RJ Davis’ hot streak, bench production and more takeaways for Hubert Davis’ 9-3 Tar Heels
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) – North Carolina’s non-conference schedule is officially complete, leaving 19 ACC games on the schedule.
On Friday, UNC surpassed the century milestone with a 105-60 home victory over Charleston Southern. In front of a sold-out crowd, six players scored in double figures.
After a win against Florida State in early December, the team enters conference play with a 9-3 record and a No. 9 ranking in the AP Top 25. The Tar Heels lead the ACC in scoring with 86.3 points per game.
“I think this group has shown toughness and resilience, and I think going into ACC play, we’re ready,” Davis said. “From the starting five all the way to the bench, everyone finds a way to contribute, and everyone’s always happy for each other’s success.”
During the 2022-23 season, UNC finished eighth in the ACC, and its season ended with a loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament.
North Carolina last won the ACC regular season in 2019, and the squad last won the conference tournament in 2016.
Here are some patterns to keep an eye on as the team completes its ACC campaign.
RJ DAVIS’ RENAISSANCE
RJ Davis’ recent scoring run — eight straight 20-point games — has improved the Tar Heels’ offence and added a new dimension to it.
Davis is now averaging 21.6 points per game on 44.2% shooting, a career high. He’s making a career-high 38.9% of his 3-point attempts. Friday was his first career double-double with points and assists, and he became the first UNC player to do so since Kendall Marshall in 2012.
“He’s in a really good rhythm,” remarked Hubert Davis. “This year, his leadership has been outstanding.” His defence has been outstanding. There are extremely few offensive players who can score both with the ball in their hands and off the ball, and still be able to distribute, get other people involved, and he can do that.”
Davis ranks first among ACC players in scoring. His season-high was a 30-point effort against Arkansas in the Bahamas, helping North Carolina go on a second-half run to defeat the Razorbacks.
For Davis, a season full of career bests results from a sharper mental approach. His gradual progression across his four years has him leading the team in scoring for the first time.
“I think it’s happened naturally, through my freshman year all the way to now,” RJ Davis said. “There’s been moments in different years from freshman to now, just seeing the game a little bit but also seeing what’s around me. Going into this year, I knew the team we had. I’ve been here for four years, and everyone was new. So just me stepping into that leadership role, being more vocal and knowing myself, knowing who I am. That was big for me.”
TRUE ROAD TESTS COMING
North Carolina returned to the Smith Center after a 27-day on Friday. But next week, the team will leave town once again.
As much as the Tar Heels have been away from Chapel Hill, they have yet to play a true road game.
UNC’s next three games are all taking place in opposing arenas — at Pitt, at Clemson and at N.C. State. This season, the team is 3-3 in neutral-site games. A few of those games still had lopsided fanbases, but nonetheless, North Carolina hasn’t yet played on an opponent’s home court.
“I think Madison Square Garden helped the most,” Seth Trimble said about neutral environments helping the team before the road trip. “I think UConn had the biggest traveling crowd. But games like that definitely can help us. You’re just playing against a sixth man, really.”
North Carolina went 4-7 on the road last year. Its lone non-conference game was a loss against Indiana.
UNC lost its last road matchup to Pittsburgh, 76-74, and a resume to conference play will begin in that environment. The Panthers won both meetings against North Carolina in 2023 by a combined three points.
“I know us four returners, we’re very hungry to play Pitt again,” Trimble said. “They’re a good team. They were a good team last year, but we feel like we let them get away with both games last year. So we need to make sure that we take our business”
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