Tar Heels Cruise Past USC Upstate, But Hubert Davis Wants More
The scoreboard says it was business as usual for North Carolina - an 80-62 win over USC Upstate, matching the program’s best start since the 2017-18 season under Roy Williams. But if you expected head coach Hubert Davis to be all smiles after win No. 9, you might’ve been surprised.
Despite a solid showing on paper, Davis wasn’t handing out high-fives and praise. Instead, he challenged his team to be tougher, especially on the glass.
Let’s start with the facts. The 14th-ranked Tar Heels were efficient offensively, shooting 51 percent from the floor and dishing out 20 assists on 28 made baskets - their best assist-to-field-goal ratio of the season.
That’s a clear sign of a team moving the ball with purpose and playing unselfishly, especially compared to their lone loss of the season, where that number dipped significantly. When Carolina shares the rock like this, they’re hard to stop.
They also kept a clean sheet in the turnover column - just six giveaways, their lowest of the season. In fact, it marked the third time in four games they’ve finished with fewer than 10 turnovers. That kind of ball control is exactly what you want from a team with championship aspirations.
Defensively, the Heels continued their season-long trend of keeping opponents in check. They’ve now held all 10 of their opponents under 75 points - their longest such streak to open a season since 2019-20.
And when UNC scores 80 or more? It’s practically automatic.
They’ve now won 17 straight when hitting that mark.
But Davis wasn’t satisfied, and here’s why: rebounding. Despite being the bigger, more athletic team, Carolina got outworked on the offensive glass in the first half.
They eventually won the rebounding battle 37-34, but it wasn’t the kind of physical dominance you’d expect against a USC Upstate team that came in at 6-6 and shot just 38 percent from the field. The Spartans missed 41 shots - that’s a lot of second-chance opportunities that UNC didn’t capitalize on early.
And that’s where Davis’ frustration came in. He knows December basketball can be tricky - especially during exam week - but he also knows what it takes to compete deep into March.
Rebounding isn’t just about size; it’s about effort, positioning, and toughness. And Davis clearly wants to see more of that from his group.
Now, despite the critique, there were plenty of bright spots - especially from the younger guys. Sophomore Jonathan Powell came off the bench and poured in a season-high 17 points, tying his career best from his West Virginia days. He knocked down six shots, including three from deep - the most points by a UNC reserve this season, edging out Derek Dixon’s 14 against Georgetown.
Speaking of Dixon, the freshman guard keeps trending upward. He notched a season-high four assists and continues to look more comfortable each time out. Another newcomer, Jaydon Young, found the bottom of the net from three-point range for the first time since the opener against Central Arkansas - a small but encouraging sign for Carolina’s depth.
And then there’s Caleb Wilson. The freshman phenom played through what he described as a foot injury and still managed to dominate.
He led both teams with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks - his seventh double-double of the season and his fourth game with at least 20 and 10. Wilson’s blend of size, skill, and motor is something special, and he’s quickly becoming the heartbeat of this team.
Henri Veesaar continued his consistent run with 14 points, making it 10 straight games in double figures. Luka Bogavac added 15, tying his season highs with five assists and three triples. He’s now hit double digits in nine of 10 games, giving UNC a reliable scoring option from the wing.
This was also the eighth time this season that four Tar Heels scored in double figures - a testament to their offensive balance. And while the Smith Center crowd saw another win (UNC is now 7-0 at home this season and 60-9 under Davis in Chapel Hill), the head coach clearly sees room for growth.
Carolina’s now 66-9 when scoring 80 or more points under Davis, and the program’s historic dominance at home continues - 496-90 all-time in the Smith Center, including a staggering 239-19 against non-conference opponents.
So yes, the Tar Heels are winning - and winning big. But Hubert Davis isn’t just chasing wins.
He’s building habits. And if his team can respond to his challenge, especially on the glass and in the grit department, this group has the tools to make a serious run when it matters most.