Hubert Davis warns against ‘positive noise’ for UNC basketball after Final Four run
North Carolina men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis laughed at the thought of just how different NIL (name, image and likeness) has made college basketball.
His only daughter, Gracie, is a fan of the Netflix show “Outer Banks,” which senior forward Armando Bacot just happened to tape a few episodes for Season 3 of the show last month.
“I never thought that I’d go to a player and ask, ‘Can you hook me up,’ ” Davis joked. “My daughter wants to meet the cast of ‘Outer Banks’ and I go to a player. … Mondo said he can make it happen.”
An abundance of NIL opportunities for the players is just one of the perks that has come with the Tar Heels’ run to the NCAA national title game during his first year as head coach.
It’s also part of the “positive noise” Davis has warned his team about as it has assembled back on campus for summer school.
Last season when the Heels were on the wrong end of a few 20-plus point losses in the ACC, Davis talked about blocking out the noise and gave his team a bible verse to consider about “ignoring sideshow distractions.”
Now Davis, who held his first press conference since the Heels’ title game loss to Kansas, is concerned about too much praise. The rising expectations came as starters Caleb Love, R.J. Davis, Leaky Black and Bacot all opted to return from their Final Four team.
Davis has seen and heard about the “way too early” preseason polls that have Carolina ranked No. 1 and predictions that they will return to the Final Four, and he’s not moved by the hype.
“That’s noise,” Davis said. “And (I told them) to focus on what is real and that’s our preparation, our practice and how we can get better this summer to possibly put us in a position where we were last year and see what happens. I’m not taking it easy on them. I’m coming harder.”
Davis said he set the tone when the team had a meeting when the players all arrived back in Chapel Hill. And so far, he’s liked the way they have responded.
“What they experienced last year has lit a fire inside of all of them to have more experiences like that,” Davis said. “And it just hasn’t been the upperclassmen. Caleb and R.J. and (Armando) and Leaky have been terrific, but I’ve also seen tremendous leadership from Dontrez (Styles) and Puff (Johnson).”
Bacot has had the most visible NIL opportunities of anyone on the team. And rightfully so, as the Heels’ leading scorer (16.3 points per game) and rebounder (13.1 per game), who tied David Robinson for the NCAA record for most double-doubles in a single season at 31.
Bacot’s social media postings since the season ended gave a glimpse of his newfound stardom, including when he threw out the first pitch at a Baltimore Orioles baseball game.
“Probably the one that’s most active is Armando,” Davis said. “But he’s been getting after it, and he’s getting a lot better. I’m very happy with what he’s doing out there on the court.”
Bacot’s injured right ankle may be what kept the Heels from beating Kansas in the title game. He told Davis his ankle strength was at “77 percent.”
The noise could just be starting for Carolina. The Heels have a scholarship available and could possibly add a transfer this week.
Northwestern forward Pete Nance is visiting UNC on Thursday. He withdrew from the NBA draft, but kept his name in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-10 native of Arkon, Ohio, averaged 14.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last season for the Wildcats, including shooting 45 percent from 3-point range.
Adding Nance, a three-year starter at Northwestern, would bolster Carolina’s frontcourt both in terms of experience and depth. He could potentially fill the void left by Brady Manek as a stretch-4.
If the was season starting now, junior Puff Johnson and sophomore Dontrez Styles would be the two players likely to compete to start in Manek’s place.
Davis cannot comment on Nance directly because he is essentially a recruit, but he was asked about filling their 13th scholarship that came available when Kerwin Walton entered the transfer portal.
“We’re always looking to improve our team,” Davis said. “But on the other hand, I really like where our team is right now.”
This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Hubert Davis warns against ‘positive noise’ for UNC basketball after Final Four run."