When Hubert Davis talks about the UNC-Duke rivalry, it’s not just coach-speak-it’s personal. The former Tar Heel sharpshooter first stepped into this storied matchup as a freshman back in 1988. Now, nearly four decades later, he’s preparing for his 11th game against Duke as North Carolina’s head coach, and the fire clearly hasn’t dimmed.
Ask anyone around the program, and they’ll tell you-Davis wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to this rivalry. Senior guard Seth Trimble, who’s been through a few of these battles himself, summed it up best: “His passion, whenever he talks about this Duke-UNC matchup.
It means SO much to him. He takes so much pride in representing the name on our chest during this matchup, and he really, really wants it.”
That kind of intensity isn’t just for show. It sets the tone for the entire locker room. And after getting swept by Duke in all three meetings last season-including a pair of regular-season losses and a defeat in the ACC Tournament-that tone feels especially urgent this time around.
Davis enters Saturday’s clash at the Dean Smith Center with a 4-6 record against the Blue Devils. But two of those wins were monumental: the first came in Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and the second, in Coach K’s final game ever, was a Final Four stunner that sent UNC to the national championship game. Those victories are etched into Tar Heel lore.
Still, the rivalry doesn’t live in the past. And lately, it’s been Duke doing most of the celebrating.
Since Jon Scheyer took over in Durham, the Blue Devils have claimed two of the last three ACC titles and reached the Final Four in 2025. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels are still searching for their first conference tournament crown since 2016, and the last couple of seasons have been rocky.
In 2023, UNC missed the NCAA Tournament entirely. Last season, they barely avoided the same fate. This year looked like it might follow that same script when the Heels dropped three of four in the middle of ACC play-including a tough West Coast swing where they lost to both Stanford and Cal.
But Davis and his squad have responded. Four straight wins have vaulted UNC back into the national conversation, climbing to No. 14 in the rankings.
The team looks sharper, more focused, and more connected on both ends of the floor. Still, the oddsmakers have them as 5.5-point underdogs at home against the No. 4-ranked Blue Devils.
That’s not surprising, considering the talent Duke brings to the table. But this is UNC-Duke.
Rankings and records tend to go out the window when these two meet. What matters is execution, emotion, and who can handle the moment.
For Davis, this game is more than just a shot at redemption after last year’s sweep. It’s a chance to reassert UNC’s place in the rivalry, to remind everyone in Chapel Hill-and beyond-that the Tar Heels aren’t just chasing Duke. They’re ready to punch back.
And you can bet Davis will be leading that charge, heart on his sleeve, passion on full display.