Hubert Davis addresses tense moments in first half vs. UConn

The Jimmy V Classic matchup between North Carolina and UConn got a bit chippy on Tuesday night. Emotions were running high as the clock ticked closer to halftime, with some intense moments occurring. UNC head coach Hubert Davis was right in the middle of it, attempting to get his team fired up.

North Carolina spent most of the first half behind as UConn got out to an early lead. In the battle to get back in the game, Armando Bacot was assessed a technical foul after jawing back and forth with Cam Spencer. While Davis does not mind some of the talking, he wanted the Tar Heels to let their play send the message.

“The talking and physicality, on both teams, was rising and I wanted our guys to step up to the challenge,” Davis said. “Not by talking but by our play. Just wanted to pump up our guys going into the half. Harrison (Ingram) hit that three to cut it to five, I think, at halftime. I just wanted to fire our guys up.”

Davis was never given a technical foul or anything, a common trick from head coaches when their players need a jolt of energy. He just played into the moment where seemingly everyone involved was running rampant with emotion. That’s nothing new for UConn head coach Danny Hurley, who is as animated as anybody in college basketball.

North Carolina was able to cut the deficit to three within 30 seconds of the beginning of the first half but UConn responded well. Just over a minute later, the lead was in the double digits and the Huskies never truly looked back. A resilient effort at Madison Square Garden to earn a statement victory as the defending national champions.

Ultimately, Davis’ attempt to fire his players up fell a little bit short. Even so, it’s not a game you hand your head over, especially with the calendar still in December. If anything, North Carolina can use this type of game as a learning opportunity down the road.

With the type of schedule UNC has had, a 7-2 record isn’t all that bad.

“Well, I’m upset that we lost, but it’s [nine] games in and it’s encouraging,” Davis said. “From my standpoint, how much we can get better, and how much more we can grow. And so that’s the encouraging part. And we are going to get better.”