UNC Men's Basketball Brings Smiles, Laughter to ACC Tipoff

At least one high-profile team in Chapel Hill appears to be having fun.

Head coach Hubert Davis, guard Seth Trimble and center Henri Veesaar were all in a jovial mood at the ACC Tipoff in Charlotte Tuesday afternoon, cracking smiles and telling jokes during their allotted 15 minutes at the podium. During Davis’ speaking time, one media member noted that Georgia Tech head coach Damon Stoudamire wanted to remind Davis of “all the assists” he provided him with during their time as teammates in the NBA.

Davis didn’t miss a beat.

“Can you remind him that we were 20-62 that year?” he said. “Didn’t make the playoffs. We were out of the playoff race in January. Let him know that, too, OK?”

The exchange set the tone for the rest of the Tar Heels’ session. Once Davis’ comments were done, he ceded the podium to Trimble.

“You can ask him about Ben & Jerry’s,” Davis said on his way to his seat, referring to Trimble’s recent purchase of the franchise location on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. Trimble chuckled and was ready to take his first question, but Davis hopped back up to the microphone.

“If you need dairy-free options,” he said, “there are no options there.” (Davis is lactose-intolerant)

“You are lying to all these people!” Trimble said. “He is lying, y’all. Do not believe him. He has not been, actually.”

Trimble was then asked about parts of his game which don’t get enough credit from the outside. He couldn’t resist cracking another smile as he answered.

“In the last couple of years, it’s been a huge goal of mine to, sorry, but ignore you guys,” he said to the assembled media. “I think I’ve done a really good job of doing it.”

The reporter who asked the question replied that he, personally, though Trimble was “awesome.”

“I appreciate you, my man,” Trimble said.

“Hear that one,” quipped Davis from the back.

That left Veesaar, the towering seven-foot transfer from Arizona. As the Estonian native ambled to the podium to begin his session, Davis once again piped up.

“Henri, give an opening statement!” he said.

“No,” Veesaar quickly replied. “I’m good. Coach had it. He said everything that needed to be said.”

Veesaar dutifully answered questions about UNC’s culture, the ACC’s place among the college basketball power conferences and his experiences in the town of Chapel Hill so far. As time wound down on Carolina’s 15 minutes, the session moderator saw his chance to join in the fun.

“We have just enough time for a closing statement,” he told Veesaar. “Would you like to make one?

To his credit, Veesaar rolled with the punch.

“I think I’ll ask Coach to come up here,” he said. “I know he’s really good at this stuff and he really loves all of this.”

Davis’ laughter could be heard throughout the ballroom.

Featured image via Todd Melet

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UNC Men’s Basketball Brings Smiles, Laughter to ACC Tipoff

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