All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball: Hubert Davis Explains Wardrobe Choice This Season

Hubert Davis views his blazer look as a tribute to UNC basketball tradition.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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In all three UNC basketball games this season, third-year head coach Hubert Davis has done what few college coaches do nowadays: wear a sports coat. He donned the classic checkered versions in the now-No. 20 Tar Heels' first two outings before selecting a solid black one for Friday night's 77-52 home win over UC Riverside.

Across his first two years at the helm, Davis wore various lightweight, sporty Tar Heel pullovers and hoodies. That aligned with the now-widely accepted "comfort over style" norm for all sideline prowlers.

So, why did Hubert Davis make the shift this season? And is it permanent?

Short answers: 1) out of respect to his predecessors, and 2) it sounds permanent.

"Coach Smith, Coach Guthridge, Coach Doherty, and Coach Williams wore a coat and tie, and that's Carolina basketball," the 53-year-old former Tar Heel great in the backcourt explained to the media following his 52nd victory as the UNC basketball head coach since succeeding three-time national champion and Hall of Famer Roy Williams.

"With COVID, we kind of got out of it, and I just wanted to go back to it. I didn't want to have a tie. I'm a little active on the sidelines, so I didn't want to have a tie. But having a sports coat means something to me, and it draws me closer to the history and the foundation of what this place is all about and the coaches that have been head coach before me."

From a superstitious standpoint, he's 3-0 in coats as a head coach, with these Tar Heels outscoring their opponents by an average of over 20 points per game.

There is no sense in returning to his old wardrobe — at least not now.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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