Top 5 highlights from Hubert Davis' first year as coach of North Carolina Tar Heels

North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis
North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis

#3 Upset No.1 Baylor in March Madness

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - Final Four - Practice
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - Final Four - Practice

Heading into the 2021-22 NCAA tournament, many basketball fans weren't expecting the North Carolina Tar Heels to make a lengthy tournament run.

The main reason was because of the daunting slate of upcoming opponents the Tar Heels would have to go through. After an impressive win in the opening round against Marquette, North Carolina was set to go up against the number one seeded Baylor Bears, who many thought would be a favorite to make it to the Elite Eight.

North Carolina came out and took care of business, taking down Baylor in the second round 93-86.

It was a shocking development and one that quickly put the rest of the college basketball world on notice. Th Tar Heels suddenly looked like a team that could make some noise in March despite their seeding.

#2 Defeat Duke in Final Four

North Carolina vs Duke
North Carolina vs Duke

Heading into the Final Four, the basketball world was buzzing about the idea of a pair of historic rivals facing off in a game that would decide who would play in the national championship.

After previously beating Duke in a lopsided game, many basketball analysts thought the Blue Devils would be out for revenge in their rematch against the Tar Heels. Although Duke got plenty of national spotlight due to its potential being Coach K's last game, Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels had their eyes set on taking care of business.

Although North Carolina went into the game as underdogs again, they gave Duke more than they could handle. The Tar Heels went on to win the Final Four showdown 81-77.

It was an emotional victory for Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels. Not only were they heading to the national championship, but they also sent their bitter rivals home.

#1 Took North Carolina to National Championship

North Carolina vs Kansas
North Carolina vs Kansas

One of the most impressive accomplishments this year for head coach Hubert Davis was leading his team to a spot in the national championship game.

Nobody would have thought the Tar Heels would be one of the final two teams standing at the end of March Madness. However, Hubert Davis got his team to believe in themselves near the end of the regular season, and the team carried that confidence into the NCAA tournament.

Although the Tar Heels fell one game short of completing the ultimate dream, the job that Hubert Davis did with the team is truly remarkable. Not only did Carolina show the basketball world that they are a team on the rise again, but they also showed that Hubert Davis could be a rising star when it comes to coaches in the NCAA.

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