#UNC coach Hubert Davis after an emotional senior-night victory over Clemson
Mar 4, 2026
#UNC coach Hubert Davis after an emotional senior-night victory over Clemson
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0:01
Hey, I'm turning over a new
0:04
uh the Bradell said that that last play
0:07
they had that mis layup that Hunter took
0:09
that they had their first three options
0:11
were three-pointers and then you guys
0:13
took it away. You switched and took all
0:14
three away and forced that drive. Did
0:16
you know what they were going to run to
0:17
have a good idea what they were in that
0:19
situation? And was that part of it?
0:20
Switch to take away the three. We didn't
0:22
know that specific play, but defensively
0:25
we were switching everything. And we put
0:26
in a lineup that we felt like could do
0:29
that and execute that uh from a
0:32
defensive standpoint. So we were
0:34
switching everything, not just on the
0:35
ball, off the ball. So it made it
0:37
difficult for them to get the ball in
0:40
and um that's why they drove it into the
0:42
lane to try to get an easy quick two and
0:44
they were able to miss. We were able to
0:45
get the rebound and then ultimately Seth
0:48
was able to hit one free throw and that
0:49
was the game. Was that pretty much also
0:51
what you guys did that last six and a
0:52
half minutes because I think they only
0:54
had 11 points. Were you guys able to
0:55
come back come from behind and beat
0:56
them? I think it was through 11 in that
0:59
stretch and they were three for 10.
1:02
>> Yeah, I mean we had different coverages.
1:04
I mean, we weren't in switching
1:06
everything and that that would be very
1:08
difficult for us because, you know,
1:10
pretty much the entire game they were
1:11
playing two bigs and so that would put,
1:14
you know, our smaller guards on them
1:16
whether they were posting up or, you
1:19
know, on the offensive glass. And so it
1:21
was what made it really difficult was
1:24
their big starting hitting threes. And
1:27
so we had to adjust a little bit with
1:29
that because they were making threes.
1:32
And so, uh, we made another adjustment
1:34
there to try to take that away. We made
1:36
a mistake and and gave up a three, but I
1:39
thought we did a good job with the with
1:41
the changes defensively depending on the
1:44
situation. And as I said before to your
1:46
question, at the end, we were switching
1:48
everything, trying to take away the
1:49
three. It was a very um
1:53
you know
1:55
thinking through a lot because in that
1:58
situation up by three um my rule is 10
2:02
seconds or below is to foul and put them
2:05
on the free throw line. Um the reason
2:08
why we decided not to foul and just
2:11
switch was because Henry fouled out. I
2:14
was very nervous about them missing a
2:16
free throw and getting the offensive
2:17
glass and and so just a lot of thinking.
2:20
I didn't know which one um to choose,
2:23
but I'm glad that one worked.
2:26
>> We're able to win.
2:27
>> Noah, then Rod
2:28
>> Hubert, Luca hit those three threes in I
2:30
think a two and a half minute stretch in
2:31
the second half. How much did that not
2:32
only help you guys, but ignite you guys
2:34
and sort of will you guys towards the
2:35
end of the game?
2:36
>> Yeah, it did. I mean, we just couldn't
2:37
get anything consistently around the
2:39
rim, whether through post or
2:40
penetration. I mean, just Clemson's
2:43
defense is two things. One is really
2:45
good. They've got three things. They got
2:47
great length and then they're very
2:48
physical. And so, we just um just
2:52
couldn't get anything um consistently
2:55
whether through post or penetration. And
2:56
so, we you know, Luca hit a three and
2:59
he's one of those guys that when he hits
3:00
one like he he he wants another look.
3:03
And so, we called three straight plays
3:05
for him just to be able to get him open.
3:07
And you know, he's a guy that obviously
3:09
can hit open shots, but he also does a
3:11
really good job of hitting contested
3:13
shots. And he made some big ones for us
3:15
tonight.
3:16
>> Rod and Michael Hubert Seth talked about
3:19
it a little bit how it could have been
3:20
logical or easy for him to leave last
3:22
year with all the guards coming back. He
3:24
didn't. You hope he's not the last
3:27
four-year player here, but yeah.
3:28
>> What's it say about him that he is a
3:30
four-year player and he and he could be
3:32
that last?
3:32
>> No, it is. you know, I mean, what a um,
3:36
you know, example, testament to
3:38
perseverance and being able to um,
3:42
continue and stay through the fight. Um,
3:47
you know, with the choices that these
3:48
kids have every year to be able to
3:50
transfer and, um, you know, one of the
3:54
things that always, not just Seth, but
3:56
everyone, I said, you know, you have to
3:57
find joy and enjoyment of how hard it is
4:00
to be the best that you could be
4:01
individually and as a team. It's
4:03
difficult. It's hard. It just is. There
4:06
there's no way around it. You can't go
4:07
any place in the country and everything
4:10
go the way that you want it to go. there
4:12
there's going to be cloudy and rainy and
4:14
windy days and
4:19
I really hope that Seth is
4:24
being celebrated as much as he should.
4:28
Um, we talk about a number of players
4:30
and rightfully so, but Seth should be
4:33
talked about a lot as well. um as
4:36
accomplished as a player he is, the
4:38
commitment that he's had to this team
4:39
and to this program and to this
4:41
university. Um
4:45
like this is he talked about it in his
4:47
speech. This is his second home. The
4:50
relationships that he has built over the
4:52
last four years, those aren't just
4:55
relationships with this time here. Like
4:58
he those are relationships for the rest
5:01
of his life. And it's because
5:05
he stuck around and um you know it's
5:09
really emotional and uh for me he was
5:11
part of the first recruiting class when
5:13
I became head coach and to see him um
5:17
where he is right now on and off the
5:19
court um is such a joy to see.
5:22
>> Michael then Alex
5:23
>> Hubert, you guys finished the season
5:25
undefeated at home for the first time
5:26
since 2016.
5:28
>> They're moving the ACC tournament here
5:31
>> and so we're we're in favor of that.
5:33
Okay. And that 1617 season ended pretty
5:35
well for you guys. And this is the first
5:37
team to win as many home as many home
5:39
games as it did this season. To be so
5:42
good here in Chapel Hill, what does that
5:43
mean to you?
5:44
>> Yeah, it means a lot. You know, first of
5:46
all, I wanted to thank the fans. Um,
5:48
their support all year has been
5:52
remarkable.
5:53
Um,
5:55
you know, the energy that they bring
5:56
every game, it is a difference maker and
5:59
it helps us. and to have their support
6:03
all year has meant so much to us. And
6:07
you know, the success that we've had at
6:09
home is uh you know, these are things
6:11
that we'll remember for the rest of our
6:13
life. And um I'm just really proud of
6:17
the guys. I've said this before, just I
6:21
keep telling them I'm proud of them, but
6:22
I am, you know, just
6:26
all the things that this team has had to
6:30
adjust and to go through. And this is
6:33
the 15th game without
6:37
um either Seth, Henry, or Caleb in the
6:41
lineup. and for this team to do what
6:44
they have done this year. Um my hope is
6:48
uh they're recognized for that and um
6:51
going undefeated at home and being able
6:54
and having to deal with all the things
6:55
that they had to deal with it even makes
6:57
it even more special.
6:58
>> Alex and Spencer,
7:00
>> you were you talked about Luca a bit.
7:02
What um things have sort of helped him
7:04
both on and off the court kind of adjust
7:06
both to the game but also just to life
7:08
here in Jackson.
7:08
>> Yeah, I mean it's a huge adjustment. I
7:11
mean, I just and really I can't put it
7:14
into perspective because I haven't been
7:16
in that type of situation. And I
7:18
remember, you know, being in the NBA and
7:20
getting traded and having to go to a
7:22
different city within 48 hours, but I
7:25
didn't have to go to a different country
7:28
where I knew no one. And you had to
7:32
adjust to new coaches, new country,
7:36
new school, new system, new teammates,
7:42
kind of new basketball. And the
7:46
adjustment that he has made has been
7:48
awesome. And the thing that warms my
7:52
heart the most is just the relationships
7:55
that he has with his teammates. Um the
7:58
way that they joke around and hang out
8:01
together. It's just um that makes me
8:04
feel really good that he's adjusted that
8:06
well and he's loved and supported in the
8:08
locker room amongst his teammates.
8:09
>> Spencer then Shelby.
8:11
>> Yeah. Thank you. One thing you talked
8:12
about on Monday, I think was, you know,
8:13
the tight-knit nature of this team and
8:15
how connected this group is going back
8:17
to California. Not to bring up, you
8:19
know, bad memories, but you guys are 10
8:20
and two in the conference since
8:22
>> Yeah, you brought the brought the
8:23
>> since the trip. I guess what is it?
8:25
How's what have you seen from your team
8:26
that, you know, allowed you guys to kind
8:28
of write the ship and and get back to,
8:30
you know, where you are now?
8:31
>> Yeah, you know, I I you know, for us it
8:34
was two games.
8:36
I know at times it was made more than
8:38
that, but it was two games and we didn't
8:43
play very well consistently for a week.
8:47
And all year long, whether it was a loss
8:50
to Michigan State or um
8:55
loss to NC State, this this team has
8:58
always responded and reacted in a way
9:01
that um allowed us to be successful and
9:03
continue um to improve and get better.
9:06
And so it doesn't surprise me um how
9:09
much better we got. And again, it's
9:12
another example of how close this team
9:14
is and how good they are. Shelby.
9:16
>> Yeah, I think obviously somebody else
9:18
that you spoke to that plays a role in
9:20
how close this team is, Elijah, who has
9:22
made his way into the press conference
9:23
here. We were just talking in the um
9:26
player lounge about we were very
9:27
impressed that you were able to keep it
9:29
together for the most part during the
9:30
game
9:30
>> during the speech. How were you able to
9:32
do it? And
9:34
>> I have been kept it together all day.
9:36
>> Okay.
9:36
>> I've been a mess all day.
9:39
>> All day.
9:41
>> I have. And um I just need time to like
9:44
it was honestly there was a lot to
9:47
unpack. You know, obviously Elijah
9:50
um and I could spend the rest of my life
9:53
talking about him and the impact that
9:56
he's made on me and this team and this
9:58
program. Uh Seth,
10:01
RJ,
10:03
um
10:06
the game.
10:08
Um what was at stake?
10:11
Um it's the last week of the regular
10:13
season. It's just a lot going on. And so
10:18
um wanted to enjoy it, wanted to take it
10:21
in, but also wanted to stay focused on
10:23
what my job was. My job was to coach and
10:27
uh help these guys out, be the best that
10:28
they can be.
10:29
>> I guess just really quick follow up on
10:31
that. Just after, you know, you guys got
10:32
the win and then
10:34
>> he was shocked that I called him in at
10:36
the end of the game. Well, yeah. Take me
10:38
through that and then also just did you
10:40
ever imagine that, you know, you'd be
10:42
here coaching your son given a speech
10:46
like that?
10:46
>> Never. Never at all. I mean, I obviously
10:48
I always wanted to coach him, but I
10:51
never thought it would ever happen. And
10:53
so, to be able to have that opportunity
10:55
is such a blessing. Um,
10:58
as soon as Seth went to the free throw
11:00
line, I don't know why, it just popped
11:01
in my head and I said, "If Seth hits
11:02
this one free throw, then we're up by
11:04
four with 0.9 seconds to go. the game's
11:06
over. So, I went to the coaches and I
11:08
said, "If Seth's hits this free throw,
11:10
it's over, right?" They go, "Yeah." And
11:11
they didn't understand why I was asking
11:13
them. As soon as Seth hit that free
11:14
throw, I said, "Elijah, go in." And
11:17
almost like he didn't remember his name.
11:19
He just looked at me and was like,
11:20
"You're putting me in now." And I was
11:22
like, "Yes, I wanted you to go in." And
11:25
um wanted him to have that moment of
11:27
being on the court at the last time. I
11:30
remember me being a senior and we're
11:32
playing Georgia Tech in '92. And I
11:34
remember my last time as a player on
11:36
that floor and I wanted him to have that
11:38
memory himself.
11:40
>> There's nothing better than he can talk
11:41
about than that. So we are done.
11:42
>> Okay, great.
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