What Hubert Davis said after UNC loses to Clemson in ACC Tournamet

Remember a few weeks ago, when the North Carolina Tar Heels quickly proved themselves as a second half team, in completing their season sweep of Syracuse?

UNC did the same thing Thursday night, losing 80-79 in its ACC Tournament quarterfinal rematch against Clemson. North Carolina (24-8, 12-6 ACC) trailed by eight points at halftime, later by 18 midway through the second half, but charged all the way back to a 1-point deficit capped by Derek Dixon’s final 3-pointer.

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Alas, Hubert Davis and his Tar Heels now await their NCAA Tournament fate on Selection Sunday. UNC needed to win the ACC Tournament for improved seeding next week, but is now looking at a likely five or six seed.

A slow start hurt North Carolina on Thursday night, but there’s plenty more behind the loss. Free throw struggles caught up to the Tar Heels again, who sank just 10 of their 17 attempts. Clemson (24-9, 12-6 ACC), which will face Duke in the ACC Semifinals tonight, made 17 of 13 free throws.

A common theme behind previous UNC wins is bench production. There was little of that last night, with a combined five points, three rebounds, one assist and turnover apiece across 35 minutes. The Tigers’ bench was a major factor in their victory, highlighted by Nick Davidson’s 17-point, 11-rebound double-double.

If North Carolina won, Duke awaited in the ACC semis. With Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster out, the Tar Heels’ path to an ACC Championship game berth looked easier.

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Alas, UNC now plays the waiting game. Keep reading below to see what Davis said after North Carolina’s loss, which nearly became a win during the final seconds.

All quotes are via TarHeel247’s Rykin Fuller:

On particular areas that got away from UNC in the loss:

“Yeah, just the inability to respond to physicality,” Davis said. I felt like it was the same thing Saturday of last week, and for most of the game tonight. Clemson has always been physical defensively, and one of the things I always say is you never let a defense…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/hubert-davis-said-unc-loses-141455369.html

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Publish date : 2026-03-13 14:14:00

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