Hubert Davis is a Carolina man and his own man.
Davis was tabbed to succeed Roy Williams because of his basketball background, which began in earnest as an underrated player for Dean Smith and, after he proved himself on the college court, as a 12-year veteran in the NBA. He topped that off with nine seasons as an understated assistant for Williams, who knew Hubert perhaps better than anyone else and pushed vigorously for him to get the job.
Davis talks frequently about what Smith and Williams, plus the NBA and five years covering basketball for ESPN has meant to him.
So while he wants every player to have a college career with the same joy he experienced in Chapel Hill, Hubert isn’t afraid to make changes. Fans have noticed his open floor offense and attempts to change defenses in his first year. They have noticed his willingness to engage with the community more than Smith and even more than Williams. Behind the scenes are other tweaks that have given the program his signature.
The biggest change in name, image and likeness may be tonight’s first public appearance of his team along with Courtney Banghart’s crew. Smith only did it once and did not call it anything. Bill Guthridge didn’t do it in his three years at the helm. Matt Doherty put his name on it.
It really caught on with the Williams brand called Late Night with Roy, which he started at Kansas and continued through his 15 years there. From the name change to “Live Action,” it will be interesting to see what other alterations Davis makes tonight at 7:30 in the Smith Center.
Skits and dancing with cheerleaders that Williams hoped would take the pressure off his kids for when they started playing basketball for real? Some crowd participation in promotions? A more serious scrimmage that shows off the most experienced team in the country and introduces its new depth? Almost anything is possible.
“Live Action” is straight from Davis, who used the phrase during his first season, especially when he cut short an interview during a timeout at the Final Four to get back to his team. With input from his veteran players and assistant coaches, Hubert’s first version may include some features we have never seen before in such a setting. It would be just like him to incorporate brand new stuff with old traditions.
The official name “Live Action with Carolina Basketball” says as much.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
