North Carolina
Hubert Davis, Armando Bacot and RJ Davis discuss ACC Tournament win over Florida State
Head coach Hubert Davis, Armando Bacot and RJ Davis discussed North Carolina's 92-67 win over Florida State on Thursday in the ACC Tournament.
No, I was just really proud of the guys, you know, at the beginning, you know, we talked about what will allow us to have um success against a really good Florida State team and we needed to get after it defensively, we needed to rebound the basketball and we also talked about doing a better job of making easy play and limiting turnovers. Uh because the last time we played them, we had 17 turnovers. I feel like that we definitely check two of the boxes, just their effort, energy attention to detail defensively was good and for us to dominate the boards on both ends, I thought that was a huge key for us um and allowing them to be successful out there on the floor. Ok. We're gonna have to flip the questions here on the right. Luke to Cockrell and he was an observer Armando. Um We did not get three and D Armando today, but it seemed like a very old school kind of back to basics performance. Was it important for you to kind of set that tone down low? Not just because of the opponent, but because of the circumstances for sure. Um going into this game, coaches game plan was to give me the ball and put a lot of pressure on him in the room because they switch a lot and going into this game, I just knew my approach was to get deep and try to score as easy as possible, whether that's posting up or getting offensive rebounds and the guards that did a good job of getting to me, uh, coach David Shane Holcomb Newhouse sports media center, Jamir Watkins has struggled now in both games that he played against you a little bit back a couple of weeks ago and now 12 points today after a 34 point out last night, what was the game plan going into today and trying to stop his, uh, powerful offensive play? Well, I mean, he's, he's one of the better players in our conference, you know, his ability to attack the basket is real and he's got great size on the wing athleticism. And when he gets to the cup, he has the ability to finish and also draw fouls and get to the free throw line. So it was a huge emphasis on us as, you know, one to defend him and make him hard for him just to catch the ball, not allow him to go to spots in space where he feels comfortable offensively and he'd be able to do that without fouling him. And it's, it's, it's hard to do. And so it's, you know, really a great credit to our wing players. Also our big just being in a position to stop him from getting straight line drives to the basket. And I thought that was a huge part for us of, of, you know, just us protecting the paint and allow not allowing them to get consistent points in the paint through penetration on the front fourth row. Uh Michael Co Wchl Chapel bro.com, this one's for RJ and Armando when you see Elliott diving on the floor for those loose balls and he comes up and he's got blood all over his leg sleeve. You know, how much does that fire you up as a teammate to see him going all out like that. I mean, it's affection and I think Elliott did a good job of just um like you said, doubling the loose balls getting the 5050 balls, but at the same time, he made it easier for his teammates. And, you know, coach David Davis always said, we don't always have to live in secondary break if you could live in primary and did a good job of using his speed to get into the lane, making layups. And um I think he did a good job of just playing all around basketball game today. Yeah, I agree with what art said when he dove on the floor, it really got us going. I thought in the 1st 4 to 6 minutes we were kind of not doing our best defensively. And after that, we really got going after that play, Rod Baxley F Observer Hubert, obviously Seth was in the running for six men of the year. It, it feels like he's starting to look more like himself coming back from that injury. What have you seen from him in these last few games? Yeah, I agree with you. I just, I feel like, you know, the last three or four games, like he's, he's playing the way that he played prior to him getting hurt. Um, the way that he played, uh in the first Duke game where, um, you know, he was using his speed and his athleticism to be an impact on both ends of the floor. He's attacking a basket and, and, uh, using his athleticism to be able to finish defensively because of his, you know, just ability to be able to eat up the ball. I thought that was really impactful and huge for us. And so I agree with you. He's, he's, uh, he's back at that level where he was playing in that since, uh that first due game and it's much needed that, that type of energy and effort coming off the bench. That's a huge benefit for us. Third row, Shelby Swanson Daily Tar Heel. This is a question for RJ was talking to Harrison in the locker room and he described Armando not as 3d, but, um, as the quarterback of the defense, could you just talk about his vocal presence and how important that is for you as a guard, for example, on ball screen defense, things like that. Yeah, I mean, Armaro does a good job of just talking early, um, and communicating, not with myself, but just with the whole team and uh his presence um has been used for this whole team this whole year and the way he's been defending, uh I know we switch a lot so, um, he's able to guard a little smaller guards and, but at the same time, guard the post. So, um, even when on ball screen coverage, he makes my job easier because I know he has my back and vice versa. So, um, and that's one of the reasons why he made a defensive team. So I definitely agree with Harrison of him being a quarterback of the defense because, um, he's been showing it all year signing up on the side. Armando David Thiel with the Times dispatch in Richmond. I saw some comments yesterday where he said that you guys are quote, desperate to win this event. Why is that given that you have bigger goals than this? Well, it's something none of us haven't have experience other than the coaches and I mean, we feel like it's right there for the taking. So that's why we've been playing so hard and we all just want to end the season off, right? Ok. Fifth row, Andrew Jones. T he illustrated this is for coach you guys had at the eight minute mark left in the first half. It was a one point game and you guys were a huge eruption. A lot of that was transit were in transition points. I think you scored 22 straight. What were the different variables that helped you guys get that 22? Oh run on, on fast break points? I I thought we were at our best defensively during that stretch, we specifically talked about that prior to the game that what should and needs to ignite us, um is our effort on the defensive end and for us to be able to get stops and finish it with a rebound. That is what allows us to get out in transition. And so, and you know, our pace, that's where I felt like our pace got to where it needed to be um with our guards, their ability to push the ball. Uh Bigs like Armando running down the middle of the floor, our pitch heads were good but it, it, it, it starts with defense and rebounding and you know, our guys, our team, we understand that for us to be successful, for us to have a chance to be the best team that we can possibly be. It starts with defense and it, and it finishes with rebounding and that, that bleeds into us being efficient, especially in transition on the offensive end, John Tel from hoops HG for coach, you talk about being the best team. Um, if you win this tournament, do you think you'll be a one seed next week? And how important is it to you to be a one seed next week? Yeah, that's something that we don't think about. And that's something that we don't talk about. Um, one of the things that we do talk about is focusing on what is real and what is real now is our preparation to prepare us to play either Pitt or Wake Forest. And um all year, we have focused on the preparation in the process and, um, if we continue to do that, the results will take care of itself. And so that's been our focus all season and we'll continue for the rest of the season. RJ Craig Heist a P radio. What's it like when you're kind of pulling away the last five or six minutes in that first half, you're doing everything right. You know, you're getting to the hole going to the free throw line, making shots. I mean, collectively as a team. What's that feel like? I mean, it feels great. I think the whole team had a rhythm today and we came out and set the tone early. Um, but it started on the defensive end. That's what led to us making that run and conscious reflecting on that energy a little bit. But, um, I mean, it feels good, especially when you're up big and everyone gets to play and everyone's contributing in so many ways. I mean, that's the type of games you wanna play. 44 on the side. Adam Smith with inside Carolina, uh, wanted to ask Armando what you made of the rebounding. It was 4822 in you guys favor. And also could you take us inside some of those sequences late in the first half? I think you had four offensive rebounds there on the, the final possession and there was the other possession where you're batted out to Harrison and ends up with a Cormack three. Just can you talk about that a little bit? Yeah, we knew coming into the game that there were four teams in terms of, uh, allowing offensive rebounds and we were number 1 to 1 or the other. Um, so we knew we had an advantage on the boards and I think Harry early on just how he was on the boards, it really pushed me, Jay Wash and all of us to even get more. And you talk about that last play. That was a lot of fun. Just all of us just getting rebounds and keeping the ball alive. It was a ton of fun in the background. Yeah. Uh Jeremiah Holloway with in South Carolina. This one's for RJ and Armando, I know you guys already talked about Seth and his impact off the bench, but with him, obviously Jalen Washington, Jalen Withers, they have, you know, obviously different, you know, skill sets than, you know, you guys in the starting five. How do you kind of see them change games and, you know, impact games and, and, and really make games different, uh, when they're in the game? Well, I mean, I think, you know, all three of their impacts, you know, help us, um, you know, Seth was his intensity on the defensive end and his speed and athletes to get downhill and then Jay was, uh, with his, you know, his length, um his ability to shoot from the outside floor and Jay wit, um, his athleticism and defensive. So I think all three of those guys have made key impacts throughout the whole year, not into today's game, but, um, that's where we feed off of and, uh, to have guys come in and make an impact and make runs. Um, that's huge for us and that's been in basketball in the back in the corner, Brendan Mark in the athletic. Hey Hubert. Um I just wanted to ask you, you mentioned it starts with defense for you guys. How have you seen Elliott progress as a defender? Maybe from the time you started recruiting him to now and embrace that part of his game and the importance of it. Yeah, you know, it's, it's a big transition coming from high school and playing at this level in high school. You may play defense when your guy get the ball and here it's just not gonna work the guys are just too talented. And so, you know, one of the things that we talk about all the time is at this level, you have to play defense before you play defense. And so, um Elliott is at every day is understanding how important and how good of a defensive player he can be. And that leads to him diving on loose balls and getting extra possessions, uh climbing into the ball, boxing out um talking on defense. And so you just continue to see that growth in him and it's, it's been fun to watch. Uh RJ and Armando, you guys were able to play in the Bahamas earlier in November, you know, three games in three days, you're gonna have probably face something similar here playing twice in the span of, you know, 24 hours. What's that process like? And what's the recovery, you know, gonna be like tonight issue for us because we know we'll be coming in playing to one or the other uh Wake Forest or um it, it so and both of those teams are hungry. So it's important for us to get great recovery and then lock in on the scalp. OK. We have time for one more question. Does anyone else have any questions? Ang your second? Yeah, just a question for Hubert. Wanna know if you have the data yet on your A ring. How fast your heartbreak got up to? No, I didn't, I forgot to charge it. So thank you for getting me in trouble with my wife. Ok. Have you gotten one of those? Did you get that from me? I had it first. Yeah, you did. Me and James we got, I'm following Armando. This is, I didn't know that. What do you need one for my sleep? Yeah. She like to track my sleep too. How much rem sleep do you get? Four hours? That's more than me.