© Courtesy of Tar Heels WireOn Saturday, UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2004. As a player and coach, Davis has left unique memories of the most famous and magical scene in all sports.
And Davis didn't disappoint in his first show in nearly 20 years since the Tar Heels didn't. 23 Ohio State in overtime thanks to the heroism of Pete Nance.
After a green bucket from Buckeye rookie winger Brass Sensabo with three seconds left in the game, the Tar Heels took one last shot to send the game into overtime or win it. Twice Nancy bypassed the protection and after the time expired she hit the jumper from the turn. The Tar Heels won another dramatic overtime.
Could it take another 20 years for Davis to get back to New York and the park? Not
"We played the Jimmy V Classic," Davis said after the game. "As long as I'm here in North Carolina as head coach, we'll be in this park all the time," he said.
North Carolina returns to New York on Saturday, but not to Madison Square Garden. In fact, the last time he played in this hall was 12 years ago.
Davis spent four years in New York. In 1992, the Knicks finished in 10th overall. This came after frequent visits to New York during his UNC career.
Now he is following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Roy Williams, and prefers to recruit in the New York area.
“I want to sign up,” Davis said on his weekly radio show last week. “I wanted North Carolina basketball to be there because there are some great players there… I spent a lot of time in New York recruiting people. And that's one of the reasons we play Madison Square Garden. I said every year that I wanted to play in New York."
The Tar Heels have received commitments from New Jersey native Simon Wilcher, currently hiring Elliott Caddo, also from New Jersey, and Ian Jackson from the Bronx. They are also led by star quarterback R. J. Davis of Whitefield, New York.
This does not include many players who have previously traveled from New York.
If Saturday is any sign, then there could be plenty more of the Madison Square Garden memories and "experience" that Davis desperately needs for his current and future players.
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