Hubert Davis on North Carolina: 'This is not a job, this is my home'

Hubert Davis was canid following North Carolina’s victory over Boston College on Saturday, regarding the passion, or lack thereof, that the Tar Heels have shown over the course of the 2024-25 campaign.

Davis’ team is 13-8 on the season, and 6-3 within the ACC. The coach believes some of his players may be taking their position in the history of college basketball for granted, and he made sure to let them know following their win over the Eagles, while speaking with the media.

“Playing here is more than just playing here,” Davis said, regarding his postgame talk with his Tar Heels team. “I told them, and I’ve told them my story. I told them that everything significant in my life has happened here. I just didn’t go to school here. I just didn’t play here. I just didn’t graduate from here. This is where I became a Christian. This is where I fell in love with my wife. This is where we got married. This is where I bought my first house. This is where we decided to raise our three kids. Like, his is not a job. This is my home. It’s the home of every one of the other coaches, as well. And every other coach, because they’ve experienced this place, can say the same things.

“When you put on that uniform, when you’re in that locker room, when you run through that tunnel and you play on that floor, it’s more than just basketball. You’re a part of something that is a part of your life, and that’s the emotion that I played with. That’s the emotion that I coach with, and that’s the emotion that I want each player to play with.

“Maybe it’s harder now. When I was here, I didn’t have to deal with NIL and the Transfer Portal. I didn’t have an agent. My dad was in the stands, and he was my dad. Never talked to me about basketball. I wasn’t in a hurry to get to the NBA. I didn’t have those things. I was right where I wanted to be. And I never wanted to leave.”

As you can tell, North Carolina means the world to Davis, and he’s trying to drive home that point for his players, as well. The Tar Heels aren’t in a bad spot by any means, but it’s evident their coach is expecting more from them.

North Carolina will be back in action on Tuesday with a road game against the Pitt Panthers. Perhaps Hubert Davis’ soliloquy filled with emotion will aid the Tar Heels in getting back to their usual effort-level moving forward.