Consider Hubert Davis the most successful first-year coach at UNC.

The Tar Heels’ next-to-incredible run to the Final Four in Hubert’s first season in charge ranks as the greatest achievement of any Carolina basketball – or perhaps other – rookie coach.

As soon as Davis’ Heels finished off Saint Peter’s to complete the 2022 field for New Orleans, the comparisons came to mind.

First of all, that the Final Four is at the Superdome, is an inescapable tie to Hubert’s college coach, Dean Smith, who won both of his national championships in the Big Easy, the first 40 years ago in 1982 behind MVP James Worthy and Michael Jordan’s jumper.

Since the ACC was formed, which defines the modern era of college basketball, no UNC coach has done what Davis has with what he had to work, compiling a 28-9 record to date.

Frank McGuire had already coached St. John’s for five years when he took over at UNC in 1952. His first team snapped a nine-game losing streak to nationally ranked N.C. State but skidded to a 17-10 finish after losing seven of its last nine games.

Smith succeeded McGuire in 1961 and had a team depleted by transfers following an NCAA probation. It turned out to be Smith’s only losing season in a Hall of Fame career, going 8-9, and he wouldn’t reach the first of 11 Final Fours until 1966-67.

Bill Guthridge also led the Tar Heels to a Final Four in his first season after Smith retired, although Guthridge took over a veteran ACC champion and Final Four team, far different than the losses Hubert inherited when he slid over to the big chair.

Matt Doherty’s first team won 18 straight games, upset Duke in Durham, and was ranked No. 1 in the country for three weeks in February before splitting its last 10 games and losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Roy Williams won his first of three national championships in his second season back, following an 19-11 record in 2004.

Davis had to replace three regulars with three transfers and hired an almost brand-new coaching staff.

Hubert would be the last person to say he was on the way to any Halls of Fame, like McGuire, Smith, Guthridge and Williams, but his first season will live on in UNC annals as best of all.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

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