North Carolina Basketball Coach Had 'Spirited Conversations' With Players

Virginia Tech gave No. 18 North Carolina fits in the first half.

The Hokies and Tar Heels were tied 44-44 at halftime. UNC needed Henri Veesaar to have a big second half to allow North Carolina to improve to 23-6 with an 89-82 win over VT in front of 21,750 fans at Dean E. Smith Center on Saturday.

Veesaar scored a career-high 26 points to go along with seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

During his postgame news conference, UNC head coach Hubert Davis said he had strong conversations with his players at halftime amid the tie.

"We had some spirited conversations at halftime," Davis said, via USA Today. "I just want to dominate points in the paint… I’m straightforward and direct with them as well. 

"And I felt like, in the first half, we were settling, not persistent in trying to get to the paint. We had a couple of their bigs in foul trouble."

Davis wanted the ball to go to Veesaar. He also wanted to attack the paint.

"We wanted to establish Henri," Davis said. "When Henri is going offensively, it opens up everything for us offensively. 

"I challenged him in the second half as well, and I thought with him, Seth, and everyone else just putting their head down, getting to the basket, it allowed us to get to the free throw line, and then tonight, we’re able to hit our free throws.”

UNC finished with 34 points in the paint. The Tar Heels shot 77 percent from the free throw line, making 23 of their 30 attempts.

Davis was pleased with how Veesaar adjusted in the second half.

“I felt like he worked harder to catch the ball where he wanted," the UNC head coach said. "And I felt like in the first half, he was letting Virginia Tech dictate where he was catching the ball, which was too far out.

"And I felt like he worked extremely hard to catch the ball closer to the basket."

North Carolina will next host a 21-8 Clemson squad on Tuesday. The Tar Heels will then end their regular season at No. 1 Duke on Saturday.