UNC Suspends Talks on CBB Arena Amid HC Search After Hubert Davis' Firing

After firing head coach Hubert Davis, UNC's plans for a new basketball arena are on hold for now.

Per Brian Murphy of WRAL News, UNC has "suspended discussions about the future of the Smith Center until the Tar Heels hire their next men's basketball coach and that coach has had time to develop his program."

UNC vice chancellor for communications Dean Stoyer told Murphy that the discontinued discussions will "allow Bubba Cunningham and Steve Newmark to focus on identifying and selecting a new head basketball coach" and it will continue "until a new coach has had time to develop their program and focus on the long-term success" of the team.

Murphy explained that a new arena became a point of debate among key members of the Tar Heels community this season, with the administration preferring to build a new facility while "supporters of the program" were in favor of renovating the Smith Center. Former UNC coach Roy Williams and former star player Tyler Hansbrough were among those who publicly supported renovation as opposed to a new location.

After firing Davis on Tuesday following an early exit from the NCAA Tournament, Stoyer told Murphy that UNC is "targeting some of the biggest names in the sport" to replace him and "doesn't want the contentious arena debate hanging over the search or the new coach."