LAHAINA—Back on January 27, 1993, North Carolina found themselves down by 21 points against Florida State with less than 12 minutes to go.
On January 27, 1993, North Carolina was staring down a 21-point deficit against Florida State with just 12 minutes left on the clock. The Smith Center crowd was subdued, and hope seemed faint. Then came a pivotal moment.
The score was still 71-54 when Henrik Rodl knocked down a three-pointer with 9:21 remaining. The arena barely stirred. But Dean Smith, famous for being stingy with his timeouts, made a rare move—he called his first timeout of the game.
Kevin Salvadori, who was part of the huddle that night, recalled Smith’s message: “He just wanted Florida State to think about it.”
Think about it, they did. Carolina stormed back for an 82-77 victory, marking the second-largest comeback in program history.
Fast forward to November 26, 2024, in the Lahaina Civic Center. The Tar Heels found themselves in a similar predicament, trailing Dayton by 21 points with 17:46 left. The gap was still 17 when Ian Jackson drained a three-pointer to cut the lead to 61-47 with 14:01 to go.
The crowd was starting to believe. Then came another unexpected moment. Hubert Davis, like his mentor Dean Smith, called a rare timeout. His message to the team? Simple, yet powerful.
That spark ignited a rally reminiscent of 1993, proving once again that Carolina basketball thrives when the odds are stacked against them.
He gathered his team around him in the huddle and delivered a very simple message:
“Guys, we’re right here. There’s so much time left.”
“We hit the three, and I wanted to reset the team and help them understand the opportunity in front of us,” Davis said. “I reminded them we were within striking distance and painted a clear picture of where we could be at the 12-minute mark, and then at the eight-minute mark. When they see the scoreboard match what I said, it builds their confidence. It gives them belief and focus to stay aggressive on the floor.”
There’s a chill that runs down your spine when you hear Hubert Davis break down Monday night’s incredible comeback win over Dayton. His words echo the wisdom of his legendary mentor, Dean Smith—a coach who understood the art of turning impossible situations into unforgettable victories.
Davis has been here before, not just as a coach but as a player. He was on the floor in 1992 for Carolina’s largest comeback in history, when the Tar Heels erased a 22-point deficit to defeat Wake Forest. Davis dropped a career-high 30 points that night, but his most enduring takeaway wasn’t in the box score—it was watching Smith manage the game with precision and instill belief in his players, one small step at a time.
Fast-forward 32 years, and Davis was the one calling the shots, facing an eerily similar challenge. Down by 21 to Dayton with 17:46 left, the Tar Heels were in desperate need of a spark. A timely three-pointer from Ian Jackson cut the deficit to 14, and Davis called a timeout. His message? Simple, yet powerful.
“I wanted to set them up and let them know we were within striking distance,” Davis shared on the Tar Heel Sports Network. “I gave them a clear picture of where we needed to be at the 12-minute mark, the eight-minute mark. It’s about progress in chunks. When they see it happening, it builds confidence.”
The message resonated. RJ Davis, who scored 30 points in the game, described the moment: “Coach told us to keep chipping away. Dayton’s a great team, but we knew we had what it took to win. By the four-minute mark, we were right there.”
Carolina chipped away, just as they’d practiced countless times. At 66-55 with 11:06 left, Seth Trimble converted a three-point play to cut the lead. By the 7:40 mark, the deficit was down to three. Four minutes later, it was just one. And in the final seconds, the Tar Heels sealed the second-largest comeback in school history, winning 74-72.
This wasn’t just a comeback—it was a masterclass in resilience.
Hubert Davis’ coaching philosophy blends elements of Smith’s methodical approach with lessons from mentors like Pat Riley and others he observed during his NBA and ESPN career. Yet on this night, in a tiny gym in Maui, it felt like Dean Smith himself was guiding the team.
“I’m really proud of the guys,” Davis said. “Their fight to get back and win shows the character of this team. I’m just happy for them.”
Classic Smith. Not about the coach, but the team.
And what a team effort it was. Drake Powell, Jalen Washington, and Elliot Cadeau made contributions that will go down in Carolina lore. The win wasn’t perfect—turnovers, missed rebounds, and a shaky first half left much to improve. But when it mattered most, the Tar Heels executed, fought, and delivered.
The quick turnaround means little time to celebrate, with another late-night tipoff looming. But someday, fans will tell the story of staying up past midnight during Thanksgiving week, cheering as the Tar Heels chipped away at history, one four-minute chunk at a time. And just like in 1993 against Florida State, or 1992 against Wake Forest, the belief never wavered.
On this Monday night in Maui, Hubert Davis wasn’t Dean Smith—but he honored his legacy in the best way possible: by leading his team with confidence, clarity, and unshakable belief.
Visit out Website: https://usanewsday.com/
