UNC Basketball Searches for a Big Name Coach Amid Hubert Davis’s Hot Seat

After losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, UNC head coach Hubert Davis is on the hot seat. However, college basketball analysts are now turning their attention to Arizona Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd as a top fit for the Tar Heels. Four days after the loss, renowned analyst Jeff Goodman cited Lloyd as a name that should be considered in the coaching search at North Carolina.

“Arizona’s got this big conference tournament coming up,” Goodman said on the Golic & Golic podcast. “That could be very good for them. ” Lloyd, who has been with Arizona since 2019 and is currently the head coach of the Wildcats’ men's basketball team, hasn’t left Tucson yet despite being a West Coast coach his entire career.

The Wildcats have advanced to the Sweet 16 twice under Lloyd’s guidance—once in 2023 when they made it to the Final Four. This season, Arizona is also making its third straight trip to the Sweet 16 after defeating Utah State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. If Arizona wins the national championship, Goodman does not see Lloyd leaving Tucson for UNC.

“I don’t know how Tommy Lloyd leaves,” he continued. “It would be tough. ” Hubert Davis, who has been in charge of the Tar Heels’ basketball program since 2019, is currently leading the team through a challenging time after losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament each of the last two years.