By R.L. Bynum
There’s one big difference between the defensive philosophies of Roy Williams and Hubert Davis. Williams preferred that defenders fight through screens and stick with their assigned man. Davis is more willing to switch, even at the risk of occasional mismatches.
With a taller, more versatile lineup this season, No. 17 North Carolina has leaned into the tactic more frequently. The Tar Heels’ ability to guard multiple positions is a key reason.
Davis said on the “Hubert Davis Live” radio show Monday that the switches are effective “if you have the personnel to be able to do it.”
He noted that UNC’s current roster provides that flexibility because “our bigs can guard guards out on the perimeter, and our guards can guard bigs down low on the post.”
In his view, switching often disrupts opponents’ rhythm by taking them out of their offense and forcing them to play more isolation basketball.
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He added that Carolina isn’t locked into switching every action. Davis explained that his staff adjusts on the fly depending on matchups and game flow, pointing out that there are “tweaks and pivots that we make” and that there are specific situations “where we don’t switch.”
UNC didn’t switch on defense in the win over Kansas. Davis said they sometimes keep certain players, such as Caleb Wilson, out of switching scenarios so he can stay with the opposing team’s four, and Kyan Evans doesn’t have to guard a big man.
Those variations reflect a strategic trust in the roster’s defensive versatility — something Davis said he values. With the combination of length, quickness and athleticism on this year’s team, he said, “I do like the versatility,” noting it allows UNC to deploy different defensive looks within the same game.
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That versatility was tested Saturday during SMU’s win over the Tar Heels. For most of the afternoon, guard Seth Trimble was assigned to Boopie Miller, who scored 27 points and three 3-pointers.
But Trimble often switched with teammates within the defensive scheme. The Tar Heels — switching one through four for the most part — struggled with coverage overall, particularly in the second half when SMU shot 70.6%.
Davis said the issues went well beyond switching, emphasizing that their “presence on the ball wasn’t very good” and that the team needed better communication, rotations and closeouts.
Davis reiterated his belief in switching as part of UNC’s evolving defensive identity. While acknowledging the breakdowns against SMU, he said that “absent of SMU, we’ve been pretty good defensively,” underscoring that this year’s roster gives the staff the flexibility to “do different things throughout a game.”
As the Tar Heels prepare for Wake Forest on Saturday, Davis said defensive growth remains the priority. He noted that the team would continue working this week on adjustments to ensure their switching — combined with improved on-ball pressure and physicality —becomes more consistently disruptive.
UNC season statistics
| Team | League | Overall | NET* | WAB* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Duke | 17–1 | 29–2 | 1 | 2 |
| No. 10 Virginia | 15–3 | 27–4 | 13 | 11 |
| Miami | 13–5 | 24–7 | 32 | 28 |
| No. 19 North Carolina | 12–6 | 24–7 | 23 | 19 |
| Clemson | 12–6 | 22–9 | 36 | 33 |
| No. 24 Louisville | 11–7 | 22–9 | 14 | 25 |
| N.C. State | 10–8 | 19–12 | 35 | 45 |
| Florida State | 10–8 | 17–14 | 69 | 74 |
| California | 9–9 | 21–10 | 65 | 49 |
| Stanford | 9–9 | 20–11 | 59 | 51 |
| SMU | 8–10 | 19–12 | 39 | 50 |
| Virginia Tech | 8–10 | 19–12 | 53 | 52 |
| Wake Forest | 7–11 | 16–15 | 64 | 81 |
| Syracuse | 6–12 | 15–16 | 83 | 92 |
| Pittsburgh | 5–13 | 12–19 | 109 | 146 |
| Notre Dame | 4–14 | 13–18 | 93 | 121 |
| Boston College | 4–14 | 11–20 | 159 | 217 |
| Georgia Tech | 2–16 | 11–20 | 167 | 210 |
* — Through Sunday games
Saturday’s results
No. 1 Duke 76, No. 19 North Carolina 61
Boston College 77, Notre Dame 69
Clemson 79, Georgia Tech 76
No. 24 Louisville 92, Miami 89
Florida State 92, SMU 78
Stanford 85, N.C. State 84
Wake Forest 80, California 73
Pittsburgh 71, Syracuse 69, OT
END OF REGULAR SEASON
ACC tournament
Spectrum Center | Charlotte
Tuesday through Saturday
Non-conference schedule
| Date | Month/day | Opponent/event (final ranks) |
|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |
| 9 | 7 p.m. Friday | vs. USC in Greensboro |
| 18 | 5 p.m. Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis |
| 27 | Tuesday | vs. Charlotte |
| November | Regular season | |
| 2 | Monday | vs. Western Carolina |
| 6 | Friday | vs. Wofford |
| 10 | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming |
| 13 | Friday | vs. Georgia |
| 20 | Friday | vs. Marshall |
| 23 | Monday | vs. Monmouth |
| 27 | Friday | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte |
| December | ||
| 1 | Tuesday | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 13 Arkansas |
| 6 | Sunday | vs. Butler |
| 12 | Saturday | at Georgetown |
| 15 | Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro |
| 19 | 2:30 Saturday, CBS | CBS Sports Classic vs. Kentucky in New York |
| 21 | Monday | vs. The Citadel |
| January | ||
| 30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 5 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. |
ACC opponents
Home and away: Duke and Louisville
Home only: California, Georgia Tech, Miami, N.C. State, SMU, Stanford and Virginia
Away only: Boston College, Florida State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest
Don’t play: Clemson
Photo via smumustangs.com
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