UNC Tar Heels basketball coach Hubert Davis discusses the win against Tennessee
Following UNC Basketball’s win over Tennessee in the ACC/SEC Challenge, Hubert Davis, Elliot Cadeau, Armando Bacot and RJ Davis offered their thoughts.
CHAPEL HILL — Harrison Ingram has made sure to mention something in nearly all of his interviews since joining UNC basketball ahead of the 2023-24 season.
“I play North Carolina basketball,” Ingram said after the No. 17 Tar Heels’ 100-92 win over No. 10 Tennessee on Wednesday night.
“I still feel like I’m living a dream. I’m just trying to have as much fun as I can.”
That contagious energy, passion, aggression and gratitude is something UNC coach Hubert Davis sees on a daily basis from Ingram, who played his first two seasons at Stanford before deciding to join the Tar Heels.
“I love it,” Davis said Wednesday night before a brief pause.
“It’s a great honor to be here (at UNC) — it is. There’s a number of people who wish they could put on that uniform and come out of that tunnel and play on that floor and play on that kind of stage.”
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Ingram seems eternally grateful to be a Tar Heel, and he made the most of his opportunity as one of UNC’s top performers through seven games. The 6-foot-7, 235-pounder is averaging 15 points and 6.9 rebounds.
“I feel like I have something to prove this whole year,” said Ingram, who had 20 points, six rebounds and three steals against the Volunteers inside a packed Smith Center to help UNC improve to 6-1.
“When I come in, I feel like I’m doubted, people don’t think I’m as good as I think I am. Every game, I feel like I’m coming out stronger and stronger than I felt last year.
Ingram showed that intensity from the start against the Vols with eight of UNC’s first 10 points, including a layup from Tennessee star Dalton Knecht that led to a left-handed dunk. Ingram let out a scream as he ran back to the defense.
Even in practices, things are intense, Ingram added.
“(Tuesday), in practice, we were practicing and dunking balls the day before the game,” he said. “Everyone has that intensity.”
Described as UNC’s “X Factor” by preseason All-American center Armando Bacot, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds against Tennessee, Ingram gives the Tar Heels versatility that has been difficult for opponents to deal with.
“It’s really just catching the poison with us,” Bacot said.
In the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, Ingram had a pair of double-takes. He didn’t get off the floor against Arkansas, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 40 minutes against the Razorbacks.
He had 20 points against Villanova after recording 16 points and 10 rebounds against Northern Iowa.
Every moment, every step of the way, Ingram continues to enjoy every experience with the Tar Heels, never shy about showing his emotions. He’s grateful every time he puts on his No. 55 UNC jersey.
“For me — what I think is needed here — in order to be the best you can be, there has to be a drive out of gratitude for being a part of this program. Harrison experiences that every day,” Davis said.
“His smile is on his face in training, and when he’s taking kicks – not just in games – it extends to everyone on the team. … To play in a game like this, with this type of crowd, not many people get the opportunity to do that. “You have the opportunity to do something like this, part of your motivation comes from being thankful. That’s something really special and needed here to be the best you can be.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at [email protected] or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
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