UNC-USC Upstate Hubert Davis Q&A: 'You Have To Bring It Every Day'

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — No. 14 North Carolina improved to 9-1 over its first 10 games of the season with an 80-62 win over USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon at the Smith Center. Caleb Wilson supplied his usual double-double, 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Jonathan Powell added a career-high 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting off the bench. Luka Bogavac and Powell also each made three 3-pointers against the Spartans to help UNC record a good shooting day from behind the arc — 10-for-23 (43.5%).

The Tar Heels shot above 50 percent from the floor as a team (28-55) and recorded 20 assists. Despite this, head coach Hubert Davis wasn’t satisfied with his team’s effort throughout the game, as Upstate hung around until a 12-2 run by North Carolina finished the contest. 

Watch Davis‘ postgame press conference from Saturday afternoon in full, and read some of his noteworthy comments below.

Jonathan Powell tied a career-high with 17 points on three made 3-pointers today. What led him to have a successful day, and how can he build upon this moving forward?

“I thought he played well on both ends. I mean, obviously, he’s a guy that could make shots, and today he not only made shots, but timely shots, especially from three. I think it was an eight-point game in the second half. He had a three-pointer in the corner to get it to double figures, and extended the lead for the remainder of the game. He’s also a really physical defender, very competitive, and just has a passion and a desire to be a part of this team and this program. So I’m really happy that he had a good game today.”

Hubert, at the under-eight timeout, you seemed very animated toward your team in the huddle. What were you upset about, and what was your message to them? 

“There’s a lot to be happy and excited and proud about. The 20 assists, I felt like we really shared the basketball. We took good shots, we took care of the basketball, and so from that standpoint, I was really happy with the team. I just didn’t feel like the practices leading up to the game were at the level of attention to detail that is required to put yourself in a position to be successful.”

Some of the players also expressed how practices were not up to par during the week. Do you feel that may serve as a lesson for this team moving forward? 

“It’s a tremendous lesson. I told him, I’m a visual learner. I can’t remember things, but if I see it, I remember it for the rest of my life, and my hope is, is that they could clearly see that there is a connection between how you prepare and how you practice in relation to how you play.” 

“I identified the areas that have to be there every day. It’s not the missed shots and the turnovers; everybody misses shots, everybody turns the ball over, everybody makes mistakes. I just think the things that you have control over, I think those things are non-negotiable. You have to bring it every day. That’s energy, effort, attention to detail, enthusiasm, and you can’t use an excuse that we have final exams. I’m married, and I’ve got three kids, and I got prepared for this game early.”

Seth Trimble was seen without a cast or brace today. How has he progressed, and when will he likely return for UNC?

“I mean, it’s going very well. In regard to him working out, he’s doing everything that’s non-contact. So the next step is doing everything with contact. And so my hope is that Seth will be out there soon.” 

North Carolina conceded 11 offensive rebounds to USC Upstate. What made it difficult to secure defensive rebounds? 

“Unacceptable. One of the things we want to be is a great offensive rebounding team. We want to be a great defensive rebounding team as well, and for them to have more offensive rebounds than us is not good, and for us to out-rebound them only by three. When I’ve talked about rebounding and how important it is for us to dominate points in the paint, in regard to rebounding in that area, we did not play well.”

You used 10 players in the first half today. Was that a plan coming into the day or a byproduct of how the game went?

“Substitutions are… I mean, there’s just a number of factors. I wish you could script a basketball game. You just never know who’s in foul trouble, what rotations work well, anybody injured, but I was happy with everyone that played today.”