Top 5 Takeaways from UNC Coach Hubert Davis' Season-Opening Win

The fifth-year head coach had a lot to say after his team's season-opening win.

North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis during UNC's 95-53 win over Winston-Salem State in an exhibition game on Oct. 29, 2025 | Jackson McCurdy, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI

Hubert Davis met with the press after North Carolina's 94-54 blowout victory. Here are five things he said after the game that caught my eye.

For the full press conference, check out the video below.

Some of the guys said that when they came out with the first wave of warm-ups that Luka was taking a nap on the couch in the locker room. When did you find out and just kind of take us through finding out?

LUka Boagavac attemtping a free tjrow; Nov. 4 | Jackson McCurdy, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI

We just found out right before the game and just to see the smile and the reaction from Luka was something that I'll remember for the rest of my life. He's somebody coming from Montenegro that has always since the first time that I talked to him had a burning desire to be a part of this team, this program, this university, and this community. 

Mar 17, 2025; Dayton, OH, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis coaches during the First Four Practice at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

And to be able to see him run out of that tunnel with a uniform on and be able to check him in and see that smile  is something again that I will remember for the rest of my life. His mom is here. She's been over here for a week. She'll be over here for two more weeks. So to be able to see her son out there on the floor, can't wait. I haven't talked to him after the game, but I'm just really happy for him.

How concerned were you that maybe he wouldn't be cleared?

Rameses | Jackson McCurdy, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI

As I said before, it was the same. We were working through it. I felt like we were making progress and I wanted to thank the university. They did a terrific job of getting us to this point and without them, Luka wouldn't be here. He wouldn't be on the court.

A lot of people talk about Luka's shooting, but he showed he's a good passer tonight. How does he help with the ball movement in the half-court offense?

Oct 4, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Luka Bogavac (44) shoots in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Well, there's a number of things. We've talked before about how much more size we have this year. And I've talked about positional size. At the wing position, Luka's 6-6, almost 6-7. So he's a big guard.

Obviously he can shoot the basketball, but he's a basketball player. He can handle it. He can pass it. He can initiate offense. Gives us another playmaker out there on the floor. I thought he did a really nice job defensively as well.

Going off of the offensive rebounding and points in the paint, you guys had 18 second-chance points. How important is that, especially when you're going against a big physical team like Kansas?

North Carolina center Henri Veesaar | Jackson McCurdy, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI

With the exception of last year, I think we've always been a really good offensive rebounding team, the best in the ACC, and that's always been a staple of North Carolina — putting ourselves in second-chance opportunities. 

Nobody can ever get me off of that. We were able to win a national championship in 2017 because we got two offensive rebounds on a free throw. We're always going to the offensive glass. Those are the little things that make big things happen.

23 assists — what was it like to see so many guys rack up that many assists and multiple for multiple guys?

Seth Trimble; Nov. 3, 2025 | UNC

I just felt like everybody was sharing the basketball. Sometimes I think we turned the ball over because we were sharing too much. I've never seen the alley-oop to two guys. I didn't even know what to say after that. 

But we've talked about good to great and not just settling for a good shot. I think we're good enough to get a great shot every possession. Central Arkansas throws a number of different ball-screen defenses at you, they'll switch it up, they'll pick up full court, they'll press, and I thought we handled that really well. 

Having 23 assists, I really like that and I told them after the game I was really proud of their preparation.

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