Elliot Cadeau exacted his revenge on Alabama in one of two impressive performances that have returned Michigan to the Final Four. Meanwhile, Ian Jackson’s St. John’s team came two wins short, and Cade Tyson pursues a title on a much smaller stage.
Category: Men's basketball
UConn’s Mullins joins Trimble in last-second Duke nightmares
While UConn freshman Braylon Mullins joined UNC’s Seth Trimble in Duke nightmares for their last‑second daggers, Sunday night’s collapse extended the Blue Devils’ championship-game drought as they join UNC in some infamy. The Blue Devils haven’t reached the championship game since winning the title in 2015. By contrast, UNC has played for the championship three times since then: 2016, 2017 (when the Tar Heels won the title) and 2022. The latter run to the final included the national semifinal win that ended Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching career.
Video, complete transcript from Duke press conference after season-ending loss to UConn
Here is a complete transcript and video from No. 1 Duke’s press conference, with Coach Jon Scheyer and Cameron Boozer, after its season-ending 73-72 loss in the East Regional final to UConn.
Lloyd: ‘Arizona is going to have another good coach after me’
One of North Carolina’s top candidates in its search for a men’s basketball coach is still playing, but at the very least mentioned that his school will one day have another coach. After No. 1 seed Arizona rolled to a 79–64 victory over Purdue on Saturday in the West Regional in San Jose, Calif., advancing to the Final Four, Coach Tommy Lloyd was asked about the significance of the victory for the program.
Coby White gives Donovan, one possible UNC target, high marks
Billy Donovan has been one of the prominent coaches mentioned in North Carolina’s coaching search, and the Chicago Bulls coach gets high marks from one of the Tar Heels’ most popular former stars. In an interview conducted last month when Coby White returned to Chicago with the Charlotte Hornets, the guard, who was second-team All-ACC in 2019, said that Donovan isn’t easy on young players but makes them better.
Kenny Smith wants next coach to ‘retire as a Tar Heel,’ says suggestions it should be him ‘disrespectful’
Kenny Smith had strong opinions on Thursday about the significant transition for the Carolina basketball in the wake of Hubert Davis’ firing, saying he wants the next coach to “retire as a Tar Heel.” He made it clear that the program is facing more than just a coaching search. To him, it is a defining moment about identity, continuity and loyalty. UNC clearly will be looking outside the “Carolina family,” and that didn’t sit well with him.
Donovan would give UNC elite, Hall of Fame coach with proven record
North Carolina is swinging for the fences to secure an elite replacement for Hubert Davis, and one of those targets who fits that description is Billy Donovan. Like Dean Smith and Roy Williams, Donovan is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He built an SEC power at Florida and then spent the last decade proving he can navigate the egos and analytics of the NBA.
Arizona’s Lloyd, with ties to 3 Tar Heels, likely UNC target
Tommy Lloyd is emerging as one of the top candidates in North Carolina’s coaching search. He’s gained a high profile at Arizona and built a national program in Tucson, Ariz., where his Wildcats were No. 1 for much of the season.
Lloyd won’t come cheaply, though, with an $11-million buyout if he leaves before April 15. Lloyd is signed through the 2029–30 season, earning roughly $4.4 million annually plus $700,000 in supplemental-duties compensation.
Cunningham, Newmark detail discussions that led to Davis’ firing, timeline for hiring next coach
North Carolina will look for a coach who can continue the legacy of the program while winning more consistently, but will take the time to get the right person. That was the message from Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham and Executive Associate Athletic Director Steve Newmark on the “Carolina Insider’’ podcast episode recorded late Tuesday night and released Wednesday morning.
White ties season-high for streaking Hornets; Love nets season-high 33; 27th Ingram double-double
Coming home has meant coming off the bench for Coby White, but also playing his best basketball of the season for the streaking Charlotte Hornets. White scored a season-high 27 points once in 29 games this season for the Chicago Bulls, but has matched that twice in the last three games, all at home, and the Hornets have won four games in a row.
Hiring an established college coach could be pricey for UNC
UNC’s transition from Hubert Davis to the next coach could be pricey, given the buyout costs for some of the school’s potential targets.
Davis fired as UNC’s coach, ending up-and-down five-year tenure
Hubert Davis was fired as North Carolina’s men’s basketball coach Tuesday, concluding five seasons that opened with a charge to the 2022 national championship game and ended amid intensifying scrutiny after two consecutive round-of-64 exits.
Transfer tracker: Cadeau, Jackson, Key head to Sweet 16; college careers of Lubin, Nickel and Washington end in heartbreak
Elliot Cadeau, Ian Jackson and Teonni Key are headed to the Sweet 16 to face familiar foes they’ve never beaten. Meanwhile, the college careers of Ven-Allen Lubin, Tyler Nickel and Jalen Washington came to heartbreaking ends in the NCAA tournament.
Thad Williamson on Davis: The Breaks of the Game
Less than three short weeks ago, North Carolina’s men’s basketball team and its fans were celebrating their first best-ever home season — 18 contests without defeat — after closing out a tight, tense win over Clemson. Many observers were crediting Coach Hubert Davis, his staff, and his team with the resilience shown in winning five of six games without injured Caleb Wilson.
Trimble emotional after heartbreaking end to his career
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Seth Trimble sat on one end of a somber dressing room, emotional and struggling to process the end of his Carolina career. The senior guard, who tied his career high by playing 43 minutes, tried to explain what he couldn’t understand himself: how the No. 21 Tar Heels let a 19‑point second‑half lead slip away in an 82–78 overtime loss to VCU on Thursday night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.