Everything Hubert Davis had to say following gritty win over Wake Forest win

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Everything Hubert Davis had to say following gritty win over Wake Forest win

Matthew Beighle, Tar Heels Wire · Tar Heels Wire

Fri, Mar 14, 2025 ·

4 min read

Hubert Davis on his message to a team dealing with foul trouble

"Well, just that we're built for that. In the locker room, just telling them, so proud of how they've stayed connected, stayed the course through ups and downs, perseverance. There's a level of toughness here that has been developed over the last seven or eight months that we've been together, and we were in these type of situations earlier in the year and weren't able to get stronger. We were able to do it today. As a coach, to be able to see these guys perform under pressure and do it together is one of the most amazing things that you can see as a coach."

Hubert Davis on the early-season late-game situations helping now

"I think both. I think being in that situation so many times, you can draw upon those experiences where it worked out and where it didn't. So being in that type of situation, these guys now step towards it, as opposed to standing still or maybe taking a step back. Sometimes, still, the outcome doesn't go your way, but down in the stretch, it's the discipline and details to be able to execute on both ends of the floor. We didn't turn the ball over, we executed, we scored, and on the defensive end, we defended, didn't foul and didn't give them second-chance opportunities. That's the game. That's a game earlier in the year that we lost, and I think it shows tremendous growth in where we are right now."

Hubert Davis on the urgency RJ Davis is playing with

"Well, yeah, there is urgency because he has no more eligibility left. But there's also a sense of calmness and steadiness that this team has needed all year long, especially in situations like late game. Having a guy like RJ that's been there, done that before and being able to draw on his experience and how calm he is and be able to execute under pressure, just helps out our team so much. You have to have people, you have to have leaders like that on the team, and I can't think of anyone better than that, than RJ."

Hubert Davis on Jae'Lyn Withers and Ven-Allen Lubin performances

"Yeah, that's one of the things that we talk about is there's so many ways that you can be impactful out there on the floor to help your team win. Winning plays is not just scoring. There's rebounding, talking on defense, diving on loose balls, getting steals, deflections, making a free throw. All those different types of things, being able to execute. So again, when you have -- you know, Ven is a junior, J-Wit is a fifth-year senior, that type of experience, they've been in tight situations before and feel comfortable about stepping up and making plays in those situations."

Hubert Davis on facing Duke for a third time

"Well, I mean, gosh, I don't think -- we haven't played them since I've been head coach in the ACC. I don't think so. But playing Duke is an opportunity to play against the No. 1 team in the country. Obviously, they're playing extremely well. We just played them last week on senior night on our home floor, and we're excited about the opportunity to be able to compete against them tomorrow night at 7:00."

Hubert Davis on if UNC has earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament

"You know, the thing that I always focus on is what is real, and so you asked a similar question to Ven, and my communication with them in regards to the NCAA Tournament has been zero. What is real for us is our improvement as a team. What is real for us has been the opponent right in front of us. Right now, it's playing Duke tomorrow at 7:00. Those are the things that we're focused on. I've always believed this from Coach Smith and Coach Guthridge, if you just focus on the preparation, the process and your play, everything else will take care of itself. That's where our focus is on, and I feel like we're getting better, and I feel like we're improving."

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