UNC Basketball: A weekend homecoming for Hubert Davis
When the UNC basketball program takes on Ohio State at Madison Square Garden, it will be a homecoming for current head coach Hubert Davis.
The UNC basketball program has not returned to Madison Square Garden in quite some time.
In fact, the last time the Tar Heels played at the well-known New York City arena was back in 2010, when they defeated Rutgers by a score of 78-55.
North Carolina will return to Madison Square Garden this weekend, making it the first time in 12 years that they’ve competed at this arena. They will battle Ohio State as part of the CBS Sports Classic.
The trip is a special one for the Tar Heels, especially for head coach Hubert Davis.
Davis’ connection to New York City began during his college days, as the Dean Smith-led Tar Heels made annual trips to the area to compete. Whether it was at Madison Square Garden or the Meadowlands (located in East Rutherford, New Jersey), North Carolina was a frequent visitor to the tri-state area.
It was fitting that Davis’ NBA career began in New York, as the Knicks selected him with the No. 20 overall pick in the 1992 Draft.
Davis spent the first four seasons of his professional career with the Knicks before spending time with five other organizations, including the then-New Jersey Nets. As long as the Tar Heels Madison Square Garden drought is, Davis’ time since he’s been there is even longer.
Before boarding the team’s flight to New York City on Thursday, the now Tar Heels head coach had this to say:
"“It’s a special place for me. I haven’t been back to the Garden since I retired from the NBA in 2004. So, to go back there again, the place where it all started for me personally as a professional, is really exciting to me.I just have a lot of memories of playing with Doc Rivers and Patrick Ewing and John Starks and Charles Oakley and Charles Smith and some really good teams and unbelievable coaches that I was able to be around every day.”"
Saturday’s contest is a big one for the UNC basketball program, as Ohio State is a tough Big Ten opponent to face on a neutral court. Regardless of the outcome, it will be a special outing for Davis, as he returns to a place that has meant so much to him over his basketball career.
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