WRALSportsFan
UNC coach Hubert Davis addresses media after 84-79 win over Duke
The University of North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Duke Blue Devils Saturday, 84-79, to clinch the outright ACC regular season title and a sweep of the Blue Devils in the 2023-24 season.
Andrew. Good. The Mike. Mike rather listen, get Cormac was 27. Uh Just tell me your thoughts about the way he played 31. 0, then we would have, we've been a closer 30. We needed 31. Yeah, he was huge, you know, I mean, obviously been able, his ability to be able to make shots. Um, but even are just as important. His experience having a guy that's been at this stage, even though it was from another school, he's, he's played here. He's been on this stage. He understands what it takes in order to make plays to even have a chance to win in this type of game against this type of team. And, you know, he, he did step up knocking down threes but defensively his presence, his poise, his leadership in the huddles during half time before the game. It's just meant so much to this team and this program that the experience of a big part of what you saw. I don't know if it was, I don't know if it was the experience. I think we were locked in. I mean, we got off to a really good start. I thought we were tied in defensively. I thought, um, obviously we were making shots, but I, I really liked our pace the way that we transition from defense to offense was at an elite level and we were able to get exactly what we want in our primary break. We got layups or dunks deep post catch, get fouled, get to the free throw line or a quick open three by our best three point shooters. And so to start to gain that way that ignited us gave us even more confidence and it was something that we did. We wanted to get off to a good start to set the tone. Hubert. Your guys had said they didn't want to share, share the title. What was the feeling like, you know, to be able to, to clinch it in this fashion and to head into the locker room and celebrate, what was that like? Uh as you guys got off the court, there's, I there's, I don't know what word to be able to explain the joy of having a front row seat to see these kids experience this and be successful. Um It's 100% why I do this job. I've, I've said before, my job is missionary work and where I'm just in a position to serve and to help these, these kids be the best that they can be on the court, off the court and in the classroom and being able to see their smiles of them being able to be successful out there on the floor. And on this type of stage, it's um it brings so much joy to my heart. They, they have worked so hard. I mentioned to somebody that I said from the start, this team has had a burning desire to be a team. They just do everything together, they play together, they practice together, they go eat together, they work out together, they live together, they do everything together. And so when your environments like this, you, you have your brothers with you and it gives you confidence to be able to step up and do the things that you need to do in order to win a game like this, Hubert, obviously big game for Cormac, but it felt like Jalen Withers and Seth Trimble gave you guys a big boost, huge, huge on both ends. Just those guys are the two most athletic guys on our team. So when they come in, they raise the athleticism, the level of our team dramatically. And it helps us defensively because we can do a number of things defensively in terms of switching, helps our rebounding. It helps us uh from an offensive standpoint, attacking the basket, getting second chance opportunities. Um They both had really good practices leading up to this game. They played exactly the way that they have practiced the last couple of days. I, I've loved their preparation and their practice and obviously, I, I really like the way that they played today with the toughness you guys showed in the second half is that kind of thing, optimal level of toughness that you try to get out of these guys. And how much does that just bode well, for what's ahead? Well, I think this team has demonstrated toughness all year. I, I don't think, you know, I, I really believe that that is something that's been consistent. I've, I've always communicated to them, how are you going to act and how are you going to respond? Those are the only two things you have control over whether something good or something bad happens. And that's something that we talk about as a team on a daily basis. Um At half time, we knew Duke was gonna make a run and, you know, it was, we, we needed to, you know, have poise in that situation to be able to tighten the screws on the discipline and details and do the things that allowed us to get the lead um in the first place. But we've been in that situation before with the schedule that we've played. The, the teams that we've played. We, we, there was a stretch where I don't know if we played a home game in like over a month. I mean, we, we've been in these type of environments and so, um our guys feel comfortable about making plays when they're there, wrote it three to cut it to 4342. Then you guys went on a 91 run and just sort of gave that separation that was kicked off in the, in the, uh, huddle. We were, we were upset, all of us, you know, we were just, you know, we were like, let's go and we knew that they were gonna make a run and that's, that's talking about the poise of, you know, ok, let's, let's turn this thing up. Let's get some defensively that allows us to get out in transition where we've been consistently pretty good all season. And then we were able to tack the basket and then be able to take the lead. I think that was probably the most important part of the game was when they cut it to one and how we reacted and how we, we responded after that time out and then, uh, took the lead up to nine from that point, anybody else in the back, Brian. But all your players seem to know that Cormack had 28 when he play for Notre Dame here in this building. Were you aware of that? Did you see that game at all? And I did not see that game. Um, I'm just the one I saw was the 31 today and that's the one I care about and I'm glad it happened today. We needed it. And, um, we just need, I'm really happy for him, really happy for him to take two more right here, Adam and then one more, if there is one Hubert for RJ and Armando, uh to, to be able to, to win the title, it's been an eventful careers for those guys. Uh and it, it's still going. Um just, just, um how rewarding do you think that is for those two to, to, to get this title? Um They've been really emotional um even before today about having a chance to be able to do this. This is something that they haven't done in the years that they've been here and as accomplished as they have been individually and also as a team getting to the championship game, this is something that they haven't attained or even been in position to do it. And so for them to do it this way at this time, um, I mean, you should see them in a locker. I mean, they're kids but they're like really kids, kids, you know, they're just jumping around all over the place and dancing and, um, you can see the joy, um, that they have of what they have accomplished. They, that's why they came back. They came back for this, they came back to experience this. Yes, they wanted to come back individually, but they came back for this and for them to go, wow, we came back for this and we were able to do this. It's just really, really cool. And, um, we always say, you know, there's more to be said and more to be done, but they've said a lot already this year. Anybody else? Ok, thank you. So the 31 is the most by a Carolina player against Duke since Jamison had 35 in 1998 and the most by a tar heel here since someone named Hubert Davis had 35 in 1992 but we lost players available. Yeah, appreciate it. Thank you. We get up there a lot so I got that out of if anyone's got a mic on the table, I want you to take them off the box in the back if you're able to but I mean you can all the mics off the table you know I mean there there there's gonna be something there. Yeah. Ok so I think I to do. Ok. Ok thank you sorry about that. I I was now the I in the hospital. All right, I'm hustling I'm using my hands. Oh good. I'm super simple. How are you doing? Mhm. Protest.