Hubert Davis is not stepping away from college basketball.
That much is clear after the latest report on his plans following North Carolina’s decision to move on from him. Davis’ run in Chapel Hill ended badly, but the expectation now is that he’ll try to land back in the coaching cycle as soon as next year.
Matt Norlander said on “Eye on College Basketball” that Davis is eager for another shot. “He is doing well.
He was joyous. Had a great conversation.
He wants to coach again,” Norlander said. “He’s adamant about wanting to coach again.
Next year’s cycle, he’s going to want to pursue that. He wants to get back into the game.”
That matters because Davis still has the kind of profile that can draw real interest. One failed stint at a blueblood doesn’t erase the fact that he’s viewed as good enough to lead a major program. He may not walk into another job on North Carolina’s level - there simply aren’t many of those - but the coaching market tends to open doors every offseason when programs make changes.
There was at least some room for uncertainty about whether Davis even wanted to keep coaching. Maybe he was content at North Carolina and only wanted to be part of one of the sport’s most iconic programs. But the report points in the opposite direction: he wants back in.
Davis also made clear in his own statement that he’s grateful for what he had at UNC and is already looking ahead. “This opportunity has truly been such a blessing,” Davis said in the statement.
“I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together.
My goal is to coach again in the very near future.”
In Other News...
Duke Fall Camp Could Decide Which New Faces Save Its Title Push
Duke heads into fall camp with the familiar burden that comes after a championship run: replace enough pieces to keep the standard from slipping. The Blue Devils are trying to defend their ACC title while sorting through a roster that has changed enough to make camp feel less like a tune-up and more like the first real evaluation point of the season.
A few names stand out in that race for larger roles, with Davis, Nicholas, Pellicciotta and Johnson all positioned to make a case as camp unfolds. For a team trying to stay on top, the value of those emerging contributors could be measured as much by how quickly they settle into the rotation as by any single highlight, and fall camp may tell Duke whether its next wave is ready to carry part of the load. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Trip To Florida Could Get A Lot Tougher After New Ruling
A federal judges latest ruling could add another layer of uncertainty to the college basketball calendar, including for Dukes plans down the road. A U.S. District Court judge in Colorado granted a preliminary injunction that would allow college athletes from the high school class of 2022 who used up their fourth season of eligibility this spring to come back for a fifth season in 2026-27, a decision that cuts directly against the NCAAs new age-based eligibility model.
The ruling is expected to be appealed, but for now it opens the door for more roster questions across the sport and gives programs extra reasons to keep an eye on the legal fight. One player potentially affected is former Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen, whose status for that 2026-27 season now sits among the many unresolved pieces in a situation that could ripple into matchups and roster building for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Freshman Is Already Trying To Set The Tone Against Duke
Dukes 2026-27 preseason slate already has a little extra edge to it, thanks to a pair of exhibition games that should tell the Blue Devils plenty about where they stand before the games count. The schedule includes a scrimmage against Belmont and tune-up matchups with Tennessee and Kansas, giving Duke a chance to see how a revamped roster handles some early pressure against opponents with real talent and real expectations.
Kansas will bring plenty of intrigue into that meeting, especially with highly rated freshman Tyran Stokes arriving as the kind of player who can change the tone of a game before the season even starts. With the Jayhawks also dealing with significant roster turnover, the exhibition offers an early measuring stick for both programs, and a reminder that these preseason dates can feel a lot more serious than the label suggests. [Read more 🡒]
