Bubba Cunningham is officially on the clock.
The North Carolina basketball coaching search is going to be much different than anything nearly all Tar Heels fans have experienced up to this point. For over 60 years, the job has been kept in the "family," so the list of candidates was very obvious. This is different. This search will be a national search and most of the top candidates have no previous ties to the university. They just know how to win basketball games.
Anonymous ACC coach blasts Hubert Davis on his way out of UNC
Here are four obvious replacements for Hubert Davis that the program needs to keep in mind. It won't surprise you who we're starting off with here.
Michigan head coach Dusty May
Dusty May is in his second season with the Wolverines after five years at Florida Atlantic. His run to the Final Four with the Owls remains the stuff of legends. His win total over the past four seasons — 35, 25, 27 and 33 (and counting).
It's impressive. He's impressive. He's a winner. Put May in Chapel Hill and the Tar Heels are in contention for a Final Four immediately. He has said that he's quite happy in Ann Arbor, but UNC needs to get on the horn and give him something to think about.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd
In five years with the Wildcats, Tommy Lloyd has taken them to the Sweet 16 four times while winning over 80 percent of his games. Lloyd, 51, also has spent time coaching the U-18 players in USA basketball, giving him an additional outlet to some of the best young talent in the world.
UNC's dream Hubert Davis replacement already told Bubba Cunningham no thanks
Talent that Tar Heels fans would love to see wearing Carolina Blue. Lloyd's name has already been mentioned quite a bit as a potential Davis replacement. He's got Arizona pushing for the natty this season and he's beloved by his players. He'd definitely be an intriguing option for the Heels.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger
T.J. Otzelberger has become another familiar face in the tournament, guiding the Cyclones to three Sweet 16 appearances in five seasons. He had a rough stint at UNLV at the turn of the decade, but Otzelberger's current run at Iowa State has solidified his status as one of the best coaches in the game.
His name is also getting a ton of buzz. What he's been able to do with Iowa State has been pretty head-turning - imagine what he'd be able to do with the resources at UNC? From our chair, May should be the priority, but Otzelberger and Lloyd must be considered as well.