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#UNC coach Hubert Davis press conference after victory over Georgetown
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0:00
These last four games, you guys played
0:01
three teams that are pretty physical and
0:03
then had the game at Kentucky. Um, how
0:05
do you what do you think about how your
0:07
team kind of worked through learning to
0:08
play against all that physicality? And
0:11
before you answer, Caleb said learning
0:12
to play through it
0:14
offensively is something that he
0:15
learned. So, how would you gauge how you
0:17
guys
0:17
I would agree with that. you know, one
0:19
of the things that I've said to them um
0:21
over and over again that there's no way,
0:24
there's no route, there's no road other
0:26
than um you know, being able um to be
0:31
tough on both ends of the floor. We've
0:33
identified that, you know, when the ball
0:35
goes up in the air, it's on the ground.
0:37
We've got to be physical and tough
0:38
enough that it's always all UNCC.
0:41
uh the physicality even on the offensive
0:43
end to be able to set screens, come off
0:45
screens, the patience to be able to take
0:47
the bump, be able to score, get to the
0:49
free throw line, knock down free throws,
0:51
makes the extra pass. You're right, you
0:54
know, the last four games in regards to
0:56
St. Bonaventure and Michigan State and
0:58
Kentucky and now Georgetown. Very
1:00
physical teams and I think it's great
1:02
for us to learn lessons on what it's
1:04
going to allow us to be successful.
1:07
When I say there's no road, no route, no
1:09
other way in order for us to be
1:11
successful. We got to be a great
1:13
defensive team and a great rebounding
1:14
team, you can't do that without being
1:16
physical.
1:17
And as a quick followup, Henry
1:18
specifically said that the lesson from
1:20
Michigan State about being physical and
1:23
meeting it for 40 minutes instead of
1:24
however many minutes it was was probably
1:26
the best thing that you guys learned
1:27
during this stretch and that you're
1:28
taking it with you now moving forward.
1:30
I believe we're we're growing. We're
1:32
we're we're getting better at it. It's
1:35
not a finished product. I feel like
1:36
we've got a long way to go, but you
1:39
know, one of the things that I
1:40
consistently talk to them about is how
1:43
do you react and how do you respond? And
1:45
so with the physicality, how are we
1:47
going to respond? And the way that we
1:49
did specifically in the second half to
1:52
hold them to just 10 points in the
1:54
paint, zero fast break points, I thought
1:56
was huge. And so I I, you know, again, I
1:58
thought our defense 22% in the second
2:01
half versus a a really good Georgetown
2:03
team. and um outrebounded them as well.
2:07
So really happy about that.
2:09
Rob and Brian
2:10
Schubert felt like a really big stretch
2:12
when you guys were able to hit those
2:14
three threes in a row, create some
2:15
separation. Yeah.
2:16
Do you feel like the breakout's coming
2:18
for this group with with how many
2:20
opportunities?
2:21
I like it. I like it. I like it. But you
2:23
know, I mean, you know, from an
2:25
offensive standpoint, we're inside out.
2:26
I've been clear and definitive like I
2:29
want to dominate points in the paint
2:30
through post penetration, offensive
2:32
rebounding. live in the paint, live at
2:34
the free throw line, put max pressure on
2:36
the rim. I believe when you do that,
2:38
that generates the open threes. And I
2:40
felt like we generated really good
2:41
threes. Even though in the first half, I
2:43
thought we had some good looks. We just
2:44
didn't knock them down. But really, I'm
2:46
really looking forward to the day where
2:48
we're dominating points in the paint and
2:49
we're hot from three-point range.
2:51
That'll be that be. And we make all of
2:53
our free throws.
2:54
That was kind of where I was going with
2:55
with Henry and Caleb creating so much
2:58
attention there. Do you feel like with
3:00
those opportunities continue to be there
3:02
that it's going to come at some point?
3:03
Yeah, I do. I I believe that we have the
3:05
ability to really shoot the basketball.
3:07
I was really proud how we handled when
3:09
they double teamed. More and more teams
3:11
are doubleing, you know, Henry and and
3:14
obviously Caleb and the way that we
3:16
handled it and passed the ball out to
3:18
the perimeter and made the extra pass. I
3:19
thought even though when we missed it, I
3:21
felt like we made the right play. Brian
3:23
then Josh.
3:24
Um, I think Derek had 14 kind at a
3:28
couple early points. When that when that
3:29
back court is playing because obviously
3:30
said that the offense kind of runs
3:32
through the front court, but when that
3:33
back court kind of starts scoring, how
3:34
does that maybe open up the offense and
3:36
open up just things in general?
3:37
Yeah, it did. I thought the start that
3:39
uh um Kai had was huge for us. I mean,
3:43
it's not just the shots that he made. I
3:44
he was confident, he was aggressive, he
3:47
was on point. Um it's been five out of
3:50
the eight games where he's gotten into
3:51
foul trouble. And so we've got to uh
3:54
find a way to keep them out there on the
3:56
floor. I really like Kai and Derek on
3:58
the floor at the same time. I've said
4:00
always that, you know, I love multiple
4:02
ball handlers. You can't take us out of
4:04
our offense and with those two, you
4:07
know, with the way that Georgetown was
4:09
switching defenses. We always had
4:11
somebody that can handle the basketball
4:12
and get us into a set and get us
4:14
organized. But I thought Kai got off to
4:16
a really nice start and Derek, his
4:18
confidence just continues to grow on
4:20
both ends of the floor. Josh, then
4:21
with that rotation in mind, we also saw
4:23
Jiren and Zayen playing together. How
4:26
important are the next four games
4:27
leading into conference play and you
4:30
identifying what combinations work best?
4:32
I think that's huge. I mean, it's only
4:35
what is our record eight. Okay, it's
4:38
only nine games in which, you know, you
4:40
know, I I don't know who I talked to
4:43
before, but you know, it's, you know, in
4:46
the preseason, you know, we didn't have
4:49
Luca, then we had a full team for two
4:52
games, and then then we haven't had Seth
4:56
for six games. And so, it's it's trying
4:59
to figure out uh rotations, and then
5:03
when Seth comes back, it's finding it
5:05
again. And so, but um different
5:08
combinations is one of the things that I
5:10
was um excited about coming into this
5:13
season that the versatility that we have
5:15
that we can throw out a number of
5:17
different um rotations out there that
5:19
can be really effective on the floor.
5:21
No other than Jeremiah,
5:22
these these last four games that you
5:23
guys played, all four teams could very
5:24
well be tournament teams by the end of
5:26
the season. How would you gauge the
5:27
basketball that you guys played and how
5:29
would you just moving forward? What does
5:30
that stretch mean for this team?
5:32
No, it's good. I mean, I obviously the
5:34
the level of play, you know, talent that
5:37
that we've played against is has been
5:39
real. Um, unbelievable teams and and
5:42
programs and, you know, with with the
5:44
exception of that couple stretches in
5:46
the Michigan State game, I felt like
5:48
we've responded really well. Only nine
5:51
games in, it's so much to to grow, so
5:54
much more to improve on. and again
5:57
mentioning, you know, when Seth comes
5:59
back, um
6:02
really reorganizing a a new team and um
6:06
looking forward to him get getting back
6:08
on the floor.
6:08
Jeremiah, then Michael.
6:09
Yeah, Cuber, I know we've asked you
6:11
before about, you know, Caleb and
6:13
adjusting to the new defenses and or the
6:15
uh the increased defensive attention,
6:16
everything like that, but what do you
6:18
think he's learned through that process?
6:20
Um obviously, we saw the way that he was
6:22
able to play tonight. What do you think
6:23
he's learned through uh you know those
6:26
extra double teams, the heightened
6:27
physicality and how have you kind of
6:28
seen him respond to?
6:29
Well, I think one of the things that I
6:32
would say opposing teams are learning is
6:35
like one of the things that he's a lead
6:36
at is passing the basketball. I mean, he
6:39
can find guys and so actually when they
6:41
put two on the ball, you know, he
6:43
becomes a playmaker and he's he's really
6:45
instinctive and he knows where his
6:48
teammates are and gets the ball to where
6:50
it needs to be. But, you know, as teams
6:52
continue to build um more people around
6:55
him, uh just learning when to be
6:57
aggressive, when to get the ball back
6:59
out, we'll get it right back into you. I
7:00
remember in the second half I said,
7:02
"Look, um you don't have to force it.
7:05
Just throw it back out. We'll throw it
7:07
right back into you. Uh because we love
7:09
the ball in his hands. He makes great
7:11
decisions."
7:11
Michael and then the gentleman in the
7:13
second room. Sorry. Michael
7:14
Hubert, the last time we saw you guys
7:16
here was the Navy. and maybe had that a
7:19
really big run in the second half.
7:21
Yeah. 218 to end the game. Yeah.
7:23
Tonight there wasn't a run for
7:24
Georgetown in the second half once you
7:25
broke that lead. What changed?
7:28
Yeah, you know that you talked about
7:30
have we learned? I think that's
7:32
something that we're learning is that
7:34
you know you you continue to have to
7:36
execute. One of the things that we
7:38
always talk about in a huddle is fourm
7:39
minute stretches. So obviously the
7:41
timeouts usually every four minutes and
7:43
like let's cut the games into halves and
7:45
fourm minute segments and say we've got
7:47
to win it you know and let's raise the
7:49
level of attention to detail will and
7:51
want to effort and let's make sure we
7:54
win these four minutes but it starts
7:55
defensively and rebounding the
7:57
basketball and so not having those um
8:00
times where you take your foot off the
8:01
gas and just continue to finish the race
8:03
and I think uh earlier when we have done
8:06
that we we're getting better at it and I
8:09
thought We did a really good job tonight
8:11
just staying the course and continue to
8:13
get stronger throughout the sec second
8:15
half
8:15
there in the second one then last two
8:16
Shelby and Brennan
8:18
coach you know Ed runs a lot of actions
8:21
offense to this was the first time this
8:23
season where that offense got really
8:26
really stagnant and it forced Mack into
8:28
a really poor shooting day. What did you
8:31
or what is a couple things that you took
8:33
away from them that really gave them a
8:35
lot of issues with them wanting to get
8:38
the ball where they really needed to get
8:39
the ball?
8:40
Well, you know, one of the things
8:41
defensively, specifically in this game,
8:43
we switch one through four. And so, like
8:46
when you're switching defenses, it, you
8:48
know, you switch to take away. And so,
8:52
what it basically comes down to is, you
8:54
know, one-on-one basketball. I felt in
8:57
the first half we didn't do as good a
8:58
job as we should have, but I thought in
9:01
the second half we made them more of an
9:02
isolation one-on-one team, less ball
9:05
movement and um maybe took some things,
9:08
some rhythm from them on the offensive
9:10
end. But I felt like our defense,
9:12
specifically in the second half, all of
9:14
our switches really took them out of
9:16
their actions and out of their plays and
9:18
made them more ISO oriented. And that
9:20
was good news for us and and bad news
9:22
for them.
9:23
Last two, Shelby, then Brennan. coach.
9:25
Uh I think Harry's up to maybe five
9:27
career double doubles. And I know you
9:29
said when he got his first like you
9:31
I was shocked. I was like what the bee I
9:33
was shocked.
9:34
He was when we were talking to him, you
9:35
talked a lot about um specifically
9:37
working like defensive rebounding with
9:38
Coach May over the offseason. That was a
9:40
really big point of emphasis. But what
9:42
have you maybe seen from him so far in
9:44
the offseason now that's allowed for,
9:46
you know, this great stretch for him?
9:48
Yeah, I mean, you know, he's
9:51
we put a lot of weight and importance on
9:55
him. He's so huge for us on both ends of
9:58
the floor. Um, his rebounding is real.
10:01
His length, his ability, not only just
10:04
to rebound, but to keep balls alive up
10:06
in the air that allows us to be able to
10:08
get those rebounds,
10:10
um, get to the offensive glass. That's
10:12
something that's always been an emphasis
10:13
for us. And honestly with him and Caleb
10:16
that they're our two best offensive
10:17
rebounders.
10:19
Um but you I mean you saw tonight I mean
10:21
I thought that three he hit was huge in
10:23
the second half and man you got a
10:26
sevenfooter that can score around the
10:28
basket, can pass, can handle and can
10:30
shoot threes.
10:31
Somebody that I like that's on our team
10:34
and I'm really happy for him. Um he's
10:36
playing extremely well and um he's a
10:39
great kid to coach and be around.
10:41
I think this was the first game that
10:43
Caleb didn't have dunk somehow. Um, but
10:45
he was in the mid-range.
10:46
He almost did because they called a
10:47
foul. It was the second half. They
10:50
called it and I told I told the he he
10:53
had a dunk there. He had a dunk there.
10:55
But he still has the mid-range going.
10:56
Oh, and then he also had the you know
10:57
Derek threw the lob and then you Okay.
11:00
It was close. It was close. We tried. We
11:02
tried. We tried.
11:03
But he had the mid-range going still.
11:04
Has he ever told you where that's come
11:06
from? And just sort of broadly for a
11:08
month into the season for him, how would
11:09
you sort of evaluate where he is?
11:11
No, it is. I mean, his mid-range is
11:13
elite. It's so funny. You know, people
11:17
um
11:19
you know, and and nothing against them
11:21
at all. There's metrics of, you know,
11:23
threes and layups. You know, I I like
11:26
four level scorers, guys from three
11:29
mid-range, get to the bucket, and also
11:31
from the free throw line. You know what?
11:32
I really like FGM's field goals made and
11:36
uh from 12 to 15 feet that thing goes in
11:39
and so that's what I want. Okay. And so
11:42
um but just
11:47
said this before and this is just my
11:49
belief. I don't think you can have a
11:53
better five-star player, fivestar person
11:57
and a fivestar teammate than Caleb.
12:01
it it it may be out there, but there's
12:05
nobody
12:06
better than him. And um it's not just a
12:12
blessing to be able to coach him. It is
12:14
a gift. And um
12:18
I tell you one thing, in practice, he
12:20
did something in practice and everyone
12:22
stopped and I got on the team. I said,
12:24
"Act like you've been there before." I
12:26
was like, "Guys, everybody does this.
12:28
Everyone's does, you know, we we've seen
12:30
that play before.
12:32
Then everyone looked at me and then I
12:34
said, "Guys, this is the first time that
12:35
I've lied to you. I've never seen that
12:37
one."
12:38
What he did?
12:39
He dunked and I I mean it was and
12:41
everyone just stopped and I was like,
12:43
"Man, I you know, I never seen that one
12:46
before." And you know, some of the shots
12:48
that he hit today, that wasn't
12:49
individual workout. That's just because
12:51
he's a dude and he can play. And so I
12:54
never seen that before either. So, I
12:56
like to continue to see things I've
12:57
never seen before in a good way. Okay.
13:00
Well, in the last 65 plus years, it's
13:02
just the second time we had two guys
13:04
with at least 18 and 14.
13:06
Wow. Um Sean and Marvin did it in 2005.