Hubert Davis considers whether North Carolina players understand winning details
To this point in the season, the North Carolina Tar Heels have proven to be one of the best teams in the country. For head coach Hubert Davis, a lot of that success to this point has come down to having players who understand the winning details.
After North Carolina’s recent win over Pitt, Davis was asked about how well the team knows those details and if it’s better than in years past.
“I think they are,” Hubert Davis said. “Specific to this year’s team, I think every day is getting a clearer picture of how important it is. One of the things I always tell them is to make routine plays routinely.”
Those details, as Davis explained, are something that the coaching staff has been working hard to emphasize to the team.
“The little, simple things are ones that lead to big things and I show them on tape. I give them examples of little things that we have to tighten the screws on both ends of the floor to allow ourselves to be successful. So, I do, I believe this team is every day growing a great understanding of how important it is.”
For now, things are certainly working for Hubert Davis and North Carolina. The Tar Heels are ranked eighth in the country. They’ve also won three games in a row after dropping two tough games against UConn and Kentucky, a pair of talented blue bloods. In that game against Kentucky, in particular, the Tar Heels left a strong impression on John Calipari.
“Let me say this – UNC is a Final Four-level team,” Calipari said. “They are. They’re good, they’re good. We were lucky to win but I’m happy for this young group because they really worked hard.”
Hubert Davis stresses need for North Carolina to win rebounding margin
Another key thing for North Carolina to excel at moving forward is rebounding. That’s a point that Hubert Davis also emphasized after the Pitt game.
“I just, you know, I believe in it, I believe rebounding is the No. 1 determining factor to allow you to have success out there on the floor. You know, prior to Charleston Southern, we’ve been out rebounded three straight games in a row. Just can’t happen, not at this level, not in this conference. You have to control the boards,” Davis said.
“So, just talking to them about it, showing them on the tape, holding them accountable at practice and also holding them accountable in the game. And one great thing is, you know, now they can see the benefit of of boxing out and rebounding and getting those tough loose balls, what it can do even on a night where, you know, I don’t think we shot the ball very well. We were able to defensively rebound the basketball and that just really helped us.”