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Hubert Davis press conference before departing for Greenville, S.C., for #UNC's first-round game
Mar 17, 2026
Hubert Davis press conference before departing for Greenville, S.C., for #UNC's first-round game
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0:00
How have you guys kind of uh
0:02
recalibrated in the day since the ACC
0:05
tournament and kind of get these guys in
0:06
the right mindset going into March
0:08
Madness?
0:08
>> Yeah, I mean the the mindset is there
0:10
just, you know, it's it's been good to
0:12
get back to practice and just work on,
0:15
you know, consistency. I just felt like
0:17
the last couple games was just a number
0:18
of different areas. You know, with the
0:21
Duke, it was a Duke game. It was uh
0:24
turnovers where they got 24 points off
0:26
of 14 turnovers. um our rebounding, lack
0:29
of rebounding, um you know, um getting
0:33
the 50/50 loose balls and then against
0:35
Clemson, I felt like at times their
0:37
physicality bothered us. Um we just made
0:41
multiple mistakes like on like
0:44
consecutive possessions where
0:47
didn't box out defensively and then turn
0:49
the ball over, took a bad shot and then
0:53
had a defensive mistake. And that and
0:55
that
0:56
that's what happens when you know it's a
0:59
two-point game with a minute and 42 to
1:01
go and then you go into halftime down
1:03
eight and uh we didn't shoot the ball
1:04
well from the free throw line. So just a
1:07
number of things that uh just obviously
1:10
you wish you can play perfect but you
1:11
can't but just the consistency that has
1:14
allowed us to be successful this year.
1:16
We just got to get back to u against
1:18
VCU.
1:19
>> Yeah. Have you seen that fire in
1:20
competitiveness that you've wanted to
1:22
see in practice as far as elevation this
1:24
time of year?
1:25
>> No, it is. I mean, I
1:28
I mean, you've been around me for 5
1:29
years. It it NCAA tournament doesn't
1:32
shouldn't rev you up, it should rev you
1:34
up in November or in June. Um, anytime
1:39
you get an opportunity to compete and be
1:41
out there on the floor, it's real. And
1:43
so, but uh uh we had a really
1:45
competitive practice yesterday, a little
1:47
chippy, which I'm fine with. and um um
1:51
like to bring that chippiness um to
1:53
Greenville.
1:54
>> How much do you harp on the challenges
1:56
that the last couple games have
1:57
presented versus now wanting to just
1:58
sort of flush it? Do you do you harp on
2:00
it a lot? Do you want to flush it and
2:02
totally just look and start really a new
2:03
mini season for for the tournament? No,
2:06
I mean, I think there's lessons to be
2:07
learned over the last week and and the
2:10
lessons learned over the last week are
2:12
are are things that, you know,
2:14
consistently
2:16
um that we've had to work on all season.
2:20
It was nothing new. And so, just uh
2:23
refining the things that have allowed us
2:25
to be successful on both ends of the
2:27
floor. I mean, you just can't get around
2:30
it. I mean, we got to be a good
2:32
defensive team. Close the shot 50%
2:34
nearly 50% from the field. We got to be
2:36
a good rebounding team. We got I'll read
2:37
them about I rebounded by 13 against um
2:41
against Duke. We got to take care of the
2:43
basketball. I just mentioned the points
2:44
off of turnovers against Duke. So those
2:47
are things that I've consistently said
2:49
throughout the year that that have to be
2:51
good um heading into the NCAA
2:54
tournament.
2:55
>> Hubert, since selection Sunday, what
2:57
have you seen from BCU that um has
2:59
impressed you so far? Yeah, I mean a
3:01
number of things on both ends of the
3:02
floor. Uh very uh athletic, versatile,
3:05
which allows them uh defensively to do a
3:08
number of different things. I mean, I
3:09
think every one of their guys can guard
3:11
one through five. I mean, it just um
3:14
they can get steals and deflections,
3:16
very active, fast pace, uh like to get
3:19
up and down. Uh their average uh
3:22
possession length is about 16 seconds.
3:24
And so their shot spectrum is is um
3:28
definitive. You know, they want layups,
3:30
they want threes, and in in their
3:34
conference in Atlantic 10, they've um
3:36
they've gotten to the free throw line
3:37
the most and made the most free throws.
3:39
So, we got to defend without fouling
3:43
>> and and they play a a really fast pace.
3:46
>> Yeah.
3:47
>> And I I'm guessing that you like that,
3:49
but what are the challenges of playing
3:51
in a that sort of pace?
3:53
>> Yeah. I mean, you know, we play fast as
3:55
well and and that's a style that um that
3:59
we like and that we've been consistent
4:00
with all season. Um but also, you know,
4:04
for us, you know, one of the things that
4:06
I say is never let a team dictate and
4:08
decide how efficient you are on both
4:10
ends of the floor. And so, uh, for us,
4:13
uh, dominating points in the paint
4:14
through post penetration, offensive
4:16
rebounding,
4:18
um, those types of things, uh, staying
4:20
consistent will allows us to be
4:22
successful even in a fast-paced game,
4:24
which we like.
4:25
>> Cubert, what are the benefits of a bus
4:27
ride rather than a flight? And obviously
4:29
some good memories down in Greenville,
4:30
too.
4:31
>> Yeah, I like I like bus rides. I I'm not
4:34
a huge fan of flying. I just um
4:38
if it I'm I'm a good flyer unless it's
4:41
like thunderstorms. I just don't want
4:44
that, you know, and so I'm constantly
4:47
the number one app on my phone is the
4:49
Weather Channel. And so I'm constantly
4:52
looking at that. But I love bus rides. I
4:54
remember uh when I played here,
4:58
we bust everywhere. Um I mean there was
5:02
only eight in the ACC. We bust to
5:04
Maryland. We bust to Clemson. The only
5:05
time we flew was in a midweek game. It
5:08
was a 9:00 p.m. game and Coach Smith
5:10
wanted us to uh get a charter so we get
5:13
back to go to class the next day. But
5:16
the only time we actually had to get on
5:17
a plane was my senior year when we had
5:18
to go to Florida State. And so I like
5:20
the bus. I wish we could bus or train
5:22
everywhere. That would be fantastic.
5:24
>> I love the train.
5:25
>> Yeah. And then the benefits of playing
5:26
in Greenville. There's obviously the
5:28
history there and fans being able to
5:29
travel.
5:30
>> It is No, it is you know um that's huge
5:32
for us. You know, one of the things that
5:34
I have said that um as a huge
5:39
contributing factor for us being
5:41
undefeated at home this year was the fan
5:44
support. So to be able to be close
5:46
enough where fans can come is a huge
5:49
benefit for us. um and also the history
5:52
of in 2017 playing there and the success
5:56
that we had there and so but you know
6:00
irregardless of how close Greenville is
6:02
to Chapel Hill we're going to have to
6:03
play well um against a very good VCU
6:05
team.
6:06
>> Obviously your depth has taken some hit
6:09
with injuries but how important is it to
6:10
get the bench going and how do you do
6:12
that?
6:13
>> Yeah, I mean you know there's so many
6:15
ways that you can make an impact out
6:17
there on the floor. It's not just you
6:19
know scoring. It's um um or things that
6:23
show up in the stat sheet. It's it's the
6:24
little things. It's, you know, loose
6:26
balls of setting silent legal screens,
6:29
uh being the best talker out there from
6:31
a defensive standpoint. Um those type of
6:34
things. And so irregardless from the
6:36
bench or starters,
6:38
um we just need a collection of guys
6:40
consistently doing the right things out
6:42
there on both ends of the floor. And
6:45
they've done a really nice job of it
6:47
this year. And um obviously there were
6:49
mistakes uh we can play better um than
6:53
the last couple of games and we're
6:55
hopeful that we can play a lot better on
6:57
Thursday at 650.
6:59
>> So this is a time of the year where
7:00
magic can happen to any team, you know,
7:02
teams that aren't expected to get there
7:03
and teams blue bus like North Carolina.
7:05
Is that is that something that makes
7:07
this tournament so amazing is the fact
7:08
that anything can happen in this
7:10
tournament and it could be some huge
7:12
moments for everybody. Well, well, I
7:14
think the unique thing about this
7:15
tournament is it's a oneame scenario,
7:18
you know, it's um
7:22
any other setting that we play
7:24
throughout the year, you always have
7:25
another game during the midweek or the
7:27
weekend. And this one um your season is
7:31
over. And so, it's not just your
7:34
basketball season is over. It's in some
7:37
ways like not relationships over but
7:42
being a part of a team is over. You know
7:44
this team right here this year will
7:47
never be together again forever.
7:50
However this year ends and that's the
7:52
sad part because you know there's
7:54
relationships built here that will last
7:58
for a lifetime. And so you want to stay
8:00
together as a group as a team as long as
8:02
possible. And when you have a one game
8:05
scenario, it it you know, it brings out
8:08
that magic that you're talking about.
8:09
>> Have you seen anything in Seth that that
8:11
maybe kind of sparks you a little bit
8:13
cuz you know, it's amazing you stayed
8:14
here for as long as he has and now this
8:16
is this is his final run.
8:18
>> Yeah, I don't want him thinking about
8:19
that. You know, I you know, I just um I
8:23
think those are type of emotions and
8:26
feelings that come after the fact. You
8:28
know, I I just don't want him I want him
8:30
thinking about VCU getting downhill,
8:34
dunking everything, stealing every ball,
8:36
and just um getting every rebound, and
8:40
just want him focused on enjoying the
8:42
moment and um playing at his best.
8:45
>> How do you prepare for a tournament like
8:46
this? You're saying it's game by game,
8:48
but there's still a field that you're a
8:50
little aware of. Do you keep an eye on
8:51
those games? Do you just focus on VCU?
8:53
Like, what is the preparation because
8:54
you don't know who's coming next down
8:56
the line?
8:56
>> Yeah. Uh, that's a great question. I
8:58
mean, once we found out at selection
9:00
show, I had everybody over to the house
9:02
and I just kind of told them, you know,
9:04
my approach to the NCAA tournament and
9:07
what I want our team's approach to be.
9:09
Um, it's very easy to look at the whole
9:12
tournament and go, okay, you got to you
9:13
want to win six games and look at
9:16
possible matchups. And I just think that
9:18
takes you away from what is real and
9:20
what is real is right in front of you.
9:22
And so I said, "Our only focus is is the
9:26
Greenville, South Carolina tournament.
9:28
Uh we have an opportunity, we're going
9:29
to play one game, we've got an
9:31
opportunity to play two in our
9:33
preparation, our practice, and our play,
9:34
let's do everything that we can to see
9:36
if we can win two games in the
9:37
Greenville tournament. If we play well
9:40
enough and win two games, then we'll be
9:42
invited to the Houston tournament." And
9:44
um if we're fortunate enough to win two
9:46
games in the Houston tournament, I think
9:48
they'll invite us to the Indianapolis
9:50
tournament. And so just look at it that
9:52
way and it's something that coach Smith,
9:54
Coach Guthri, and Coach Williams did um
9:56
when they were head coach and it's
9:58
something that I liked as a player and
9:59
something that I like as a coach.
10:02
>> Hubert, you guys have been the aggressor
10:04
at times. How do you get that consistent
10:07
aggression from the jump Thursday? Yeah.
10:10
Well, I mean, you know, I I poke and at
10:12
him a lot and get them going and um it's
10:16
uh um
10:20
that aggression will be there. And um
10:24
again, the sense of urgency of a oneame
10:26
scenario is is real. It's right in front
10:29
of you. And um I'm confident that the
10:32
guys understand uh what's at stake and
10:35
what needs
10:37
um
10:39
to be there on the floor from the jump
10:41
ball all the way to the end of the game.
10:43
>> Their defense is really aggressive. They
10:45
they double a lot. They put a lot of
10:48
bodies on the ball. Yeah. What are what
10:50
are the important uh aspects for your
10:53
game to deal with that and making the
10:56
right decisions?
10:57
>> Yeah. One of the things I always tell
10:58
the guys is just to be simple and sound.
11:01
Um I'm always during practice talking
11:03
about we don't need home runs, we just
11:05
need singles, uh two hand passes, two
11:08
hand catches, um uh simple works. Um and
11:13
irregardless if a team is very
11:15
aggressive, putting a number of bodies
11:17
around the ball, getting steals and
11:19
deflections, and just making the easy
11:22
play, um irregardless of what defense
11:24
you're playing with, I think is
11:26
successful. So, that's something that
11:28
not just that I've preached in
11:29
preparation for VCU, but throughout the
11:31
whole year of just being fundamentally
11:33
sound and um um those are the things
11:37
that allow you to be successful um
11:39
whomever you play from a defensive
11:41
standpoint.
11:42
>> Does their defense remind you of anybody
11:43
else you've played this season?
11:45
>> Um I mean, they're you know, they're I
11:48
don't know if it reminds me of anyone,
11:49
but I mean they have traits from a
11:52
number of different um other opponents
11:54
that we've played. maybe NC State where
11:57
you know they can get steals and
11:58
deflections, athleticism from, you know,
12:02
start to finish um physicality and in
12:06
regards to like Clemson and um good
12:09
individual 101 defenders like Duke. And
12:11
so um it's something that we haven't
12:14
faced before, but um
12:17
we'll be ready for the challenge.
12:19
>> Kind of going off of Rod's question
12:20
about the aggression, Henry. um best
12:23
game of his career on Thursday against
12:24
Clemson. How do you get him to come out
12:26
on Thursday against VCU with that same
12:28
aggression, that same fight for two
12:29
consecutive halves?
12:31
>> Yeah, I mean,
12:33
I would respectfully disagree that he
12:35
didn't play that way for two halves, you
12:37
know, and um
12:39
>> I was going to say I just mean like how
12:40
do you get him to just carry to build
12:41
off of that?
12:43
>> Well, he's built off that throughout the
12:45
entire year. I mean, I I I think he's
12:47
had a pretty good season and not only
12:49
has he played at a high level, I feel
12:51
like he's been consistent. Um, one of
12:54
the things that we have worked on is the
12:56
the six turnovers and so um just do a
12:59
better job of that when there's a lot of
13:01
bodies around him around the basket, but
13:04
um Henry is um been there throughout the
13:07
entire season and
13:10
he'll be ready to play on Thursday.
13:12
>> Got time for one more. How much of an
13:14
advantage is it for I know there's a
13:15
couple of guys um that have played in
13:17
this tournament before. How much of an
13:18
advantage is that to have some starters
13:20
and some guys in your rotation that have
13:21
been there before in this kind of one
13:22
and done scenario in mind?
13:24
>> Yeah, I mean I think that helps um a
13:27
little bit in order to have you know the
13:29
experience of being in the NCAA
13:31
tournament. it, you know, it is a
13:32
different feel because it's a do or die
13:35
situation, but
13:38
um, you know, the schedule that we play
13:41
and the stage that we're on, it's
13:43
nothing different than, you know, a mid-
13:46
November game in regards to, um, the
13:49
importance of us playing well against a
13:51
really good opponent.
13:53
All right. Thanks everybody.