Ian Jackson, who left UNC for St. John’s, talks Hubert Davis, facing Duke again

Ian Jackson owns a unique perspective on two of the biggest college basketball stories in a wild week around the sport.

The St. John’s guard is preparing to face Duke, the NCAA Tournament’s top seed, Friday night in the East Region semifinals at Capital One Arena.

He knows all about the Blue Devils because he played last season at North Carolina and endured three losses to Duke. That’s why he has interest in another major story: UNC’s decision to part ways with head coach Hubert Davis after his five seasons at the school.

“It sucks,” Jackson said Thursday. “It sucks. Hubert Davis was a great coach, great person. His family is great people. I’m hoping the best. I’m hoping things go well for him.”

The 6-5 Jackson played one season as a freshman for Davis with the Tar Heels before entering his name in the transfer portal last spring. After averaging 11.9 points while making 39% of his 3-pointers and 45.6% of his overall shots with UNC, the Bronx, New York, native has scored 9.6 points per game while making 35% of his 3-pointers and 41.3% overall for the Red Storm this season.

“I just looked for it somewhere to reset and put my head down and get better,” Jackson said. “I think me coming here was a perfect place for that, being able to come home, have my family here, the support, and just grow as a player and as a person. I think so far, it’s been great.”

Facing Duke. Again.

One thing that wasn’t great about his UNC experience? Losing three times to rival Duke, including a 74-71 decision in the ACC Tournament semifinals.

“That rivalry and that dislike from them beating us over there is still there,” Jackson said.

Now, Jackson and St. John’s (30-6), the East’s No. 5 seed, face the tournament’s No. 1 seed, the 34-2 Blue Devils, in the Sweet 16.

“I love it,” Jackson said. “I love to have a chance. I’m a competitor. I want to have a chance to win. I would have hated to not see them here. We see them and I’ve got a chance to beat them.”

In three games against Duke last season, Jackson scored just 16 points, hitting 5 of 14 shots overall, including 2 of 8 3-pointers. He started the first game on Feb. 7 at Cameron then came off the bench in the final two games. He played 19 minutes in the regular-season finale and just 10 minutes in the ACC Tournament game.

With St. John’s this season, Jackson’s per-game minutes are 18.3, compared to his 23.8 minutes per game with the Tar Heels. He started 19 games this season but, like his season at UNC, he’s now coming off the bench in March.

Whatever the role he has Friday night, he knows what to expect from Duke.

“They play hard, they guard,” Jackson said. “So for me, last year, that’s what I’ve got from them as a team. This year, I kind of get the same thing, the little intricate things about them.”