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CHAPEL HILL, NC — Hubert Davis met with reporters on Tuesday afternoon before North Carolina’s trip to New Orleans for the 2022 Final Four. Here are our running notes from what Davis said …
* Davis opens his press conference by talking about his backcourt. Says last year was difficult for Caleb Love and RJ Davis because they didn’t have veterans ahead of them to show them the way. Their leadership and work ethic has always been great, but they’ve really stepped it up defensively this year. Also doing a great job of taking care of the basketball. True combo guards.
* Surprised that UNC-Duke matchup in the NCAA Tournament has never happened before. Finds it funny that the two times UNC and Duke have been in the Final Four in the same year is when he’s been involved, first in 1991 and 2022.
* Asked about the significance of UNC-Duke in the Final Four: “The significance, I don’t know, and I don’t really care and I’m not even thinking about it. Right now, the only thing that you know , and I’ve said this to you guys before, our focus needs to be on what allows us to prepare the best, practice the best and play the best. And so focusing and taking time on anything outside of our preparation, our practice and our play, just doesn’t have any benefit for us in order for us to be the best that we can be on Saturday.”
He’s told his told his players to block out the noise from family, fans and media. They have done a great job at blocking out the noise throughout the course of the season.
* A lot of team’s growth is due to shared experiences. Tweaks and changes on both ends of the floor, which took time to figure out.
* “I really love the decision-making of our players.” Want them to use their gifts and talents. Calls plays not just to call plays, but to put them in position to use their abilities.
* As an example, says the team got into a four-minute stretch of the Saint Peter’s game were it relied on its outside shooting instead of attacking the basket through post and penetration. Called timeout and addressed his team. “We got into the huddle and I said, ‘guys, that’s not it.’ I said, ‘Look, I love you guys shooting jump shots. We’re a great outside shooting team, but just remember what has allowed us to get success.’ I said, ‘next time down, no quick jump shots, we’ve got to get the ball inside through the post and penetration and on offensive rebounds. So I give them freedom, but at times, I’m more specific in terms of what we need.”
* Doesn’t know where he would be without the seven years of experience in serving as JV coach.
* Thought Brady Manek’s experiences in the Big 12 would translate to the ACC. Knew that he could shoot the basketball, but didn’t know he was a great passer, a great teammate or possessed a great understanding of the game.
* Believed in the preseason the team had the potential for great versatility on the offensive end. Thought the team had an ability to be a good defensive team, but early in the year the team was up and down in that regard.
* Says Caleb’s late-season success correlates with establishing his game from the inside out. A lot of work spent in the offseason on finishing at the rim, particularly with his off hand. There’s also been an emphasis on facilitating the offense when getting into the paint. Notes UNC is 15-0 when Love has five assists. Says the pocket passes that Love made to Bacot this weekend weren’t happening last year.
* “I’ve been to the Final Four. I played 12 years in the NBA. It’s a game and so there’s nothing to be nervous about. There’s no anxiety. There’s no conversations to be had with the players other than what’s most important to us. And the most important thing to us is how we’re going to prepare this week, how we’re going to practice and how we’re going to play. Everything else is insignificant.” Players have a 5 pm deadline today to have all ticket/travel requests in. The focus is only about the game after 5 pm Has talked about practicing as one of the final four teams on Friday in front of 30,000 at the Sugar Bowl. That type of excitement is what he’s preaching, not the perceived pressure that comes from the outside.
* Asked how he was able to stay positive with his team during its struggles early in the year: “Why wouldn’t I stay positive? I love these kids… What is there to be negative about? They’re kids.”
* Retells the story of missing the first half of the 1982 national title game because he had made a commitment to a Boys Scout meeting. Had feelings of joy and sadness in 1993 in being happy for his teammates but also in knowing that he missed out on the opportunity for a lifetime goal.
*Bacot was on the Dean’s list in the fall. Notes he didn’t win a NCAA Tournament game his first two years at UNC. “I wanted him to experience what Carolina is like.”
* Sean May is accomplished as a player and has been able to use that success to help shape and mold Bacot this season.
