Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference opener for North Carolina and Florida State featured each team going on a run to grab the lead. The Seminoles run came in the first half where they were able to go on an 8-0 run and grab a halftime lead.

While the Seminoles extended that lead in the second half, it was UNC’s 22-0 run that saw them grab a 70-56 lead and never look back. The Tar Heels eventually won the game 78-70 to move to 7-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. 

It’s a big win in the middle of a tough non-conference stretch that will see UNC take on UConn, Oklahoma and Kentucky in the coming weeks.

But before we look ahead to that, let’s see what Hubert Davis had to say about his team’s performance.

On coming back from a deficit

“I thought the thing that we struggled with last year was down the stretch, being able to make the discipline and details. The free throws, the box out, not to turn the ball over, getting the loose ball. I thought that’s where we struggled at times last year, but I was just really proud of the guys (today). … To be honest with you, our press, that’s the first time that we’ve ever done it after made baskets. It’s usually after a dead ball or free throw, full court situations. We were pressing after make or miss. I went into the huddle and I said, ‘guys do you like this, do you want to continue to do this.’ And (they) said, ‘coach just keep doing it, let’s keep doing it.’ ”

Via Inside Carolina

New playmakers impacting R.J Davis

“I think it affects the quality of shots for everyone. Even at the beginning of the game, we weren’t making them but the ball was moving exactly the way it should. It just doesn’t stick at all. We just always, from an offensive standpoint, want to be good to great and we want to make the extra pass. And not only do we make the extra pass, I feel like our guys like they get more excited to see their teammates make shots or make the extra pass as opposed to them making their own shot. And so I loved the unselfishness of this team. Everybody shares the basketball and that’s something that’s a big part of our success on offense end in getting RJ and everybody else shots.”

Via Inside Carolina

Preparing for a battle against UConn

“I’m going to enjoy today. It’s very hard to win, it’s very difficult to win in this league. And so I’m going to enjoy today and be very proud of what the guys were able to accomplish today. And then I’ll be really excited about getting up to New York. I spent four years with the New York Knicks and always want to bring the guys at least one time per year to play in Madison Square Garden. It’s just a special place and to be able to do that next week and you have a chance to compete against the defending national champions, it’s going to be an atmosphere that I’m really excited to be a part of.”

Via Inside Carolina

On shots not falling early on

“I don’t know. I really don’t know. I said this before, Saturday afternoon games in the Smith Center and in conference, it’s pretty electric out there. So I had great energy and I was ready to go. But I don’t have a reason for it. It has been three games in a row in the Bahamas. Come home and play an emotional game Wednesday night against Tennessee and then two and a half days later play start ACC with an opponent 2 o’clock in the afternoon. We knew that we would get Florida State’s best shot.”

Via Inside Carolina

Story originally appeared on Tarheels Wire