Hubert Davis criticizes team, addresses upset loss to Alabama

North Carolina and Alabama played one of the best games of the college basketball season so far in their four-overtime battle in the Phil Knight Invitational. Both teams traded blow after blow and came back from mishaps in order to keep the game alive. In the end, though, the No. 18 Crimson Tide survived 103-101 against the nation’s No. 1 team.

After the game, Hubert Davis did his best to fairly assess the Tar Heel’s second straight loss. As far as criticism, he says his team’s execution down the stretch cost them.

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“Late clock execution. (It’s) something that has to improve and get better,” said Davis postgame.

Neither team looked like they wanted to win this game very much based on their execution if we want to be fair. UNC and Alabama combined for 40 turnovers and a handful of questionable shots that allowed the game to continue.

Even in defeat, though, Davis gave his team credit for their fight. He has been doing his best to get his team to show some improved competitive spirit considering how their first few games of the season have played out. They showed it in a loss but, nonetheless, the effort UNC showed is more of what Davis is looking for.

“I’m disappointed in the final outcome, but can’t be any more proud in the way they competed,” Davis said.

The road won’t be getting any easier for North Carolina from here. They’ll fall from their No. 1 spot in the polls by the time they get back to Chapel Hill. Then, they’ll immediately turn around to play a highly-ranked Indiana team in Bloomington in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. That leaves them little to no time to lick their wounds as they’ll need that same energy they showed tonight come Wednesday against the Hoosiers.