Full Hubert Davis press conference transcript, video, plus statistical breakdown of UNC-Virginia matchup

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina coach Hubert Davis addressed the media on Friday at the Smith Center ahead of Saturday’s 4 p.m. home game against Virginia. Here’s a full transcript of the press conference and video:

Without Ustby, Gakdeng’s double-double helps No. 9 UNC stay unbeaten on the road

Maria Gakdeng was nearly unstoppable when she got the ball inside Thursday night, and No. 9 North Carolina took advantage of that. The senior center produced her 10th career double-double and third this season with 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Tar Heels moved to 8–0 on the road for the third time in program history with a 68–58 victory over Syracuse at the JMA Dome in Syracuse.

Good news on injury to UNC star Ustby

Alyssa Ustby missed most of No. 9 UNC’s victory Sunday against N.C. State with a left knee injury and didn’t travel with the team for Thursday’s game at Syracuse, but there was good news.

Convincing victory over Pack helps UNC make big jump in NET rankings

CHAPEL HILL — The only way to help your NCAA tournament resume in a Quad 3 game is to win convincingly, and that’s exactly what North Carolina did with its 97–73 victory on a snowy Wednesday night at the Smith Center over N.C. State.

Snow game turns into showtime as rowdy crowd sparks Heels to blowout of Pack

CHAPEL HILL — The shots fell for Carolina as hard as the snow outside the Smith Center before a rowdy crowd of mostly students. It turned into showtime for the Tar Heels, who forced turnovers for easy shots, dominated the boards and rolled to a 97–73 victory over N.C. State on Wednesday at the Smith Center.

Open seating, free admission for snow game against N.C. State

CHAPEL HILL — Much like North Carolina’s 75–63 victory over Maryland in 2000, Wednesday night at the Smith Center should be a student-dominated affair.

Heart-thumping one-possession game keep coming for UNC men, women

It’s been a draining season for North Carolina basketball fans, with lots of last-second drama that has undoubtedly created plenty of heart palpitations. The men’s and women’s teams have combined for 14 one-possession games. Woody Durham used to say that fans need to “go where they go and do what they do” when the game is on the line. UNC fans who have followed that advice have made frequent trips.

Heels stay unbeaten, score 12 runs amid longest homer drought in 7 years

CHAPEL HILL — Coach Scott Forbes insists that the home runs will come, but No. 6 North Carolina hasn’t needed power to get off to a 4–0 start. Clutch two-out hitting Tuesday carried the Tar Heels to a 12–9 victory over Kansas State — a Super Regional team a year ago — on a chilly evening at Boshamer Stadium despite the program’s longest power drought in seven seasons.

Tar Heels in pros: Several boast career-high NBA numbers; Bacot’s team wins title at Up Next event

Several former UNC players are putting up career-high numbers heading into the home stretch of the NBA season coming out of the All-Star break, during which Armando Bacot’s team won the G League Up Next event.

Roy Williams says Davis right man for job, cringes when people question that

Roy Williams’ support was a big reason North Carolina hired Hubert Davis to succeed him, and the struggles of this season’s team haven’t changed that.

UNC leaps into top 10 for first time in three seasons after taking down Pack; Kelly ACC Player of Week

North Carolina is back in the top 10 for the first time in three seasons, moving up three spots to No. 9 after knocking off N.C. State 66–65 on Sunday.

Hubert Davis shies away from GM talk, not liking the ‘narratives’ that are out there

After mentioning during his radio show two weeks ago that he would hire a general manager, UNC coach Hubert Davis didn’t want to talk about it when asked to expand on the subject during the weekly ACC Zoom press conference on Monday. But he was more than happy to talk about Jae’Lyn Withers’ performance against Syracuse.

Without Ustby, UNC shows heart, makes big late plays to upset No. 10 Wolfpack

CHAPEL HILL — Without No. 12 North Carolina’s star veteran, the Tar Heels showed plenty of heart in beating their rival with improvised lineups. Two clutch Grace Townsend free throws with 5.2 seconds left and a huge defensive stop at the end lifted the Tar Heels to a 66–65 upset of No. 10 N.C. State before a packed Carmichael Arena on Sunday, doing it without Alyssa Ustby for the last 37½ minutes.

UNC moves up in NET after win, but likely needs six-game win streak to make NCAA field

While making the NCAA men’s tournament still is a long shot for North Carolina, the Tar Heels took the first step toward giving them a chance with their 88–82 Quad 3 victory Saturday night at Syracuse.