The North Carolina Tar Heels closed out their non-conference schedule with a 97-81 win over Campbell on Sunday night. It was a much-needed win for UNC, eight days after they came back to beat a ranked UCLA team.
It was a good all-around performance for the Tar Heels, getting some big contributions from key players.
North Carolina’s non-conference schedule was the toughest in the country this season and although they suffered some losses, it should be a good measuring tool for them. As they get set to go into their full conference schedule, the Tar Heels have some confidence built up.
And it’s going to be a quick turnaround as they get set to take on Louisville and then Notre Dame this week. But before we get there, here is what Hubert Davis had to say about his team’s win.
On what he is emphasizing going into ACC play..
“Well, I mean, I’m not moving off of what I’ve said with this team from the beginning. Success or lack of success with this team is tied to two things: defense and rebounding. We can score, but can we become the best defensive and rebounding team that we can become? And when I say that, (it) is in large part the consistency. So for example, they (Campbell) shoot 31 percent in the first half, and then in the second half, they shoot 61 percent. Okay, that’s not sustainable. And so for us to be able to have success moving forward, not only do we have to become a good defensive and rebounding team, but it has to be consistent as well.”
via Inside Carolina
On if this team is close to being on same level as last year’s ACC run?
“Yeah, I don’t look at it that way in terms of comparison to last year at all. I think this year’s team is this year’s team. The only thing that I focus on is that for this year’s team to reach its full potential, and for this team to reach its full potential, we would have to be a really good defensive and rebounding team. I’ve been straightforward and direct with them from the start. I’ve also added one extra thing, and that’s taking care of the basketball. We only had seven turnovers (tonight). At the beginning of the year, I thought we were No. 1 in the country in terms of fewest turnovers. And if we take care of the basketball, we get shots, and we’re a team that can make shots. And so those three things, defense, rebounding, taking care of the basketball, it’s something that I stress, talk about and emphasize every day. Whether it’s practice, shoot around, or even an off day.”
via Inside Carolina
On more pressure at the rim
“Well, it is something that I say from an offensive standpoint every day, is that I want to dominate points in the paint through post and penetration. I want to live in the paint and I want to live at the free throw line. They can recite that, because I say that to them every day. And so in the first half, we only went to the free throw line eight times, but we had 17 3s taken and were 4-for-17. I love threes, but we have the ability to put max pressure on the rim. And I thought in the second half, we did a better job.”
via Inside Carolina
On RJ Davis crediting Marcus Paige
“Well, I think it’s always one, Coach Paige was a great player and he’s an unbelievable person. He’s done such a great job as a coach because he knows the game, but he’s also able to communicate it in a way where it just resonates with the players. I think it also speaks to, Marcus is the youngest, so he basically just left. His freshman year was my first year as an assistant coach, and just the way that he communicates with the players, and especially with RJ, having been in that position before, both RJ and Coach Paige are like combination guards. They have the ability to distribute and run the offense, but they can also score with the ball in their hands and coming off screens. So as players, they’re very similar. And when Marcus played, he was always on the floor with other guards, Joel Berry. So now, with RJ on the floor with Seth and Elliot and Ian, there’s a lot of similarities in their careers and what they’ve had to do out there on the floor.”
via Inside Carolina
On if Elliot Cadeau is getting back to himself
“Yeah, before the game I said, ‘I’m expecting a double-double in points and assists.’ And he says, ‘I’m also going to have zero turnovers.’ And then at halftime, I reminded him he had three (turnovers), but in the second half, he had zero. I was really happy for him. Just his ability to create and instinctively find his teammates is elite, and I felt like he played really well today. Like under control, but his ability to get to the basket, (he) knows when to pass, when to shoot, and his defense just continues to get better every day. And I was really proud of him. He’s a huge piece for us. When the ball is in his hands and he’s making consistent plays, it takes us to a different level. And I’m really happy for him.”
via Inside Carolina
On if he’s seen a different RJ Davis over last few games
“I do feel like he’s in a better rhythm out there on the floor. I do feel that way. I feel like the last three games, he’s finding his rhythm. It really is with a new lineup, and changing lineup, too. I think one of the things that helps is just the growth of Ian, getting another score out there. So when you have another person out there that can go get buckets, very similar to what he experienced last year, where you had Cormac (Ryan), Harrison (Ingram), Armando (Bacot) and had a little bit more space to be able to get into his offensive game. So I’m really happy for him.”
via Inside Carolina
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : What Hubert Davis said after UNC basketball’s win over Notre Dame
