Former North Carolina star Kenny Smith has spoken out following the firing of head coach Hubert Davis, while also addressing speculation linking him to the vacant role.
During his TNT speech on Texas vs. Purdue, Smith thanked Davis for his contributions to the program.
“Yes, we can talk about North Carolina,” Smith said.
“But that vacancy – I thought that was disrespectful, to be honest. But first of all, coach Hubert Davis, thank you. Your service and what you’ve done for North Carolina basketball as a player and as a coach, you’ve moved it forward.”
Smith, who remains closely associated with the university, emphasized the importance of preserving the program’s identity and history.
He emphasized the coaching staff’s ties to different eras of North Carolina basketball.
“What that is is you have a lineage with every era of basketball, meaning Carolina, who was on that staff, including Hubert Davis. Every era was connected,” he said.
Smith also outlined what he believes should define the next head coach.
“Dean Smith retired as a Tar Heel. Roy Williams retired as a Tar Heel. Hubert Davis was going to retire a Tar Heel. Whoever we come in, they have to want to retire a Tar Heel,” he said.
Reports indicate that North Carolina may be looking outside the traditional coaching circle, which would mark a significant shift for the program.
