Up next in 10
#UNC coach Hubert Davis press conference ahead of Saturday's home game against Virginia
Feb 21, 2025
#UNC coach Hubert Davis press conference ahead of Saturday's home game against Virginia
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
well Hubert obviously uh Ron Sanchez is
0:03
his own coach but he was a longtime
0:05
assistant under Tony Bennett um at
0:07
Virginia so how have you seen Virginia
0:10
keep some of
0:13
Tony's keep some of Tony's strategies
0:15
but also switch up their identity under
0:18
Sanchez this season well first of all
0:20
I've got a great relationship with Coach
0:22
Sanchez we've been friends for a number
0:24
of years and I thought he did an amazing
0:28
job at um Charlotte University as head
0:31
coach and again he's doing a terrific
0:34
job in this role as well um you in
0:37
regards to
0:38
Virginia um under coach Sanchez I think
0:42
you know from an offensive standpoint
0:45
they will push the ball a little bit
0:46
more in transition but they're still U
0:51
methodical in terms of their approach
0:53
and what they want where they want the
0:54
ball to go to and the shots that they
0:56
want to get on the offensive end and
0:59
defensively
1:01
you know they've mixed in uh switching
1:04
everything on the ball that's something
1:06
that normally they haven't done but
1:09
irregardless
1:11
whether whatever scheme that they play
1:14
defensively um they do it well and they
1:17
do it consistently well I asked you
1:19
after dukee where you thought the team
1:21
was at that time now we got the five
1:23
games up the regular season three weeks
1:25
since then where do you think the team
1:26
is right now and where where is there an
1:28
area you think they've grown or maybe
1:30
change some perhaps maybe in your
1:32
approach with them or in any other
1:35
area um I don't really think about you
1:39
know where we are right now especially
1:41
in comparison to um you know a couple
1:45
weeks ago I I I do feel
1:48
like defensively we've been more
1:51
consistent I think um you know the
1:55
things that we have talked about that we
1:56
needed to address before and moving
2:00
forward is is US consistently being able
2:03
to defend but really in two areas one
2:06
defending without fouling two rebounding
2:09
the basketball and finishing the
2:11
possession with the box out and then on
2:13
the offensive end just taking care of
2:15
the basketball and that comes in two
2:17
ways one just original turnovers and
2:19
number two is shot selection and so I
2:21
think we've gotten better in that
2:24
regards and um but we still have a lot
2:28
more to improve on uh moving forward
2:31
Hubert what would you say as you've
2:33
looked back over the last couple of
2:35
games that what have you seen is maybe
2:40
the different dynamics of playing bigger
2:42
lineups like you guys have done
2:44
different lineup bigger lineup
2:45
combinations maybe the benefits uh of
2:48
going a little bigger what what have you
2:50
noticed just in these last couple
2:53
games well the benefits of of going
2:56
bigger uh first of all helps us
2:59
defensively
3:00
it just does you know the you know
3:03
playing Syracuse and
3:05
also playing NC State you've
3:08
got you've got guys at that position
3:12
that can yeah they can shoot threes but
3:14
they can score in the paint and they can
3:15
post up and and so those are positions
3:19
specifically over the last two games
3:21
that we haven't had a need to double
3:24
team down low on the post so that that's
3:26
huge also playing a bigger lineup it
3:30
moves Drake more out there on the wing
3:34
and he's
3:35
6667 and so it it's not just a bigger
3:38
lineup in terms of quote unquote the
3:40
four and the five it it makes our whole
3:43
lineup bigger and maybe that's a result
3:46
of us you know rebounding the ball
3:49
better um but it does change us I I
3:51
would say more on the defensive end um
3:54
but it really helps us defensively get
3:56
stops and rebound and I mean you kind of
3:59
don't put yourself at a disadvantage
4:01
right you see what I'm saying yeah no it
4:03
it is I mean we don't purposely do that
4:07
right yeah but
4:10
um it has really helped us the last
4:12
couple of games it really has I can
4:15
follow up on that how does when you
4:16
defend another team's four when they're
4:18
pretty big when you're big how does that
4:20
help you actually defend the five if you
4:21
only have to have one guy on a four and
4:23
not have to double the four sometimes
4:24
and sort of scramble some down there at
4:26
times it's left guys wide open well I I
4:28
think you I think it can go both ways I
4:31
I I think you know from a standpoint of
4:33
not having to double team another person
4:37
when you double team you're putting
4:38
yourself in rotations and so you know
4:41
you're putting yourself in Long
4:42
Closeouts and different types of
4:44
mismatches and so from a defensive
4:47
standpoint that makes you vulnerable on
4:50
the other end double teaming the post
4:53
whether it's one or two people that
4:57
gives us an opportunity to get Steals
4:58
and deflection
5:00
which something that we have needed to
5:02
generate to be able to get out and
5:04
transition and so I think at times maybe
5:07
it has hurt us but I think there's also
5:09
been some times where it's really been
5:11
beneficial for us as well when it comes
5:13
to Jay we asked you about him at the
5:16
teleconference I believe you said his
5:17
production kind of makes you guys you
5:19
know a different scene changes
5:21
completely I think uh but when it comes
5:23
to his approach to practice recently
5:26
what have you seen from him that you
5:27
know maybe has been different obviously
5:29
we've seen the production on the court
5:31
but has he been different in any way
5:33
when it comes to practice and when it
5:34
comes to like off the court like I guess
5:36
in other words has his approach has a
5:38
changed approach helped him helped him
5:41
be more I don't think his approach has
5:43
changed I you know he's been you know
5:46
there's many benefits of having older
5:49
experienced players you know there was a
5:51
time during the season where he wasn't
5:54
getting extended minutes and he kept
5:56
showing up and preparing and practicing
5:59
and playing as hard as he could and now
6:02
that his numers called a lot more
6:04
frequently
6:06
he's he was ready and so um but I have
6:10
said he you know
6:13
um and I think also you know this being
6:17
his last year there's a reflection of
6:22
of you know seeing it's February and
6:26
that um enjoying every moment taking ADV
6:30
advantage of every day whether it's a
6:32
practice shoot around in a game and you
6:34
know as I said before when he plays well
6:38
and he plays consistent um he completely
6:41
changes our team from on both ends of
6:43
the floor Hubert how do you explain Seth
6:47
becoming the team's best rebounder and
6:49
how do you view it in comparison with
6:51
everybody else with him being a 63
6:53
guard well it confirms what I tell them
6:56
that rebounding has nothing to do about
6:59
the physical size is the size of your
7:01
willed want to out there on the floor
7:04
and so um Seth leading our team in
7:07
rebounding um shows that you
7:11
know you know that pursuit of the ball
7:13
whether it's on offensive defensive end
7:16
um is not a sign to someone who has
7:20
length and height and it also shows Seth
7:24
and just in terms of his versatility as
7:26
a basketball player I mean he can
7:29
obvious obviously he can you know handle
7:30
the ball he can distribute he can shoot
7:32
he can drive he's a three level scorer
7:34
he's a good defensive player and then
7:37
now he's leading the team in rebounding
7:38
it's just he checks a number of boxes
7:40
and then you can go on the other end and
7:42
go well Seth is leading our team in
7:45
rebounding you know others have to pick
7:48
it up because we can't rely on Seth
7:50
rebounding the basketball and and that
7:52
goes in part with you know the last
7:55
couple of games you know having Whit
7:58
more at the four and Drake at the three
8:01
then you have Seth out there that's
8:02
leading our team in rebounding that
8:04
really puts us in a good position um on
8:07
both ends of the floor to get Second
8:08
Chance opportunities and then to limit
8:10
the opposing team to one shot per
8:12
possession does does Seth remind you of
8:15
anyone rebounding Guard from back in the
8:18
day or recently like just he calls
8:20
himself Jason Hart okay Josh har Josh
8:24
Hart Josh Hart that's what he say J
8:26
Syracuse yeah yeah Josh Hart that's what
8:29
yes all right that's what he says and
8:31
that's it and you're going along with
8:32
that then if he keeps rebounding and and
8:35
playing as hard as him and go for
8:38
it even though he played on Villanova's
8:41
team when we lost in 2016 it's let's go
8:44
for it great great player yeah going off
8:47
that Hubert how's that you sp spoke to
8:50
it a little bit but how's that changed
8:51
the messaging with the big guys like hey
8:53
look set 63 and he's leading the team in
8:55
rebound we got as far as kind of poking
8:57
and proding those guys to to to pick up
9:00
the what they can do well the messaging
9:01
has been to the entire team you know
9:04
this is not you I said this last year
9:07
this isn't an Armando Bott Harrison
9:09
Ingram rebounding game it's a UNC
9:11
rebounding game and uh this is not a
9:13
Seth tremble rebounding game everybody
9:15
has to get involved everybody has to
9:18
rebound and and and
9:21
I and I emphasize on both ends um I'll
9:25
give you something um over the last I
9:27
think it's two or three games Drake pal
9:30
has gotten seven offensive rebounds
9:33
that's been huge for us the prior 14
9:35
games he totaled seven offensive
9:37
rebounds so like just his pursuit of
9:39
getting Second Chance opportunities um
9:42
other guys are um coming along and uh
9:45
it's really helping us out how much of
9:47
that for Drake is coming in from the
9:49
wing and having maybe different people
9:50
to deal with
9:52
it I don't know if it has anything from
9:55
the wing um you know or playing bigger
9:59
people I I I think over the last two or
10:03
three games I just been really proud of
10:05
Drake's
10:06
pursuit of um getting us Second Chance
10:10
opportunities um he's working really
10:12
hard to get off box outs um his Pursuit
10:16
is you know going after loose balls and
10:19
those Second Chance opportunities and
10:20
giving us additional cracks on the
10:22
offensive in have been really huge for
10:24
us the last couple
10:27
games going up in Virginia but with your
10:29
ties to Carolina what what was this game
10:32
like when you were a little
10:36
younger time to pray not yet not
10:40
yet wake
10:43
up we're counting down over here oh my
10:46
goodness
10:47
goodness well I mean I
10:51
um you know obviously the you know
10:55
Virginia and North Carolina has you A
10:58
lot of history in terms of their
11:00
matchups in in the ACC and me being able
11:03
to watch them when MCO was at Carolina
11:06
and me going to Charlottesville to see
11:08
the tar Hills play when I was growing up
11:10
so I have a number of memories going
11:12
into those games and really excited
11:14
about um the challeng are playing
11:16
against a really good uh Virginia team
11:18
tomorrow afternoon youber I was going to
11:20
ask you about Ben Allen Luben just he's
11:22
taking on seems like a bigger role here
11:24
especially last we been starting just
11:26
the way his season has gone just in your
11:28
eyes the Way's
11:30
yeah you know we've you know it it it's
11:31
a big transition I
11:34
know and the reason why I say that is
11:37
you know I was traded three times in the
11:40
NBA and it it's an adjustment you know
11:43
you just can't go to another team and
11:46
you know there's new personalities new
11:48
relationships new coaching new
11:50
terminology and now you throw in you
11:52
know new surroundings and a new school
11:55
and um you're doing that with 18 19 year
11:59
old
12:00
and so that is an adjustment I think Vin
12:02
has done a really good job of adjusting
12:05
to coming here he's a such a joy to
12:08
coach and be around every day and you
12:10
know specifically over the last couple
12:12
of games just his consistency in terms
12:14
of finishing around the basket
12:17
rebounding the basketball he's a really
12:19
good on ball
12:20
Defender um and his ability to post up
12:24
especially smaller Defenders and be able
12:26
to score has has been has been really
12:28
key for us you RJ Rec recently talked
12:32
about playing with playing with a joy
12:34
how important is that to play the game
12:36
of basketball with a joy is that
12:37
something you stress or is that just
12:38
something he's kind of taking a off no I
12:40
stress that all the time I I tell the
12:42
guys all the time you have to find joy
12:43
and enjoyment of how hard it is to be
12:46
successful individually and as a team
12:48
this is hard work but you have to find
12:51
joy in being able to do something that
12:53
you love at a place that you love with
12:55
people that you love and if that doesn't
12:57
bring out an emotion of joy in you when
12:59
you step out there on the floor
13:01
irregardless if it's a practice or shoot
13:03
around or a game um you're not you're
13:06
not meant to play basketball Hebert the
13:10
the Press was pretty effective against
13:12
NC State especially early in the game
13:14
when you're coaching is there a Telltale
13:16
sign in the flow of the game that you
13:17
look for as to when to deploy that or is
13:20
it just a field thing no I mean I I
13:22
think it's a combination of both I mean
13:25
you know dead ball full court situations
13:28
that that's a that's a good time for us
13:30
to maybe try it um if we get a steal um
13:36
and able to score you know that that's
13:38
also a nice time to be able to stay in
13:40
it um and sometimes even after made
13:44
baskets you know just being able to put
13:46
our guys in situations and positions to
13:49
be able to get those Steals and
13:50
deflections and kind of gives them life
13:53
out there and and it gets us um to play
13:56
at the pace that we want even in the
13:58
times we didn't create a turnover um I
14:01
felt like at times we we sped other
14:05
teams up where they would take quick
14:07
shots um and that would allow us to get
14:09
the rebound and be able to get out in
14:10
transition so it does a number of things
14:12
for us but I would say sometimes
14:15
I it's it's planned on when we're going
14:17
to do it and other times it's it's a
14:19
feel on when we're going to do it how
14:21
much we stay in it that's time for about
14:23
three more questions seems like you and
14:25
Tony Bennett have always had a good
14:27
relationship going back to the to the
14:29
NBA days early 90s have you reached out
14:33
to him since he retired have you guys
14:35
spoken uh since he stepped no but I look
14:38
forward to speaking to him after the
14:39
season um I do um have a really good
14:43
relationship with him because we played
14:45
against each other in the NBA it's very
14:47
difficult to have those conversations
14:49
during the year um but um the way that
14:53
he coached the way that he
14:56
um was an example for for the University
15:00
of Virginia and for those players uh um
15:04
I just have tremendous respect for him
15:07
hbert I want to go back to Monday of a
15:09
conference call you were asking about
15:10
your plans with general manager and
15:12
staff you didn't want to elaborate on it
15:14
I was a little bit confused about that
15:16
has anything changed in your intent from
15:17
what you said in the radio show is there
15:19
any Clarity you can kind of offer about
15:21
what you said originally verus what you
15:23
said Monday yeah I mean nothing has
15:24
changed but I just I I want to I want to
15:27
stay away from commenting
15:29
about that position I want to talk about
15:32
basketball that's the only thing that's
15:34
on my mind right now is um coaching and
15:38
and helping our team reach its full
15:41
potential and be the best that it can be
15:44
and that's just where my focus is right
15:46
now but just not that something had
15:48
changed in your thinking just you've
15:50
moved on Beyond you've addressed
15:52
it yeah I mean I addressed it during the
15:55
radio show but
15:57
I'm the only thing on my mind now it's
16:00
and it was the only thing on my mind
16:01
been too is this team and getting ready
16:06
um to be our best the rest of the season
16:09
when you have a lineup of of Dre J Whit
16:11
and Luben versus four guards how does
16:14
that change the spacing half court and
16:16
how you
16:17
attack I don't think it changes the
16:19
spacing at all I mean you know we want a
16:22
combination of ball and player movement
16:24
and um we want to have tremendous
16:26
spacing and so that um um um you know
16:30
from an offensive standpoint one of the
16:32
things that we always talk about is0
16:33
five mentality you know when you catch
16:35
the ball you got to shoot you pass or
16:37
drive it and um in order to do that you
16:40
have to have great spacing and so
16:42
irregardless out there on the floor we
16:44
have guys that have the ability to make
16:46
impactful plays whether it's on the
16:47
perimeter around the basket whether
16:49
through the pass the dribble or or shoot
16:52
the basketball and and that's one of the
16:54
things that gives us that spacing on the
16:56
offensive end last one Rob h a couple of
16:59
the guys talk about Paxton and Harrison
17:01
being back and being around practice and
17:03
you always asking those guys to speak to
17:04
the team when they come back what's they
17:06
want to speak they didn't want to speak
17:08
they didn't want to speak
17:11
um it it made the cuz when they were
17:14
here we had so many former players come
17:16
back and speak and it's just been one
17:19
year removed so they didn't want to feel
17:20
old like they were the old veterans but
17:24
um it was great having them back just
17:26
their presence you talk about Joy those
17:29
are two guys that played with tremendous
17:32
Joy um not just Joy of of playing
17:36
basketball but the joy of being here and
17:39
being a part of a team um it's something
17:43
that has driven them individually in
17:45
their careers and it's a huge reason why
17:47
they've been successful as they've moved
17:48
forward thank you hbert thanks everybody
#College Sports
#Team Sports
#Basketball