Tag: ACC Tipoff

Hubert Davis praises closeness and passion of this year’s team at ACC Tipoff

Despite UNC having a roster filled with underclassmen and transfers, head coach Hubert Davis is ecstatic about who he has to work with this coming season.

Entering his fourth season as head coach of the UNC men’s basketball team, Hubert Davis will have one of his youngest rosters to work with.

North Carolina welcomes freshmen James Brown, Drake Powell and Ian Jackson. Powell and Jackson are expected to have multiple starts between them, while Brown is part of a suddenly-deep rotation at center with juniors Jalen Washington and Ven-Allen Lubin.

Other underclassmen on the Tar Heels also have sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau, freshman guard Dante Mayo Jr., sophomore Russell Hawkins and freshman John Holbrook.

Rounding out UNC’s roster is reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, defensive ace Seth Trimble, junior transfer Cade Tyson, fifth-year Jae’Lyn Withers and senior Elijah Davis, who is Hubert’s son.

Despite North Carolina’s new look, Hubert spoke highly of his players – both old and new – at the ACC Tipoff event on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C.

“I’ve been really pleased with this group in terms of their commitment and wanting to be a team,” Hubert said at the Tar Heels’ press conference during ACC Tipoff. “It’s not just on the court, but off the court. Everyone goes to the meal room, where they will move individual tables together so everybody’s sitting at one table. I know that sounds small and insignificant, but it’s of tremendous significance for us – to become a team and having a desire, a passion and a thirst to be one – and to be the best that we can be. Also, something that sticks out is just the way that each one of the players has valued the gifts and talents that others have brought to the table. We always say you have to acknowledge it, you have to celebrate it and our guys do that every day, whether it’s practice or off the court. That’s just going to be huge for us.”

There’s just under a month until UNC’s first regular-season game, when it welcomes in-state opponent Elon to the Dean Dome on Monday, Nov. 4 for a 9 p.m. tip-off. Hubert still has plenty of time to figure out which rotations work best for him, but luckily for Hubert, he has the good issue of talent sprinkled across the roster.

North Carolina’s off-the-court actions might not seem like a big deal to fans, but trust me, it’ll help big-time on the court.

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Jamir Watkins: ‘I feel like I could be a first-rounder, maybe even get into the lottery’

Jamir Watkins, currently ranked No. 59 on ESPN’s Top 100, has established himself as one of the nation’s top returning college players. After averaging 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in his first season with Florida Sate after transferring from VCU, …

Jamir Watkins, currently ranked No. 59 on ESPN’s Top 100, has established himself as one of the nation’s top returning college players. After averaging 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in his first season with Florida Sate after transferring from VCU, and Watkins was named All-ACC Honorable Mention.

Watkins is gearing up for his final season at FSU, where he has emerged as the team leader. Last season, he showed he was much more than a defender, he had 19 consecutive double-figure scoring games, as the 6-foot-7 wing continues to prove his versatility on both ends of the floor. After initially declaring for the NBA draft in April 2024 and entering the transfer portal in May, Watkins decided to return to Florida State, as he seeks to improve his game further with another season under Head Coach Leonard Hamilton.

The Trenton, NJ native recently sat down with HoopsHype to discuss his decision to withdraw from the NBA draft, his development as a player, and his expectations for the upcoming season.

Hubert Davis praises RJ Davis’ all-around leadership at ACC Tipoff

RJ Davis is the ultimate leader. According to UNC head coach Hubert Davis, RJ’s leadership started the second he stepped on campus.

Ever since he stepped on campus ahead of the COVID-altered, 2020-2021 college basketball season, RJ Davis has carved out a name for himself as one of the North Carolina Tar Heels’ all-time greats.

Davis is one of the best pure scorers I can ever remember playing at UNC. Davis averaged 8.4 points per game and started just 10 of North Carolina’s 29 games in his freshman year. Since then, Davis has started 108 of 109 games and is fresh off the best season of his career, averaging 21.1 points per game and winning ACC Player of the Year.

One could make the case that RJ didn’t become a leader until the 2023-2024 campaign, but according to Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis at ACC Tipoff on Thursday, RJ has been a leader since Day One.

“It’s not a transition from last year to this year,” Hubert said at UNC’s press conference during ACC Tipoff. “RJ has been a leader in the five years that he’s been here. One of the things that we talk at great length, with each of our players is for them to be elite in three areas: on the court, off the court, in the classroom. I can’t think of anybody better than RJ, he’s checked all three of those boxes for five straight years. He’s had a historic career: ACC Player of the Year, First Team All-American. For him to stay in that spot and be disconnected with the others, his ability to reach out and connect the three freshmen, the three transfers, the four walk-ons and being able to bind us together as a team, has been something that’s been really special to all of us.”

You can bet that this coming season, especially with no more Armando Bacot, Harrison Ingram or Cormac Ryan, RJ will become an even better leader. RJ is THE veteran – both on and off the court – and UNC is extremely lucky he decided to return for one final year.

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Seth Trimble talks about his expected 2024-2025 role

Seth Trimble is back for Year Three, one that he’s expected to take an added leadership role in. Hear what Trimble said at ACC Tipoff Thursday.

Doesn’t Seth Trimble, undoubtedly the UNC men’s basketball team’s defensive ace, scream everything it means to be a Tar Heel?

Though Trimble has only three starts over the past two seasons, he’s never complained once about his role off the bench. Trimble loves North Carolina so much, he even decided to withdraw his name from the transfer portal earlier this offseason and return for his junior year.

Trimble’s role increased significantly last season, as his minutes nearly doubled (9.7 to 17.1 minutes per game) and he set career highs in points (5.2) and rebounds (2.1) per game.

On Thursday at the ACC Tipoff event in Charlotte, N.C., Trimble spent a few minutes talking about his evolution and expectations for an even greater role this coming season, a role which is expected to include additional leadership on a younger team.

“To me, to step into a role of being a much bigger leader than I was last year and just to play a more complete game this year,” Trimble said during UNC’s ACC Tipoff press conference. “To play my game, that’s one thing that me and Coach Davis discuss all the time, is just to do me, play free, play whatever it is. I think the biggest thing I have to do this year is lead. RJ is our guy, is our leader the one we look up to. But he can’t be the only one. If he’s the only one this year won’t go well. So I really gotta step into that role.”

I witnessed a bunch of great leadership from Trimble on the court last season. When RJ Davis went out and took a breather, or when Cormac Ryan, Armando Bacot or Harrison Ingram took a breather, Trimble stood out. He acted as North Carolina’s unofficial Sixth Man, pointed where his teammates needed to be on defensive assignments and was always one of the first to celebrate a big play.

Trimble loves the Tar Heels and the Tar Heels love Trimble. We’re extremely grateful for at least one more season with the pride of Menomonee Falls.

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RJ Davis praises freshman teammate for maturity and skill at ACC Tipoff

RJ Davis spent part of his day at ACC Tipoff praising one of his freshman teammates. Who exactly was RJ talking about?

Even if he doesn’t want to admit it, RJ Davis is the grandpa on this year’s UNC men’s basketball roster.

Davis, now entering his fifth year on Chapel Hill, is coming off his best season in which he was named ACC Player of the Year. Davis averaged a career-high 21.2 points per game, became one of the nation’s top perimeter shoots and, most important, showed he was the Tar Heels’ go-to guy when they needed a clutch bucket.

On Thursday, Oct. 10, Davis spent his day at the ACC Tipoff event in Charlotte, N.C. alongside teammate Seth Trimble and head coach Hubert Davis. Instead of choosing to focus on his veteran leadership within what will be a much younger North Carolina squad, Davis spent some time praising one of his freshman teammates: 4-star center James Brown.

With Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram leaving for the NBA, Brown will be counted on to provide some big minutes down low.

“James Brown has been tremendous, just in practice he’s been asking questions, he’s been learning on the fly,” Davis said in UNC’s press conference at ACC Tipoff. “One thing that I love about him is his eagerness and his competitive edge. He’s always willing to learn, but he’s always willing to compete. Even if he makes mistakes, he’s going to do it by going hard. James has been great, he’s great defensively, he’s able to guard guards on the perimeter and bigs down low. He’s going to improve and progress throughout his years of playing here, but it’s kind of just taking him under my wing a little bit: telling him how to set the screens and whenever I snake, kind of just being there on the roll.”

Brown comes to UNC from Link Academy in Branson, Mo. Brown averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, but most appealing to Tar Heel fans, perhaps, is his team-best 29 blocks and impressive .571 field goal percentage.

If Brown is this hyped by the Tar Heels’ best player, expect to see him plenty on the court this coming season.

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What We Heard from ACC Tipoff: Hunter Tyson

Clemson graduate senior Hunter Tyson spoke to The Clemson Insider on Wednesday at the 2022 ACC Tipoff at the Westin in Charlotte. Tyson detailed what led him to the decision to return for a fifth season. “Probably, several different reasons,” he …

Clemson graduate senior Hunter Tyson spoke to The Clemson Insider on Wednesday at the 2022 ACC Tipoff at the Westin in Charlotte.

Tyson detailed what led him to the decision to return for a fifth season.

“Probably, several different reasons,” he said. “One thing would be the relationships I’ve built with my teammates and my coaches. Clemson is such a special place, and I was not quite ready to leave yet.”

Coming into his fifth season, Tyson has been a constant for the Tigers. After suffering a broken clavicle versus Florida State last season, the forward is looking to remain healthy and perform the best he can this season.

“I want to be the best here I can,” Tyson said. “We have a lot of young guys, but we also have some experience, and just try and do everything I can do to get the best out of everyone on the team and go as far as we can.”

Tyson, who scored double-figure points 13 times last season, has the experience and maturity to be a key leader for the Tigers.

Being a leader, Tyson is giving guidance to some younger players who may be stepping into more significant roles for the first time.

“Telling them that I’ve been through it and I know what you guys are going through,” Tyson said. “Being a freshman can be hard and your confidence can get low sometimes, but if you stick with it, it will be worth it in the end.”

Over the summer, the team went on a trip to France, which both junior guard Chase Hunter and Tyson regarded as important in building team morale and unity.

Tyson reflected on what that trip meant when it comes to building team culture.

“That trip was a surreal experience,” he said. “Not only was it great for basketball, but as far as the team, it really brought us closer together and I really think that will help us in the long run.”

It may be the trip to France and the overall excitement for the start of the season, but Tyson emphasized the team’s confidence and energy is at a high.

“The energy is really high,” he said. “We have a really good environment going on with the guys. Everyone’s really excited for practice every day and just trying to get better in every way possible. So, when the season comes, we will be ready.”

With the season opener versus The Citadel quickly approaching, Tyson is looking to hold onto each memory he makes with the team this season.

“Being able to spend every day with the guys,” he said. “We will [have] ups and downs together through the season and the experiences that we’ll share, that will last a lifetime.”

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

1-on-1 with Brad Brownell from ACC Tipoff

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Clemson Insider is live from the 2022 ACC Tipoff at the Westin in Charlotte. TCI went one-on-one for an interview with Clemson head coach Brad Brownell. Check out our exclusive interview from the ACC Tipoff in the following …

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Clemson Insider is live from the 2022 ACC Tipoff at the Westin in Charlotte.

TCI went one-on-one for an interview with Clemson head coach Brad Brownell.

Check out our exclusive interview from the ACC Tipoff in the following video:

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!