Hubert Davis states ACC does not have to prove anything in NCAA Tournament

The North Carolina Tar Heels and head coach Hubert Davis are getting ready for the Sweet 16. That makes the Tar Heels one of four different ACC teams to make it to the Sweet 16 this season, which is more than any other conference.

For many, it was a bit surprising that the ACC got four teams to this point in the NCAA Tournament because the national perception of the conference was that it was in a down season. Despite that, Davis recently shared that he didn’t feel like the ACC had anything to prove in the NCAA Tournament.

“I don’t think we’re in a position where we have to prove anything,” Hubert Davis said. “I’ve always felt like the ACC was arguably the best conference in college basketball. The reason I believe that is for most of my life I’ve been a part of this conference, as a player, as an assistant coach for nine years, and now three as a head coach.”

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“Just the type of coaches and the programs and the consistency in the NCAA Tournament from this conference is proof on the quality of teams and programs that we have in this conference.”

North Carolina has been the top team in the ACC all season long. The Tar Heels won the conference during the regular season before losing to NC State in the ACC Tournament Championship. Despite that loss, North Carolina was still a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Now, Hubert Davis will lead his North Carolina Tar Heels against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Thursday night in the Sweet 16.

Armando Bacot: ACC teams ‘definitely’ played with a chip on their shoulders

For North Carolina star Armando Bacot, there definitely was a chip on the shoulder for the ACC teams in the NCAA Tournament.

“Definitely. You see it every year. I think, especially since, like, 2018 when…and all of them left. I feel like the respect for the ACC just in general kind of went down. But you look at every year in the tournament we’ve always got a couple, multiple teams…deep in these rounds. There’s a lot of stuff that goes into it. I think most ACC programs are playing a high-level non-conference schedule too, so I think that really plays a factor. I feel like other conferences might not be as strong or they’re kind of manipulating it in a way some sense,” Bacot said.

“This year was really crazy because you look at how great NC State has been playing and how great Duke has been playing. Clemson too has been great, but you look at teams like Pitt who’s beaten three or four of those teams that I just named. Also too, UVA, they obviously got out, but this year there were a lot of ACC teams that were deserving that didn’t get a chance to make it in. Hopefully everyone sees after this year how competitive ACC basketball is and how good the teams are.”