CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — No. 23 Clemson’s winning ways continued Monday night with a 85-65 beat down of an unranked Tar Heel squad at Littlejohn Coliseum.
UNC squandered a crucial Quad 1 opportunity at Clemson, further damaging their NCAA Tournament hopes as the Tigers dominated in every facet of the game. The loss dropped North Carolina to 14-11 overall and a concerning 2-5 in ACC road games.
While the guard trio of RJ Davis, Seth Trimble, and Elliot Cadeau contributed 41 combined points, UNC’s frontcourt was largely ineffective and freshman lan Jackson continued his scoring struggles. The Tigers controlled the tempo from the opening minutes, forcing multiple scoring droughts and dominating the boards with a decisive 41-28 rebounding advantage.
The issues run deeper than just one game. Despite head coach Hubert Davis announcing plans to hire a general manager in the spring, the offense remains stagnant and predictable. With the talent available on this roster, the lack of offensive creativity is troubling. Opposing teams consistently appear well-prepared for UNC’s limited offensive sets, whether defending switches or interior action.
While Davis isn’t exactly running the same play over and over again, he seems to be running slightly tweaked versions that either miraculously work out or fail, the latter of which is more likely.
Most concerning is that this team-lacking both a true center and clear vocal leader— has finally revealed its identity: an inconsistent squad that wilts under pressure, regardless of whether they’re in a close game or facing a deficit. At this late stage of the season, such fundamental issues appear beyond repair.
With the Tar Heels on the verge of missing their second NCAA Tournament in Hubert Davis’ four-year tenure, the question now is if the North Carolina alum is on the hot seat?