Hubert Davis describes what taking Leaky Black to Final Four means to him

Hubert Davis has led North Carolina to a Final Four in his first season as a head coach, and the win is especially sweet for his longest-tenured player, Leaky Black. In four seasons in Chapel Hill and three as a perennial starter for the Tar Heels, he’s never had an experience like their current tournament run so far.

Davis said Black committed to North Carolina early because he wanted to be a part of this program that bad, but because of injury and other things, he just couldn’t find a consistent rhythm, but this year he has. Black averages 4.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game on 29 minutes on the floor. In fact, he’s averaged five points per game throughout his career despite starting 94 of the Tar Heels last 97 games over the last three seasons.

While the numbers don’t ‘wow’ you on paper, Black’s head coach knows the significance of having him on the floor.

“He’s been healthy for the first time in his career,” Davis said. “He has settled into his role. He understands what he can do and what he can do really well, and he’s just — the way that he plays defense, the way that he takes care of the basketball and makes instinctive plays for our team, his energy and his passion, his love for this program and for this team — he’s not someone that talks a lot, but by his actions he’s a leader.”

Black’s three seasons as a starter hasn’t seen him win an NCAA Tournament game until last season. Carolina was 14-19 during his sophomore season and was bounced by Wisconsin in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament as a junior. Now, he’s making his senior season count.

“And for everything that he’s gone through — like, we went to the Sweet 16 his freshman year, but he didn’t play very much,” Davis said. “And then the other two years we didn’t go to the NCAA Tournament. Then we lost last year in the first round. It was really important for him and Armando. I wanted them to experience success here at Carolina and now they are.”

North Carolina will face Duke in the Final Four for the first time ever Saturday at 8:49 p.m. ET in New Orleans live on TBS. The winner will face either Villanova or Kansas in the 2022 National Championship game on Monday.