In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the North Carolina Tar Heels squandered an 18-point lead in the second half, losing to the Virginia Commonwealth Rams, 82-78, in overtime.
The loss ended the Tar Heels’ season. On the positive side, the Tar Heels claimed another winning season.
However, when your tournament ends in the first round, reactions fly fast. One of head coach Hubert Davis’ former players delivered his opinion about the basketball program.
What Joel Berry II Said About North Carolina’s Upset Loss to VCU
For the second time in the Tar Heels’ last three NCAA appearances, they bowed out in the first round. On the heels of North Carolina’s loss to Virginia Commonwealth, Joel Berry II, a former point guard, is now a broadcaster at the ACC Network. He joined college basketball host Zach Gelb to discuss the current situation in Chapel Hill.
.@JoelBerryII has mixed emotions, but makes it clear that the standard at UNC hasn’t been lived up to and he wouldn’t be surprised if Huebert Davis got fired this offseason. pic.twitter.com/Eh9iT30mhh
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) March 20, 2026
“It’s a hard conversation for me because that’s someone who’s coached me.”
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Berry starred at North Carolina from 2015 to 2018, winning a national championship in 2017. Davis served as the former head coach, Roy Williams’ top assistant. He landed the top job with Williams’ endorsement upon his retirement.
Leading by 18 points, North Carolina could have taken its foot off the gas and still coasted to victory. The offense could not make a basket, scoring just four points in the final 6:59 of the game. That includes three points in overtime.
Berry discussed what he sees as a major issue with Davis.
“I’m just starting to question some of the in-game adjustments. And I am starting to question roster construction. Not having enough guys to withstand not having Caleb Wilson. North Carolina usually has layers that can make up for having one of your guys out.”
Caleb Wilson, the freshman All-American, saw his season end with a broken hand. Davis never appeared to find players to pick up the slack for a player who averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds.
Now, many expect Wilson to declare for the NBA draft, becoming an early draft pick. When asked whether Davis was the right fit to lead North Carolina, Berry disagreed.
“My emotions are kind of mixed right now. At one point, I said, ‘OK, Coach Davis was for the job.’ I’m having mixed emotions, because it’s the same old story.”
Ironically, variations of the phrase “same old story” circulated among North Carolina basketball alumni. Tyler Hansbrough, one of the most decorated players in program history, used similar phrasing when he offered his opinion.
In 2022, Davis took a No. 8 seed to the championship game. With a 15-point halftime lead, Kansas outscored the Tar Heels 47-29 to win the title by three points, 72-69.
Whether Davis keeps his job remains to be seen. However, amid the uproar over the loss, the administration could issue a decision in relatively short order.
