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Everything Hubert Davis, RJ Davis, Seth Trimble said after UNC beats SDSU in First Four
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- Everything Hubert Davis, RJ Davis, Seth Trimble said after UNC beats SDSU in First Four
Tuesday night's First Four matchup presented a golden opportunity for the North Carolina Tar Heels, proving they belong in the NCAA Tournament field after wide-scale debate about their initial selection.
UNC, which finished fifth in the ACC, battled San Diego State, which finished fifth in the Mountain West. People also questioned the Aztecs' inclusion into the Big Dance, but it wasn't a national news story.
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I expected SDSU to give North Carolina a tough time defensively, but I also knew the Tar Heels' up-tempo style could force issues. That's exactly what happened, with UNC dominating 95-68 – and advancing to face Ole Miss on Friday.
North Carolina (23-13, 13-7 ACC) played one of its best games on the season, shooting 52.6 percent (30-of-57) overall and an even-hotter 58.3% (14-of-24) from the perimeter. RJ Davis delivered another signature postseason performance, leading all scorers with 26 points and tying a Tar Heels NCAA Tournament record with six made 3-pointers, while Jae'Lyn Withers responded loudly with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.
What makes UNC's offensive outburst all the more impressive is how the SDSU (21-10, 14-6) defense ranked coming in. The Aztecs limited opponents to shoot just 37.8% from the field, tops in Division I, while their 63.6 opponents points per game mark ranked 14th in the nation.
North Carolina's offense may get all the talk tonight, but defense was an equally important factor. The Tar Heels limited SDSU to just eight made 3-pointers on 27 attempts, which comes out to 29.6%.
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As you can imagine, Hubert Davis and his UNC players were a happy bunch after the blowout victory. Hear a few things they had to say below:
All quotes via Jeremiah Holloway | Inside Carolina and Bryant Baucom | Tar Heel Illustrated
Hubert on practicing before the First Four game
"We practiced on Sunday, we got here and were supposed to have an earlier practice – before we came to the open practice here," Hubert said. "There was a flight delay. This was the only practice that we had, but it was a really good, 40-minute practice. We've had 98 practices and 35 games, we knew what we needed to do, we knew what we were up against in San Diego State and what an outstanding defensive team that they were. (We knew) just the type of competitive fight we needed to bring tonight."
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Hubert on UNC playing loose basketball, with little-to-no weight
"No, I don't think it was a weight on us to try to get into the NCAA Tournament," Hubert said. "My communication with them is to always focus on us. It's not the noise on the outside in terms of comments and critics. Focusing on our preparation, our practice and our play. I consistently send that message in a number of different ways because that's the only thing that we have control over. So why waste time doing anything else?
"This group has been one of the best at staying connected and staying the course, through windy and turbulent times and also clear-sky days, as well. It doesn't surprise me that they played one of their better games today. It's been a real focused group. You can just – over the last two months, their commitment to team is just continuing to grow. I talked earlier in the year about how quiet this team was, and the voices, the volume of the voices is exactly where it needs to be, whether it's in the huddle, on the bus, on the floor. Just a real connected group right now."
Hubert on seeing RJ play tonight in kicking off his final NCAA Tournament
"It's not surprising and it's also comforting, as a head coach, to have him out there on the floor," Hubert said. "I don't know what it looks , to exist without him on the sideline and on the floor. I don't want to think about it. You think about not just his game, but his character, who he is, the type of person, the relationship that we have and developed over the years. Just seeing him have an outstanding game tonight, was really fun to watch."
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Hubert on what impressed him about his players against SDSU
"The thing I was most proud of, we started the game and had six quick turnovers. For the rest of the game, we only had five," Hubert said. "San Diego State is excellent at getting steals and deflections. We did a really good job at taking care of the basketball. I thought our defense was real, especially in the first half. We did a great job of protecting the paint, defending without fouling and finishing every possession with a boxout and rebound. That allowed us to get out in transition and all year, transition's been our number one way to score. We did a number of good things defensively to be able to put us in position to score on the offensive end. It just helps that we took care of the basketball."
Hubert on UNC's confidence continuing to grow
"It does," Hubert said. "You asked me that question after we lost to Duke at home, and you said you had a six-game win streak, you asked if I was concerned if we would be able to continue that momentum – and I said no. I said, I just feel like this group is getting better. Irregardless of the outcome, I feel like we're getting better – and I feel like our confidence is growing. It did during the ACC Tournament – and then after having a tough loss to Duke, it just continues to grow. We're getting better. Over the last month and a half, two months, we've just gotten better and better. It's coming at the right time."
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RJ on milestones UNC set against SDSU
"Yeah, I know that we hit a record number of threes here," RJ said. "But made shots come and go. I think the thing that I was most proud of, is we started the game and had six quick turnovers – and then for the rest of the game, we only had five. San Diego State is excellent at getting steals and deflections – and we did a really good job of taking care of the basketball. And I thought our defense was real, especially in the first half. We did a great job of protecting the paint, defending without fouling and finishing every possession with a box-out and rebound. That allowed us to get out in transition – and all year, transition has been our number one way to score. We did a number of good things defensively to be able to put us in position to score on the offensive end, – and it just helps that you took care of the basketball."
RJ on how UNC's offense was able to produce at a high level
"I think we just did a good job of sticking to our game plan and playing Carolina basketball," RJ said. "We got out in transition, shared the ball and that's what got us going. We shared the wealth around the ball. Everyone contributed in so many ways. I just think our defense set the tone for the remainder of the game, the way we were able to get into passing lanes, help guys that were there. Defensive rebounding was key for us. That allowed us to get easier looks. Elliot was phenomenal today, he had 12 assists and he was able to find guys with pitch-aheads. Seth was amazing at attacking the rim. Little plays like that allowed us to go into a run."
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Seth Trimble on how UNC fans travel will to support the team
"The atmosphere tonight was amazing," Trimble said. "The North Carolina fanbase, the family, they always come through, no matter where we go. We kind of know when it comes to March, we always have a home-court advantage, no matter where we're at. They were amazing, they're always our sixth man. They give us that extra boost and we'll need the same thing in Milwaukee from them."
Seth Trimble, RJ Davis on what message UNC sent against SDSU
"We know we deserve to be here," Trimble said. "We're not looking to send a message to anybody else, we're just looking to compete as a team – and be the team that we know that we're capable of being. I think we did that tonight, we're going to do that when we get to Milwaukee and go from there. We hear what people say, we don't really care about it. We're focused on us."
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"I think just to pick up what Seth said, I think one thing about us, yes, we hear the noise but we don't really pay any attention to it," RJ said. "We stay within ourselves, and I think Coach Davis sets a good example for us. In order to play at this level, he always uses this reference, horses have blinders going into races, and that's to avoid any distraction that doesn't allow them to be their best in the race. I think that reference sits well with the team. We're just focused on what we have to do, not really paying too much attention to what's being said about us and whatnot. Just our preparation leading up to the games."
RJ, Seth on UNC playing the NCAA Tournament guessing game over past few days
"I mean, it's a whirlwind of emotions, especially leading up to the Selection Show," RJ said. "We were watching as a team in the lounge and we didn't know where we were going to land at as a team. Just praying that we hopefully – we're in the play-in and whatnot. Obviously, just getting here just allowed traveling and – it's a quick turnaround from Saturday, Sunday, all the way up to Tuesday. But I think one thing about the team, we're all grateful for the opportunity. Yes, there's a lot of emotions on a Sunday and just traveling, getting here. But I think at the same time we were ready, mentally and physically. It was a quick turnaround, but we were ready, and I think we showed that tonight."
"Kind of going off what RJ said, a lot of anticipation, especially from Friday night after Duke to Sunday around 6:00," Trimble said. "We just had no idea, but we knew we had to have the mindset of staying ready – and being in the moment – and just thinking we're in the tournament, because you sit around waiting doing nothing, come tournament time, you're going to fall behind. Coach Davis and the rest of the coaching staff, they did a great job of just ensuring and allowing us to stay ready – and we just had to fight through anticipation. Once we found out we were in, it was go time, simple as that."
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Seth on UNC being able to pick apart SDSU's top-ranked defense
"We know who we are on the offensive end," Trimble said. We know what we're capable of. This doesn't surprise me, what we did tonight. It's what I expect every single night."
Hubert on what it finally felt like to arrive in Dayton and play in the First Four
"This is my first time to Dayton," Hubert said. "Obviously, I've seen the First Four over a number of years with the NCAA Tournament – and it really – the atmosphere, everyone here, from the hotels to the buses, to the people working here at this facility, have been so kind and nice. It's just been a great experience for all of us. We have 15 guys on the team – and eight of them, this is their first time going to the NCAA Tournament – and I couldn't think of a better way for them to get their first taste of the tournament, than coming here to Dayton."
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Hubert on his 1991 NCAA Tournament flashback with five made threes
"It was Eastern Michigan, it was in the Meadowlands and it was a tight game in the second half," Hubert said. "And then somebody elbowed Eric Montross – and we got upset – and then I think we ended up winning by 20 or 30. We played Temple in the Eastern regional final."
Hubert on Tuesday's production carrying over to Ole Miss
"What I think can carry over is the defense, the taking care of the basketball and the rebounding," Hubert said. "Now, it would be great if we hit 14 threes on Friday. I'll take that. But the reason why consistently tell the team – the three boxes that we have to check is defense, rebounding, taking care of the basketball, is because those are things that travel – and those are the things you can take care of, you're in control of. Making, missing shots, those things go in and out. But if you defend, you rebound, you take care of the basketball, it doesn't matter who you play, you're going to be in the game."
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Hubert Davis, UNC basketball players discuss win over San Diego State
