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It's a new world in college sports, and the North Carolina men's basketball program plans on adjusting.

Head coach Hubert Davis opened up about increasing the staff size and navigating the current name, image and likeness reality permeating the sport during a Monday conversation on the Carolina Insider podcast.

He also said he plans on hiring a general manager.

"I am going to increase the staff. It's needed," Davis said. "I never would've thought four years ago when I took the job that 100 percent what is needed is a general manager...There is so much on the plate that will take you away from doing the most important thing: coaching basketball. We're going to hire a GM.

"We need a director of marketing and fundraising for NIL for program needs, there needs to be a video coordinator with graphics and recruiting coordinator. All those different types of stuff that have to be built out, whether it's from specific hires or grad students. The old model for Carolina Basketball (in terms of staff size) is not sustainable. It has to build out because there are so many things in play with NIL, agents, international players. You need a bigger staff to maintain things and so I can coach basketball."

There is something to be said about delegating responsibilities as a head coach to focus on the most important things of coaching games and recruiting, but NIL is a major part of recruiting at this point.

Maximizing the team's ability to navigate those realities could help the Tar Heels reestablish themselves as one of the sport's top programs.

The comments come as Davis' team is heading in the wrong direction.

Saturday's 87-70 loss to archrival Duke was uglier than the final score indicated, and it also marked four losses in the last five games. ESPN's Joe Lunardi provided a Bracketology update Monday and had North Carolina outside the field and looking in at No. 71 overall.

Being that close to the 68-team field means Davis and Co. can still play their way into the Big Dance down the stretch, but they will need to be much better than they've been of late.

Up next is a home game against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi released his latest predictions for the 2025 NCAA Tournament field on Monday.

Lunardi believes that Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama and Duke will earn the No. 1 seeds in their respective regions.

pic.twitter.com/RmxGV6gJwI

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) February 3, 2025

He also projected the SEC to send 13 teams to the tournament, while the ACC sent four teams. North Carolina wasn't among the schools projected to make a March Madness appearance, though.

pic.twitter.com/lcwf0BYOyY

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) February 3, 2025

It'd be a surprise to see the Tar Heels miss the NCAA Tournament, as they've only failed to make a March Madness appearance in two of the past 14 years. Still, head coach Hubert Davis' team is in the midst of a rough stretch as they've lost four of their past five games.

This included a lopsided 87-70 defeat against Duke on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the projected top four seeds shouldn't come as a huge shock. All four schools occupy the top four spots in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Auburn is continuing to thrive against its SEC competition, owning a perfect 8-0 record against conference opponents. Head coach Bruce Pearl's squad has won 13 straight games, owning the No. 1 offensive rating in the country (via Sports Reference).

Lunardi has been consistent in his belief that the SEC will send 13 teams to the tournament.

"I think there is an excellent chance that we're going to break the record of bids from a conference in a year," Lunardi said during a Jan. 26 appearance on SportsCenter. "The record is 11, 11 out of 16 by the Big East back in 2011. And I think the SEC getting at least a dozen, I would bet your mortgage payment on that."

Duke has also looked like a strong candidate to receive a top tournament seed following an impressive start to head coach Jon Scheyer's third year with the program. The Blue Devils have won 15 consecutive games, with four of their last five victories containing a double-digit final margin.

Auburn and Duke will be looking to close the regular season on a high note and prepare for the NCAA Tournament, while North Carolina still has some work to do in order to compete for a berth.

Beloved college basketball announcer Dick Vitale is famously known for using the term "Diaper Dandy" to describe star freshmen players.

He will get to see arguably the best Diaper Dandy in the entire sport on Saturday when he returns to broadcasting for the first time in approximately two years.

ESPN announced Monday that Vitale will join Dave O'Brien and Cory Alexander at Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum for the Tigers' game against star freshman Cooper Flagg and the Duke Blue Devils.

Saturday, Hall of Fame broadcaster @DickieV will announce an #NCAAMBB game for the first time in nearly 2 years

🏀 6p ET | No. 2 @DukeMBB vs @ClemsonMBB | ESPN
🎙️ Dave O’Brien, @CoryAlexanderVA, Dick Vitale pic.twitter.com/URqmyI0kN3

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) February 3, 2025

The announcement came shortly after Vitale released a message on social media inspiring others to believe in themselves:

My motivational tip of the day ! You must constantly believe in yourself if you want to succeed. pic.twitter.com/fUT5v3ifwA

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) February 3, 2025

As ESPN noted, Vitale's last game assignment was on the international broadcast of the men's national championship game between UConn and San Diego State in April 2023.

He has dealt with four different types of cancer during the last 3.5 years and most recently underwent surgery in the summer of 2024 when cancer was shown during a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck. However, he revealed he was cancer-free on Jan. 8.

ESPN noted he was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2021 and vocal cord cancer in 2023 after he previously announced he was cancer free in 2022. He then announced he was cancer-free again in November 2023.

Vitale was initially scheduled to return for the Jan. 25 game between Duke and Wake Forest, but that was postponed because he was hospitalized following a fall in his home.

Yet he announced on social media that he was "making great strides" and didn't require surgery.

His return comes for a critical ACC game between the first-place Blue Devils and second-place Tigers. Duke is undefeated at 11-0 in conference play, while Clemson is right behind at 10-1.

Florida State men's basketball head coach Leonard Hamilton is stepping down after the 2024-25 campaign, which is his 23rd season at the school.

Jim Henry of the Tallahassee Democrat relayed Hamilton's statement Monday that revealed the 76-year-old will resign.

"I am deeply thankful for the tremendous support of our fans, alumni, and everyone associated with Florida State throughout my time here," Hamilton said.

"I am proud of the quality of the young men that it was my privilege to lead, for their faith in this program and in their belief in the philosophy that we tried to instill in them over the years. I have been blessed beyond words for the opportunity and the experience we've had here."

He also said, "My family and I truly love this place, this institution, and its people. I'm very fortunate to be able to have given this job my all with no regrets."

Henry noted this is the final season of Hamilton's five-year contract extension and that the resignation decision comes after "months of discussion" with the school's leadership.

"Leonard Hamilton's personal character and integrity, and his leadership, set a tremendous standard for all of FSU Athletics," Florida State vice president and director of athletics Michael Alford said. "Few people have been as important in building the positive reputation of Seminole Athletics as he. FSU's stature as one of the leading brands in college sports has been possible, in part, to his leadership of our men's basketball program."

Hamilton had previous stops as the head coach of Oklahoma State (four seasons), Miami (10 seasons) and the NBA's Washington Wizards (one season), but he is best known for his accomplishments with the Seminoles.

He started at his current position in the 2002-03 campaign and has a 456-290 overall record with the program. His tenure includes eight NCAA tournament appearances, one ACC regular-season championship and one ACC tournament title.

Hamilton is also the winningest men's basketball coach in Florida State history and ranks fifth all-time in ACC wins behind Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina's Roy Williams, North Carolina's Dean Smith and Maryland's Gary Williams.

Those trips to the Big Dance include four Sweet 16 appearances and an appearance in the 2018 Elite Eight. That was tied for the furthest the program advanced since its one Final Four, which happened back in the 1971-72 campaign before it even joined the ACC.

There is no question Hamilton is a Florida State legend, and he was able to accomplish so much at a school that is better known for its football prowess than what it does on the basketball floor.

However, things have been trending in the wrong direction of late.

Florida State missed the last three NCAA tournaments and has lost four games in a row this season to drop to 13-9 overall and 4-7 in ACC play. B/R's Kerry Miller did not include the Seminoles in his latest bracket projection.

What's more, Henry noted six former Florida State players sued Hamilton earlier this season and alleged he did not deliver on his promise to land them each $250,000 in name, image and likeness compensation.

Iowa State's run as a Top Five team is over after eight weeks.

The Cyclones fell from third to eighth in the newest Associated Press Top 25 poll after suffering back-to-back upsets to unranked teams, losing overtime to Arizona and then Kansas State.

The Top 10 was thrown into further disarray with No. 5 Florida, No. 6 Houston, No. 7 Michigan State and No. 9 Marquette all tasting defeat Saturday.

Auburn maintained its position atop the poll and received all 62 first-place votes. Duke followed in behind after running its record to 19-2. It was anybody's guess as to how the AP poll would look after that, with Alabama, Tennessee and Houston ultimately claiming the next three spots.

---

Week 14 AP Top 25

1. Auburn

2. Duke

3. Alabama

4. Tennessee

5. Houston

6. Florida

7. Purdue

8. Iowa State

9. Michigan State

10. Texas A&M

11. Marquette

12. St. John's

13. Texas Tech

14. Kentucky

15. Missouri

16. Kansas

17. Memphis

18. Maryland

19. UConn

20. Arizona

21. Wisconsin

22. Mississippi State

23. Illinois

24. Michigan

25. Ole Miss

---

Two of the most anticipated matchups from last week weren't Top 25 battles, and they provided vastly different outcomes.

Duke vs. North Carolina is a game you always circle on the schedule regardless of how well each team is performing. Unfortunately for neutral fans and those wearing Carolina blue, Saturday's installment was as one-sided as a lot of people expected.

Standout freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel combined for 43 points as junior guard Tyrese Proctor chipped in with 17 points and three assists. The Blue Devils shot 52.8 percent from the field and went 10-of-20 from beyond the arc as they hammered the Tar Heels 87-70.

UNC is only a year removed from winning 29 games, claiming a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, and advancing to the Sweet 16. However, the Heels are also in jeopardy of missing the Big Dance altogether for the second time in three seasons.

A 17-point defeat to Duke is forcing some to ask big questions over the future of head coach Hubert Davis and the general power structure in place in Chapel Hill.

There needs to be a reckoning at North Carolina.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) February 2, 2025

My post-Duke thought:

UNC needs a legit General Manager to manage recruiting and roster development, take that and the NIL aspect out of Hubert Davis' hands asap.

— Tar Heel Nation (@UNC_TarHeelFan) February 2, 2025

When Hubert said that #UNC would “be ready on Saturday,” did he mean this Saturday?

— Joey Powell (@Joey_Powell) February 2, 2025

Firing Davis in the middle of the season wouldn't achieve much, unless there's a sense his continued presence is a detriment on the recruiting trail. Absent a major turnaround down the stretch, a coaching change might warrant serious consideration.

Arkansas, on the other hand, is feeling better about the massive bet it placed on John Calipari after the Razorbacks went into Lexington and beat Kentucky, 89-79.

Calipari obviously wasn't on the hot seat already, but a 12-8 overall record and a 1-6 mark in the SEC wasn't where the school was hoping to be through January. The complexion of his debut campaign is looking different now.

The narrative surrounding tonight's game will be John Calipari's revenge at Kentucky, but it's much deeper than that.

Arkansas currently owns a win at Rupp Arena & a neutral site win over Michigan.

That's better than most bubble teams.

The Razorbacks' season is far from over. https://t.co/EMbSRpw20m

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 2, 2025

Arkansas hits the road to play Texas on Wednesday before hosting Alabama in Fayetteville. Toppling the Crimson Tide would be another major boost to the Razorbacks' NCAA tournament résumé.

This week starts with a Big 12 contest that's effectively a regular-season conference title eliminator.

Iowa State and Kansas have three and four Big 12 losses respectively. They're steadily losing ground on Houston and Arizona, who are each 9-1. The Cyclones play the Jayhawks at 9 p.m. ET on Monday in Allen Fieldhouse, and whoever loses will have a tough road to the top seed in the conference tourney.

Florida, meanwhile, has the potential to open up the SEC a little bit more. Auburn has reeled off eight straight wins to get conference play underway, and the Tigers maintain a one-game lead on Alabama.

What's shaping up to be a two-horse race at the top could become more intriguing if the Gators pull off the upset.

After being dismissed as Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb reportedly has reunited with a familiar face.

According to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, Grubb is set to join Alabama's staff as offensive coordinator under head coach Kalen DeBoer, whom he worked for at Washington prior to being hired by the Seahawks.

Rittenberg noted that Grubb was initially expected to join DeBoer with the Crimson Tide before the Seahawks hired him as part of first-year head coach Mike Macdonald's staff. The two of them had worked together since 2007 at Sioux Falls, and Grubb had also followed DeBoer to Eastern Michigan and Fresno State before landing at Washington.

In their final year together, Grubb and DeBoer helped lead the Huskies to the 2023 national championship game. Star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy that season before going on to be the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Unfortunately, Grubb's stint in the NFL didn't go as well. Under his direction, the Seahawks averaged 332.2 yards of total offense. However, they ranked 28th in the NFL with just 95.7 rushing yards per game. Seattle's 10-7 record tied for the best in the NFC West, but the team finished in second place behind the Los Angeles Rams and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Alabama went 9-4 in its first season under DeBoer and lost to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The team is set to lose quarterback Jalen Milroe to the 2025 NFL draft along with linebacker Jihaad Campbell, offensive guard Tyler Booker and other key players.

One of the greatest college basketball players of all time had her jersey lifted to the rafters on Sunday.

Caitlin Clark, an Iowa legend and now star for the Indiana Fever, received one of the highest honors after the Hawkeyes upset win over No. 4 USC. In front of an excited crowd in Iowa City, Clark's legendary No. 22 jersey became just the third to be retired in Iowa women's basketball history.

The jersey retirement was accompanied by a handful of tributes from the team.

There will never be another 2️⃣2️⃣#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/3tw1qdjx6a

— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) February 2, 2025

The legend of 22. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/HcFJUSpVQC

— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) February 2, 2025

The 🐐@CaitlinClark22 x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/XnFqy91cVl

— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) February 2, 2025

Caitlin Clark's jacket at her jersey retirement features all of her incredible accomplishments at Iowa 👏

📸: @brilewerke pic.twitter.com/XTV76w8tLy

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 2, 2025

"She has an unbelievable power to make everybody around her better." 🫶

Jan Jensen speaks on Caitlin Clark's success #B1GWBBall pic.twitter.com/M0YuTrUxC0

— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) February 2, 2025

"There will never be another Caitlin Clark. And there will never be another No. 22!" 🙌@CaitlinClark22 an @IowaWBB and women's basketball llegend. pic.twitter.com/Bnx5m3qn6T

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 2, 2025

After her jersey went up in the rafters, Clark first directed the attention to her teammates.

"There's a lot of people to thank, first of all my teammates," Clark said. "I wouldn't be here without any of you, and a lot of you came back and you have busy schedules and I think that just speaks to the culture of this place. So selfless. I know my number's up there but it wouldn't be if it wasn't for all of you."

Caitlin Clark thanks her support system following her jersey retirement 🗣️#B1GWBBall pic.twitter.com/0Ts7uxVQXh

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 2, 2025

Clark also showed love to her current team.

"I couldn't imagine getting drafted to a better franchise. A place that, just like Iowa, invests in women's sports and has allowed me to thrive. Just really lucky and fortunate to be there. Hopefully Year 2 is even better than Year 1, and I know it will be."

Shoutout @IndianaFever from the 🐐 herself, Caitlin Clark #B1GWBBall pic.twitter.com/Y5FcdKReV4

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 2, 2025

Clark has countless accomplishments from her days at Iowa, but the highlights include two Naismith College Player of the Year awards, two AP Player of the Year awards, two Wooden Awards, three All-American honors and three Big Ten Player of the Year awards.

She was also the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2021 and the Big Ten tournament Most Outstanding Player three times.

In her four years at Iowa, Clark averaged 28.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game. She finished her career as the NCAA's all-time scoring leader and the Big Ten's all-time leader in assists, among other records.

Led by Clark, Iowa went to the NCAA tournament championship game twice, though the Hawkeyes came up short in 2023 and 2024.

After her outstanding run at Iowa, Clark was selected by the Fever with the first pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, which was perhaps the most unsurprising move in WNBA draft history. She went on to have an outstanding rookie year, putting up 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 boards per game on her way to being named Rookie of the Year.

Iowa made sure to not let Clark down on the day of her jersey retirement as the Hawkeyes picked up their biggest win of the season, taking down the Trojans 76-69. There have been some growing pains for Iowa since Clark left, but the upset win could be enough to change the course of the season.

John Calipari's first trip back to Rupp Arena with his new team was a successful one.

Calipari's unranked Arkansas upset No. 12 Kentucky 89-79 on Saturday in his first contest against his former team. Calipari spent 15 years with the Wildcats before leaving for Arkansas after last season. He won a national title with Kentucky and produced countless NBA stars.

Aduo Thiero, who followed Calipari to Arkansas from Kentucky, led the way for the Razorbacks with 21 points and eight boards. Johnell Davis added 18 points, six assists and five boards.

Kentucky's Amari Williams and Jaxson Robinson combined for 42, but it wasn't enough to avoid the upset.

John Calipari absolutely deserved that win

— Cole Adams (@coleadamss) February 2, 2025

Kentucky losing to Arkansas gonna ouch for a bit. Congrats to the former Wildcats & John Calipari. #BBN

— CK🌹🏇 (@sissy_ck) February 2, 2025

Kentucky has four national titles in 66 years.

John Calipari got one of them.

And you boo him when he comes to Rupp? Delusional, to say the least.

Good for Coach Cal and good for Arkansas.

— Adam Rossow (@AdamJRossow) February 2, 2025

Wow Calipari and Arkansas beat Kentucky

Rupp is dead silent. What a story.

— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) February 2, 2025

Huge win for John Calipari. His Razorbacks pick up the second most impressive road win in the SEC on Saturday.

— PowerMizzou (@PowerMizzoucom) February 2, 2025

that’s probably a top 3-5 win for Calipari on a personal level. one of the best wins of the year for any team, and a season-saving win for Arkansas. I’ve never seen a conference like the SEC this year.

— Cole Frederick (@ColeFred24) February 2, 2025

Calipari owns Kentucky https://t.co/45cckb14nF

— General Graham (@nsnskxz) February 2, 2025

👀 Calipari !!

— Michael Wilder (@iamwilder12) February 2, 2025

This is going to be one happy flight back to Fayetteville for Arkansas.

John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena and see his Razorbacks team win convincingly over Kentucky. A remarkable victory for the Hogs. Is this a win that can turn their season around?

— Owen (@Alakazam_428) February 2, 2025

John Calipari’s first game back at Rupp since leaving is a nightmare for Kentucky. The Razorbacks dominated, looking as sharp as I’ve ever seen! Arkansas is making sure Calipari’s homecoming is one to forget! #wps

— Wade Lentz (@wadelentz) February 2, 2025

Despite Calipari's years of sustained success in Lexington, he was met by a hostile crowd that booed him as he entered the arena. He responded with a convincing win over one of the best teams in the SEC.

The three Arkansas players who joined Calipari in Fayetteville also showed up against their former team. Along with Thiero's 21, Zvonimir Ivisic added 14 points and DJ Wagner put up 17. The Razorbacks' 89 points are the most they have put up in conference play thus far.

Despite the win, the start of the Calipari era in Arkansas hasn't gone well. The Razorbacks are 13-8 on the season and 2-6 in conference play. Meanwhile, the Wildcats are 15-6 on the year in 4-4 in SEC play.

While Kentucky has had the better season so far, Calipari and Arkansas got the last laugh on Saturday. It's the type of win that could turn the Razorbacks' season around as they try to make the NCAA tournament while competing in a loaded SEC.

If anything, the win should give Arkansas some momentum as it prepares for a stretch where it will see four ranked opponents in its next six games.

Cooper Flagg made a dominant Saturday night entrance to the UNC-Duke rivalry.

The prospective top pick of the 2025 NBA draft recorded 21 points as No. 2 Duke cruised to an 87-70 win over visiting North Carolina.

He and fellow freshman Kon Knueppel, who led the team with 22 points, helped the Blue Devils extend their winning streak to 15 straight games.

Flagg set the tone early as he put up nine points in the first five minutes to help put Duke on track for a 22-point first-half lead.

Cooper Flagg off to a hot start vs. UNC ♨️

📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/yWZS2lEXj2

— ESPN (@espn) February 1, 2025

Flagg proved to be impossible for UNC defenders to cover as the game went on.

couldn't have guarded this any better 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/3HN5dWGeMF

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) February 2, 2025

He finished the night having shot 6-for-14 from the field and 3-for-5 from behind the arc.

Flagg led the Blue Devils with both eight rebounds and seven assists, while adding three steals and two blocks to a stat line that reflected his dominance on both sides of the court.

All I can say in 45 years @espn I have not seen a player as young as @Cooper_Flagg so skilled - he is in his own World - he is THAT GOOD!

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) February 1, 2025

Cooper Flagg is on a heater in the first 4 min ! Geezuussss that young man can hoop

— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) February 1, 2025

Cooper Flagg’s basketball IQ and maturity are off the charts.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 1, 2025

yeah man…cooper flagg is the best player in college basketball and it’s not really close imo.

— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) February 1, 2025

There’s genuinely nothing you can do when Cooper Flagg is hitting jumpers.

— Caleb (@VolsAndDraft) February 1, 2025

Ya Cooper Flagg is the best Duke player I’ve ever seen. Better than Zion

— Bing (@rjb1311) February 2, 2025

I don’t think I’ve seen a Duke player as all around talented as Cooper Flagg is. He can pass. He can rebound. He can shoot. He plays great defense.

— Colton Steiner™ 🎙️ (@s_colton) February 1, 2025

My goodness man Cooper Flagg is just in total control of this game. What a player/prospect

— NBA Draft Nerd (@NBA_DraftNerd) February 1, 2025

The performance solidified some fans' opinion that Flagg has already ended the debate as to who should be the No. 1 selection in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Flagg, who turned 18 on Dec. 21, is set to be the second-youngest college player ever selected should he enter the draft, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony.

Cooper Flagg is insane. Top 5 prospect since the LeBron draft IMO.

— Mikey J 🎷🏆🦣🏆 (@Mik3y_J) February 1, 2025

Cooper Flagg might be the best scorer, the best passer, and the best defender in the draft next year. My god

— Gus (@Gus3720) February 1, 2025

Cooper Flagg has shown me enough.. bring on the draft lol

— ..Thomas Vercetti. (@_flyeerthanu) February 1, 2025

And this is why Cooper Flagg is the number one draft pick!!!#DUKE

— 18+ (@JeremiahCannad1) February 1, 2025

RJ Davis and Drake Powell tied for the UNC team lead with 12 points each in the loss. The Tar Heels fell to 13-10 overall and 6-5 in the conference.

Duke meanwhile improved to 19-2 overall, and 10-0 in the ACC. The Blue Devils remain behind Auburn for the top spot in the AP men's basketball rankings.

The Tigers are set to face ranked opponents including No. 5 Florida and No. 4 Alabama over the next two weeks. If Auburn loses a second game, Duke could get the chance to challenge for the No. 1 spot as March Madness approaches.

The Blue Devils return to action Wednesday for a road game against Syracuse. Before Flagg potentially enters the draft, Duke will look for him and Knueppel to lead the way into a potential NCAA Tournament run.