Hubert Davis focused on ACC Tournament, shoots down NCAA Tournament question

Hubert Davis pressed his hand against his face for much of his postgame press conference after losing to Duke 62-57 for the second time this season. He was short with reporters and rightfully dejected following a make-or-break NCAA Tournament resume game for North Carolina.

Now, the narrative staring UNC in the face is that they now have to win the ACC Tournament, or it’s almost impossible for them to break the field of 68.

“I’m not a narrative guy. All I know was that on Wednesday at 7 p.m., we play the winner of Boston College and Louisville,” Davis said postgame. “Our full attention is on that game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.”

With the loss, the Tar Heels move down from the ‘first four out’ line to the ‘next four out’ line alongside Michigan, Vanderbilt and Oregon in the latest update of Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology. Meanwhile, Duke is sitting comforatbly inside the bubble as a six-seed in the East region (New York).

Carolina was doing all the could to keep themselves inside the bubble over the last couple weeks. After losing five of six, the Tar Heels won their next three games before falling to Duke. They finished the regular season with one Quad 1 victory in 10 tries — and they’re only this close to the bubble because of the name on their chests. Any other team wouldn’t be considered.

With UNC awaiting the winner of the Eagles and Cardinals, a win in the ACC Tournament’s second round over either opponent would pit them against the two-seeded Virginia Cavaliers — a team Carolina beat at the end of February. From there, No. 3 seed Clemson would be the assumed semifinal opponent — and UNC beat them last month, too.

To say North Carolina doesn’t have a chance to win the ACC Tournament would be a dangerous statement. Nobody expected Hubert Davis’s group to make the NCAA Championship game last season, so winning the conference tournament is a small task compared to what they did in 2022.

Whether it’s against Boston College or Louisville, Carolina’s second round game is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET live on ESPN2 and ESPNU. Hubert Davis is sure to have his guys ready to make another improbable run.