"Juiced Up” Hubert Davis speaks ahead of UNC’s ACC opener

North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis spoke to the media on Monday to preview the Tar Heels' matchup against Florida State to kick off the ACC slate, give updates on the team's progress and more.

Here are some notable quotes from the presser.

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You mentioned you were happy with the start to the year, but not satisfied. What’s the next step this team can take to continue its progression this season?

I think a number of things on both ends of the floor. I mean, from a defensive standpoint, just better at defending without fouling, getting better at keeping teams out of the paint, better at boxing out, not allowing second chance opportunities, trying to find ways to create more turnovers. That’s something that we haven’t done a very good job of defensively.

Offensively, my hope is that we’ll shoot the ball better from three, also from the free-throw line, just better execution. The little details, setting screens, being in the right spots, taking care of the basketball, which we’ve done a really good job of late, but just continuing to grow and be consistent at those little things that I think make big things happen.

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How have you addressed the free throw shooting?  

Yeah, you know, other than make them, [laughter] it's hard, you know, to obviously um one of the things that we've done is, you know, put that in practice specific time. um working on free throws. And when I mean working on free throws, just continuing to stay consistent in terms of your free throw shooting routine, being confident, rhythm, and that's pretty much it, you know. Um during the season, it's tricky to talk about not just free throw shooting, but your shot.

The reason why I say that is for myself when I played, I didn't want anyone talking to me about my shot, whether it was going in or wasn't going in. Let me figure it out. I don't need 50,000 voices telling me elbow within, take a deep breath, bend your knees, because that's the last thing that you need to do during the game. You got to play fast and free and be able to react. And so, it's something that we've talked about, but it's not something that we've focused on. Um, just to get our guys confident that when we get to the free throw line, we can be a team that consistently makes them.

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Is there anything you have to do differently to prepare freshmen like Caleb Wilson for ACC play, or make sure he can maintain his same production as the schedule picks up? 

“No, not at all. I mean, he has a good and healthy dose of his preparation, that’s not just the stuff that he does during practice, but pre-practice, post-practice, and film work. I’ve said this before, you can’t get a better freshman five-star, that is a five-star player, a five-star teammate and a five-star person. And you know, the 13 games that we’ve played, he’s seen a lot, and he’ll see even more, and I know that he’s excited for the challenge of the remainder of the season as well.”

This is the best start you’ve had as a coach here at UNC. Does that affect how you approach the ACC slate at all, just in terms of how you coach and what you’ve seen from your team through December?

Yeah, I mean, nothing changes. Every year you’re always looking for ways to get better and ways to improve. I don’t focus on the record. I don’t focus on the destination. For me, it’s always been about having a clear focus on the preparation, the practice, the journey, and the growth of this team.

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Heading into ACC season—and this is the first time we’ve had just 18 regular-season games instead of 20—it puts even more importance on every game in this conference. I’ve been a part of this league as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach, and I was a big fan of it even before I played in it. So I’m just really excited to start conference play this week.

How different is what you're asking Kyan (Evans) to do from what he was asked to do at Colorado State and what are some of the areas of progress he's made that the common person isn't going to see? 

Yeah, he’s been a leader for us in terms of distributing the basketball, especially in transition. Obviously, with Seth back in the lineup, the pitch-aheads in transition—even after a made basket—allow us to play in the primary break and get layups, dunks, and deep post catches, and Kyan does a really good job with that.

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I think, in terms of running the team, he’s done a really nice job, but it is different for him to have the ball in his hands a little bit more. One of the things for him is also moving him off the ball and using his ability to shoot, to make plays coming off flares and wide pin-downs. Being able to mix that up for him will put him in an even better position to be successful and consistent on the offensive end.

How would you rate the juice/energy since being back from the Christmas break and preparing for FSU and other ACC opponents? 

I’m juiced up, so they better be juiced up, too. I always believe this; I think there are times when the best thing for you is to take a deep breath and to get away. And I felt like the little bit of time away with family and friends was something that was needed from this group. And the freshness of coming back, being recharged and excited about the process and the chance of just continuing the things that we’ve done in the first 13 games and seeing how good we could become.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: What Hubert Davis said ahead of ACC play