UNC Eyes Redemption in Atlanta, Fueled by Momentum and a Message from a Super Bowl-Bound Tar Heel
ATLANTA - Hubert Davis knows how to connect with his team. This week, the North Carolina head coach turned to an unexpected source of motivation: a sideline moment from former Tar Heel quarterback Drake Maye, now preparing to start in Super Bowl LX for the New England Patriots.
In the clip, Maye is seen on the sideline during the AFC Championship game in Denver, visibly drained, telling offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, “This is hard, good God.”
McDaniels’ response? “It’s gonna be hard, but look, this’ll be the most rewarding six and a half minutes of our lives if we can get it done.”
Davis saw that exchange as more than just football talk - it was a blueprint for grit, and he shared it with his team.
“That hardness is something you have to walk towards and embrace,” Davis said Friday. “I told the guys, ‘I know it’s hard, but if we can figure out how to get this done in the next two months, this is something that could be impactful for the rest of your life.’”
Now, with February underway and the postseason looming, No. 16 UNC is entering the stretch run with a clear sense of urgency.
Saturday’s matchup at Georgia Tech (2 p.m. ET, ACC Network) is the next step in that journey.
This isn’t just another game - it’s a chance for UNC to stay hot, maintain momentum, and avenge a recent stumble in Atlanta. The last time the Tar Heels visited McCamish Pavilion, they were stunned by the Yellow Jackets in a game that preceded a high-stakes showdown with Duke.
“Thanks for reminding me,” Davis said with a laugh when asked about that loss. “I wouldn’t characterize it as a trap game at all.
It’s an ACC game against a worthy opponent that has our full attention. And they have our full attention because they’re worthy of it.”
And they are. Georgia Tech may be 11-10 overall and just 2-6 in ACC play, but they’ve got weapons - especially in transition.
Davis pointed to their ability to drive, shoot the three, and create defensive mismatches. Guard Kowacie Reeves Jr. leads the way, averaging 15.9 points per game and giving Tech a go-to scorer who can heat up quickly.
Still, if Carolina plays to its standard, it should have the edge. The Tar Heels are coming off a gritty double-digit comeback win on the road against No.
17 Virginia - a victory that showed both resilience and resolve. That kind of performance, especially on the road, can galvanize a team.
But Davis isn’t letting his group get comfortable. With a bye week to reset and refocus, he’s been hammering home the importance of sustaining momentum - and not just riding it.
“When you have that momentum, you have to fight to keep that momentum,” Davis said. “But when you don’t have it, you have to fight to get it.”
That fight has shown up in practice this week. Davis identified four key areas that need tightening: defensive rebounding, offensive execution, crashing the offensive glass, and free-throw shooting.
And the rebounding issue isn’t just a stat - it’s a mindset. UNC gave up 30 offensive boards over its last two games. While they survived those lapses thanks to hot shooting and low turnovers, Davis knows that formula won’t hold forever.
“We’ve been able to sustain that in getting wins because they haven’t been able to convert on it, we haven’t turned the ball over, and we’ve shot the ball really well,” Davis said. “That’s not sustainable.”
The key? Finishing defensive possessions with a rebound - something that’s been slipping as players look to get out in transition too quickly. Against Virginia, guards Jonathan Powell and Seth Trimble led the team in rebounding - a testament to hustle, but also a sign that the bigs weren’t sealing the deal.
Still, Davis sees the silver lining in the team’s collective effort on the glass.
“If we can get back to our rebounding dominance,” Davis said, “we should leave Atlanta - for the second time this season - with a win.”
That’s the goal. And if the Tar Heels can channel the same toughness that’s propelling one of their own to the NFL’s biggest stage, they might just be on their way to something special themselves.