Hubert Davis reacts to locker room meeting, Armando Bacot’s comments

The 2022-23 season has been one of the worst years of North Carolina men’s basketball in recent memory. And after the latest indignity — a road loss at Wake Forest where the Tar Heels were blown out in the first half and just managed to make it respectable — head coach Hubert Davis addressed the loss and the contentious moments after.

Apparently, North Carolina players and coaches had a meeting in the locker room. While Davis wasn’t willing to divulge what, exactly, was said, he did share some broader detail.

“Well we did have a long discussion, much needed discussion in the locker room. And one of the things that I like to do is keep those comments in the locker room. The reason being is not that I don’t want to tell you, but in order to move forward, it’s best to talk with the people you’re moving forward with. I appreciate the question. It was a long, and much needed, conversation,” Davis said.

Asked why it was much needed, Davis said “cause we’re better than that. And we’re better than this.”

After the loss, star center and key returner Armando Bacot, who came back to UNC despite the possibility to go to the NBA, was also upset and aired his frustrations.

“We came back for a reason… and this is not it,” he said.

Bacot also told his teammates after the game, “if you don’t want to be here, quit,” according to Patrick Welter, local reporter for WRAL.

While the solutions aren’t clear, one thing is about North Carolina right now: No one is happy with the way things are going.

“I understand that when speaking to the team, whether in the locker room or wherever, I’m not just speaking to them. In the locker room, there’s more voices in the locker room. And I think I’ve said that before, that every time that I speak to the team, I’m speaking to 30 to 40 voices there, not just 18. The voices of the families, the voices of friends, the voices of phones, the voices of agents, the voices of workout guys,” Davis said.

“That’s why I tell them to turn down the noise from the phone, the family and the friends and that’s why I give them Bible verses, proverbs 4:25, tell them to ignore all sideshows, distractions and keep your eyes straight ahead,” Davis said. “Because the people and the teams that are able to do that best are the ones that have a better chance to being successful.”