CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina turned the tide midway through the second half, coming back from behind and defeating Florida State 78-70 in the ACC opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at the Smith Center.
RJ Davis led the No. 17 Tar Heels in scoring for the third straight game, scoring 27 points and dishing out five assists. Over the last four games, Davis has scored a total of 107 points (23 against Villanova, 27 against Arkansas and 30 against Tennessee before Saturday). Armando Bacot delivered 13 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots – all in the first half. Off the UNC bench, Seth Trimble provided the spark with nine points.
Read and watch everything about the trainer Hubert Davis had to say after UNC’s comeback win to open conference play…
“I thought it did three things for us. First, it gave us energy and gave us life. I thought there was just a lack of energy and effort in the first half and the start of the second half, for whatever reason. It just felt like we were a step slower at both ends of the pitch and just didn’t get any free balls. We didn’t get any rebounds, we didn’t finish around the basket, we didn’t make any free throws. When we went to the press, it increased our energy. It got us steals and deflections, and so we were able to convert it, and when we didn’t get a steal or a deflection, it sped them up. And then when they missed it, it put us in transition, which is where we want to be offensively.
“That’s why we were able to attack the basket. I thought we were going to be stuck in the penalty spot for most of the second half, and when we were down by 14 points, we really only scored in single digits by shooting free throws.” So that gave us a chance to look at the scoreboard and to say we’re right there just by getting to the free throw line and attacking the basket and it just really worked out for us.”
“His athleticism and his defensive ability, having him and RJ and Elliot out there was huge for us. Height-wise we’ve obviously lost a few inches, but I told him it’s all about heart and hard work. Seth, he was really good. You know, the way he moves his feet, he was able to get steals and deflections. His athleticism and strength means he can guard bigger players, and so we were able to rotate a number of different players because he can guard both guards and big players down in the post. He got elbowed in the hip and that was the only reason he got out. If he hadn’t been hit with the elbow, he would have played the rest of the game. He played so well.”
“I thought the problem we struggled with last year was the slowness, the discipline and the details. The free throws, the penalty area, not turning the ball over, getting the loose ball. I thought we struggled with that at times last year, but I was really proud of the guys (today). … To be honest with you, our press: This is the first time we’ve done this after making baskets. Typically, full-court situations arise after a dead ball or a free throw. We pushed for make or miss. I went into the group and said, “Guys, do you like this, do you want to continue with this?” And (they) said, “Coach, just keep going, let’s keep going.”
“It’s a different layer. It can’t even be used when we’re behind, only to change the pace of the game and get steals and deflections, and allows us to get out in transition. We work on that every day. But as I mentioned, it’s the first time we’ve done it after a basket shot, and it’s the first time we’ve also done it after a missed basket. Dead balls usually happen after free throws, so I really liked being able to adjust to that on the fly during a game.”
“I don’t know. I really don’t know. I’ve said this before, Saturday afternoon games at the Smith Center and the conference is pretty exciting out there. So I had a lot of energy and was ready to go. But I have no reason for it. It was three games in a row in the Bahamas, I came home and played an emotional game against Tennessee on Wednesday night and two and a half days later the ACC game started with an opponent at 2 p.m. We knew we had the best chance for Florida State.”
UNC coach Hubert Davis gives instructions in Saturday’s ACC opener. (Photo: Jim Hawkins / Inside Carolina)
“I think it affects the quality of the recordings for everyone. Even at the start of the game we didn’t get them, but the ball was moving exactly as it should. It just doesn’t stick at all. From an offensive perspective, we just want to always be good to great and make the extra pass. And not only do we make the extra pass, I feel like our guys are more excited to see their teammates make shots or the extra pass than they are to see them make their own shot. And so I liked the selflessness of this team. Everyone shares the basketball and that’s something that’s a big part of our success on offense in terms of getting shots for RJ and everyone else.”
“There are a few things. Of course we want to get steals so we can convert them and also score. We want to make an opponent faster and take them out of their offense. You don’t want them to be able to manage their offense the way they do in shootaround, and speeding up an opponent may cause them to take unusually quick shots. It gets us up to the pace we want and if they miss those shots we can get out in transition. That’s something we’ll do all year long, and I thought they executed it really well on the fly tonight.”
“This is this year’s team. I don’t think about my first year, my second year. We have seven new players on the team this year. I don’t think anyone thinks about last year. I think we’re all thinking about this team and this year. We always talk about what is in front of us and what is real. What’s ahead of us and what’s real is this year’s team and our growth and seeing what we can do and how good we can get.”
“I think it gives us confidence that it can be effective and that we can use that in positions for the rest of the year.”…So I think that can definitely encourage us moving forward and this for the as well Rest of the season to do. But again, this is the first time we’ve used it in the game. This not only gives the players confidence, but also gives me confidence because we as coaches have just been working on this drill. And now we have something during the game that we can build on and tweak, twist, tweak and change to make it even better.”
“I’m going to enjoy today. It’s very difficult to win, it’s very difficult to win in this league. That’s why I’m going to enjoy today and be very proud of what the boys have achieved today. And then I’m really looking forward to coming to New York. I spent four years with the New York Knicks and always want to bring the guys to play at Madison Square Garden at least once a year. It’s just a special place and being able to do that next week and have a chance to play against the defending state champions will create an atmosphere that I really want to be a part of.”