North Carolina
Davis: I am a better person and a better coach because of last year
Hubert Davis isn't one to reflect, but the third year UNC coach took some time to do just that as discussed the regular season finale Saturday vs. Duke
Dinosaurs. It is comfy but it's nice. It's nice and comfy. It's nice and comfy. It is. It is, hey, you are not a guy who reflects as much in the moment. Think it back to the first time you there style or your comfort. I don't think, not a difference that I can think of right now. I mean, I just, you know, in anything that you do, the more times that you do it, I think you become more comfortable, you, you see the things that you enjoy, the things that you like, the things that you don't like, things that may need to alter or, or tweak or adjust. Um I've always said that I, I love being in a, in a position of listening and learning. I've never felt like whether I was a player or assistant coach or an analyst where I felt like I was there. I know it all. And obviously three years in, I don't know at all and just continuing to learn and to grow and, and try to improve every day. But is there like a sense of vindication? Black? Yeah. Well, one of the things that I um no, I have not reflected on that. Um, I, I really believe this. There is a reason, um, and the, and these are my beliefs, there is a reason for all seasons and there was a reason, there is a re there was a reason for this season, for the first season, for the second season. And those reasons, he is the reason for all seasons, meaning Jesus is the reason for all seasons and those reasons are good and those reasons are good irregardless. If it's a sunny day or a cloudy day, those reasons are good. And the person that I am today, the coach that I am today was because of the good reasons from year one and year two. And I really believe that last year was a blessing. I am a better person and a better coach because of last year. And that's the way I believe, um, experience going through. I think, I think it's really good going through sunny and rainy days, I think. Um, I think it makes you stronger. I think it makes you even more thankful, appreciative. I'm thankful for the experiences that I've had the, the, the cloudy days and, and, and the sunny days. You said that same important feeling. Second. How good is it? He used to write. It's coming down to a chance, the champion. Yeah. You know, we're, we're focused, you know, the, you know, obviously our next game is Duke, but our, our focus is on us. Our focus is on our preparation, our practice to make sure that as a team we're continuing to improve and we're trying to get as close as possible to becoming the best team that we can possibly become. And, you know, you think about, I was having a conversation with, uh, coach Jeff Lebow when I was here at Carolina, two of the years came down to the last regular season game to, um, determine who was a regular season champs. And so, uh, we were talking about that and it, it was a little bit different. Um, the last game was here at home and, you know, it's always, you know, competing against the best and, and obviously Duke and their program is one of the best in the country. And so having an opportunity to be able to play them this Saturday on a, um, last regular season AC C game is, is an honor and a privilege and we're really excited about it with the AC. Yeah, go ahead. Uh, is there a sense that all, I don't know what all is right in the world? I don't, I don't, I don't, I think it's fun. I think it's good, but I don't know what, I don't know what all is right means. But when Carolina do play, it's always good. So it doesn't really matter if it's the last game of the regular season or not, it's, it's fun to play in AC C will be the AC C, you know, you, you talk about the AC C as we all know it. Not me. I, I remember it when it was eight teams and everybody was playing each other twice and you didn't have to get on the airplane and you took a bus everywhere. And so going to Cold field house. Ok. So it's a little bit different. So, um, regardless of, uh, Stanford and Cal and, and, uh, SMU joining the conference, uh, next season, the AC C will always be the AC C and there's no difference in that. How is it different? I don't think it makes a difference at all. I mean, our schedule is our schedule, uh, because of the teams that we have in the AC C at this moment and adding three more, you know, there are teams that you play twice and there's teams that you don't know, the thing that you have to focus on is whatever is on your schedule, be the best that you can be. And at the end of the year, um, live with the results, the guard play system. So how are you? Kind of see, I thought they were pretty good when we played them. I mean, Jeremy is, uh, Jeremy Roach is, you know, having another terrific season. Um I think he leads the AC C in three point shooting percentage in conference games and mccain, um, shooting the ball extremely well. Uh, their guard play they can defend, they can shoot, they can penetrate, distribute. Uh, they're really good at, uh, defenders and they, and they can also get to the offensive glass. And so they're playing at a high level, but I, I feel like our guards are playing pretty well also, so it'll be a good matchup. Well, II, I think we're playing a little bit better defensively, you know, I, I know that, I thought we guarded the three really well. Um, but, you know, they had 54 points in the paint, you know, I, I think they shot over 50% from the field. And so, you know, we just got to do a better job of that. I think, um, we took care of the basketball. I think we only had four turnovers and that allowed us, um, in terms of our defense to always, for them to come up against a set defense as opposed to getting out in transition where they're really good. But, you know, at that time, we were 9 to 1 in the AC C coming off a 10 game win streak and, you know, defensively, we were, we were pretty good, but I like the way that we play defense against Notre Dame. And my hope is that we can continue to get better at that area of the things you guys had to sort of navigate on the fly in the first year. Defendant RJ, face guarded him and tried to sort of take him out of what you all like to do, like, um, you know, having seen that the first time, is there a way to counteract that, or prepare for possibly seeing that sort of color? Well, that was probably the first game where teams started to really face guard him was coming off a Georgia Tech game where he had 2728 in that game. But that was the due game was probably the first game where teams started to really top block and, you know, deny every pass and really try to take him out of his actions. I felt like we've improved in terms of uh you know, setting screens running different plays to free up RJ to give him space, whether it's coming off of screens or, or with the ball in his hands. And so I feel like we have a better attack or um for teams that do that, but, you know, you also have to give credit to Duke. They have, as I, you know, said before, they've got good individual defenders. So, you know, Proctor was the one that was on him. He has length, he has athleticism. And so, um you know, anybody playing us, it would be advantageous to try to take RJ out of his rhythm. And so that's something that teams from that Duke game have tried to do with RJ and, you know, we'll be prepared for that, et cetera. I think it makes everybody, I mean, it's not just Seth who is extremely valuable for us, but everybody and the thing that I like about us is that, and we talked about this before, you know, them being able to top block RJ in that game. Well, Harrison had six threes and Armando, you know, played extremely well. There were games, three games prior to that where they were playing Armando differently and then RJ was going off for 30. So we have a number of different guys that can have big nights, whether it's Seth Harrison, Cormack Elliott Armando, Jay Wash Jay witt, that can step up in those times that um where defenses adjust to other players. And so that's something that we've been able to do all season that I feel confident that we can do um for the remainder of the season. Is it fun for you at all? Is it any different because it's cramped stages? It doesn't bother me at all. I, I just as a player, as a coach, I'm just, I'm, I'm unaware of what is going on in the crowd. I, I'm so focused on our team and how we play that, that outside noise is really mute for me. Um As a player, the two places that I felt it the most was uh Reynolds Coliseum and Coldfield House. So in Chicago Stadium in the NBA, maybe that had something to do with MJ and I knew he was gonna score 60 on me. So, for you having, yeah, national championship, the final four, there's two games preparing for a game like this, or is it just lazy? It's fun. Every game I, I think it's enjoyable and fun. Every game. I, I, I have as much fun at, shoot around and practice in the game. It's all the same to me. There's not one game. Wow. I'm really revved up for this one or this game, you know, I just, I'm just not locked in this one. I, I'm, I'm ready to go. Anytime you get a chance to be out there on the floor. I'm, I'm, I'm ready to go. Madam Hubert. I'm sure you've given this note time to reflect my email. I have the all AC C ballot in here um situation next week, probably. We have a situation next week where RJ is the AC C player of the year and Kem could be the PAC 12 um their respective conferences. I, I wouldn't react other than then joy and happiness and I want every kid to be able to have success. I want them to be able to have the same experience in college that I had and maybe that's naive on my part. But I do, I just have a burning desire for every student athlete to walk away from their time at whatever program they're, they're at with the feeling that I had when I left North Carolina wanting to never leave and always wanted to come back. And so if that happens, that would put a huge smile on my face. Yeah.