLA games they were clear underdogs, and were a toss up game against Marquette, that's even leaving out taking out dook. Plus the #1 seed year losing to a strong Bama squad in the sweet 16 was a good year. Has garnered some coach of the year accolades along the way, but his bad years have been very underwhelming.

That's why I lean B-/C+.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

This is a tough crowd. Who would have thought I'd be giving Hubert a higher grade than most?

By year:
2022 - A-
2023 - C-
2024 - B+
2025 - C

Overall: B-

 

[RP12]

This is a tough crowd. Who would have thought I'd be giving Hubert a higher grade than most?

By year:
2022 - A-
2023 - C-
2024 - B+
2025 - C

Overall: B-

Not to nitpick but I think a C for last year is generous, considering with anything like a normal year of bid stealing they would have missed the tournament for certain, and they didn’t win a game in the real tournament anyway. There was a ton of talent on both last year and the 23 team and both should have missed the tournament altogether.

 

[KeeLo]

I won't issue a grade as I don't see them play much at all since I only have network TV. But will say 2 things:

• as Roy always would: "Everything looks better when the ball goes in the basket."
• In-Bounds defense vs. Stanford, a Q3 home loss, was one of the most confusing things in sports I've ever watched

 

[NathanFielder]

This is a tough crowd. Who would have thought I'd be giving Hubert a higher grade than most?

By year:
2022 - A-
2023 - C-
2024 - B+
2025 - C

Overall: B-

The 2023 team cannot be given a C-. That team was preseason number 1. Maybe it was overrated coming into the season, but that season was an absolute failure and should be graded as such.

Even last year's team was somewhat fortunate to make the NCAA Tournament. So they were a selection committee's choice away from missing the NCAA Tournament. How that gives them a C is a bit generous to me.

And if the NCAA Tournament carries weight like it did for 2022, should that hurt Hubert more in 2024 since they were a 1 seed and lost as a favorite in the S16?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I only have network TV

I've been signing up for Sling each basketball season over the past few years. It's the cheapest way to get most of the games that I've found. But it's been getting more expensive over time. At what point are the Heels no longer good enough to justify the expense?

I don't need championships, but 1-12 vs Quad 1 teams doesn't cut it.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

The 2023 team cannot be given a C-. That team was preseason number 1. Maybe it was overrated coming into the season, but that season was an absolute failure and should be graded as such.

Even last year's team was somewhat fortunate to make the NCAA Tournament. So they were a selection committee's choice away from missing the NCAA Tournament. How that gives them a C is a bit generous to me.

And if the NCAA Tournament carries weight like it did for 2022, should that hurt Hubert more in 2024 since they were a 1 seed and lost as a favorite in the S16?

I see your point. But a C- isn't a good grade, in my book. Might be good enough for BC or Ga Tech, but not for UNC.

Ditto for my B- overall grade. Good enough for a whole lot of teams, but not for UNC.

 

[al would]

Not to nitpick but I think a C for last year is generous, considering with anything like a normal year of bid stealing they would have missed the tournament for certain, and they didn’t win a game in the real tournament anyway. There was a ton of talent on both last year and the 23 team and both should have missed the tournament altogether.

The fact that most of the players with remaining eligibility couldn't wait to hit the portal or draft made last years "coaching" pretty much an F- .. the last 2 years have been disasters from recruiting to coaching to retaining current and getting good quality portal incomers .. so far, and time is running out to fill out the 25-26 group with quality experienced players. Hope Zayden can come back and impress in a good way.

 

[Spaceytoyz]

If he’s the Coach of Wake he’s a B-
But for us it’s probably a C-

 

[Oak ridger]

In 2026 if UNC is still a bubble team, then a big F. In 2026, leaders are targeting adding eight teams to the mix.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

In 2026 if UNC is still a bubble team, then a big F. In 2026, leaders are targeting adding eight teams to the mix.

Are you talking about adding 8 teams to the NCAAT? For a total of 76 teams?

So what would that mean? Sounds like the "bottom" 24 teams would go through a play-in round.

I'm not opposed, but why not go all the way to 96?

Certainly no excuse for UNC to be a bubble team. Ever.

Avoiding the bubble is already a very low bar, and it sounds like it will be getting lower. Great for a lot of lower-level schools, but UNC should never fall to that level.