What Hubert Davis said after loss to Michigan State

The North Carolina Tar Heels suffered their first loss of the 2025-26 season, falling to Michigan State by double digits in Fort Myers. While UNC had a 22-15 lead, Michigan State roared back in the first half and took a five-point lead into halftime.

UNC never recovered.

The Tar Heels trailed the entire second half and while they trimmed the lead down to three at one point, the Spartans were too much to overcome. Michigan State got hot from the field while UNC's shooting struggles were costly in the game.

Following the game, head coach Hubert Davis met the media to discuss his team's performance. Here is what Davis had to say after the team's first loss.

All quotes via Inside Carolina.

On what Hubert Davis learned from this game

“I think that’s a good question. I mean, the game just ended. After a game, I don’t say very much to them, I want to watch the game over again. I would say initially, just from a defensive standpoint, being able to play at that high level and being able to sustain it – as I said before going into the game, percentage wise defensively, we were top-10, and we allow them to shoot 51% from the field. That just can’t happen. 46 points in the paint just doesn’t work.

“I thought we were good offensively when we changed sides of the floor, got the defense moving. I’m looking forward to looking at the game again and just being able to break it down and be able to really see some things that that I think we can improve on, and then some things that I thought we did well, and to encourage them from that standpoint as well.”

On what was missing when Michigan State went on runs?

“One of the things that we’ve talked about is when we get to that level that we’re playing at on both ends of the floor, to be able to sustain it, and in order to win games like that, you have to do that for long periods of time. You don’t have to be perfect but have longer periods of time, and so just discipline and details.

“They got 46 points in the paint, defending without fouling even though they only went to the free throw maybe six or seven times. Loose balls, offensive rebounds, they got 12. And then on the offensive end, just being able to execute, you know, I feel like we had some open shots from the perimeter and we didn’t shoot the ball very well. But after the game, I told the guys, it’s an opportunity for us to learn and to grow, and that’s what we’ll do here.”

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: What Hubert Davis said after loss to Michigan State