By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — This is not how RJ Davis envisioned his fifth college season starting.
The reigning ACC Player of Year and consensus All-American is struggling to find his perimeter shot (career-low 24.2% from 3-point range). No. 20 Carolina (4–4) is off to its worst start in 23 years and likely will be unranked next week after Wednesday’s 94–79 loss to No. 10 Alabama extended the Tar Heels’ losing streak to three.
“I don’t like to lose at all, especially from the success I’ve had here,” said Davis, who leads UNC in scoring at 18.4 points per game. “This is not a great start to the year. But one thing about me — I’m going to remain positive through the ups and downs right now. Not shooting the ball well. But I’m just continuing to be a leader and lean on my teammates.”
Davis scored 18 points but made only 1 of 11 3-point attempts. He was 8 of 24 from the floor, marking the fourth time he’s taken that many shots in his career. UNC has lost all four, including two against the Crimson Tide. Davis was held to one 3-pointer (or none) five times last season, but it has already happened four times this season.
Through it all, Davis is trying to battle as UNC has navigated the program’s toughest early schedule in 57 years with three top-10 opponents, including the top two teams.
“It sucks right now,” Davis said. “I know it’s easier to get down on yourself and be negative when things are not going your way. Shots are not falling; we’re losing games. But it’s basically how do you respond? How do you react? That’s really my main message to the team because I believe in positivity and joyfulness because it really thrives, and it helps the team win a lot.”
Carolina needs more consistency from Davis. After only seven games last season with a game score of less than 9.0 (Carolina won all seven), he’s already had four this season (UNC is 1–3 in those games), including Tuesday’s 8.3.
Davis has tried to be an impactful voice on the team. During a timeout early in the second half, he spoke up in the huddle about the team missing too many boxouts and falling short on energy plays.
“It’s just being a leader for these guys,” Davis said. “I’ve been there before where things weren’t going our way as a team. So, just staying together through the hard times. It’s not going to be pretty and not going to be easy, especially with the teams we are playing. We just have to stay together.”
Davis emphasized that the Tar Heels must be tougher and better with their effort, enthusiasm and energy.
“All those are little details that come with basketball,” he said. “You can’t play basketball without any energy or joy, even communication. I think that’s where you can lean off of and find your joy and move the needle a little bit. We’ve just got to do those little details and little things for us to be a really good team that I know we can be.”
RJ Davis said Coach Hubert Davis stayed positive with the team after the game, emphasizing that the key is for every player to make a commitment.
“He knows the potential of his team is through the roof, but we just buy in on the little things, and we’ll be more than fine,” RJ Davis said. “We have a lot of talented players here, but it’s just got to be those energy, effort, toughness plays that are going to make us win.”
Davis is adjusting to not having the steady presence inside Armando Bacot provided, as well as the extra attention opponents are giving him on defense. Those are likely related.
Coach Roy Williams always bemoaned that he shouldn’t have to coach effort, and that lament came to mind many times in the Alabama game as defensive lapses led to many easy baskets.
“We just have to be better on both ends of the floor,” Davis said. “It’s really about effort, the little plays that we’re just not making — the 50/50 loose balls, the mixed boxouts, those just add on, and then we just get caught up in our head a little bit. We’ve got to do a better job as a team to buy in on that and to the energy and the effort plays, and then the rest takes care of themselves.”
His lower shooting percentage is likely related to his tougher shots this season. The 6–0 Davis had several Alabama players defending him, all much taller, including 6–11 Jarin Stevenson, 6–11 Grant Nelson, 6–8 Derrion Reid and 6–7 Mouhamed Dioubate. When Davis drove many times, 6–11 center Clifford Omoruyi was there to challenge him and close any gaps.
“Any time I drive, they’re in the gaps,” Davis said. “Teams are doing a good job of keying on me. I’ve just got to do a better job of finding my teammates when I’m double-teamed.”
The chemistry between UNC’s guards and the big man by committee of Jalen Washington, Jae’Lyn Withers, Ven-Allen Lubin and Ty Claude hasn’t been smooth and needs to improve. Those four combined for 19 points against Alabama.
“The guards have got to do a better job of just setting our man up,” Davis said, adding that they must realize that the weak-side shot-blockers will be coming. “That way, he could get the big lead on the screen and able to set a good firm screen, and we’re able to create a lead, and then basically playing coverage, make the big either choose us or choose a big. I think it’s just a two-way street of connectivity that we have to do a better job on from us and the bigs. We’ll get there. I know we will, and we do a good job of it in spurts.”
Davis and the Tar Heels can build momentum and try fixing their issues starting Saturday when Georgia Tech (4–4) visits the Smith Center at 2 p.m. (ACC Network) in the ACC opener for both teams.
UNC season statistics
| Team | League | Overall | NET* |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 5 Duke | 6–0 | 17–1 | 2 |
| No. 18 Clemson | 6–1 | 16–4 | 30 |
| No. 14 Virginia | 5–1 | 16–2 | 13 |
| Miami | 4–2 | 15–4 | 36 |
| N.C. State | 4–2 | 13–6 | 29 |
| Virginia Tech | 4–3 | 15–5 | 49 |
| No. 22 North Carolina | 3–3 | 15–4 | 27 |
| SMU | 3–3 | 14–5 | 32 |
| Stanford | 3–3 | 14–5 | 67 |
| No. 23 Louisville | 3–3 | 13–5 | 15 |
| Syracuse | 3–3 | 12–7 | 75 |
| California | 2–4 | 14–5 | 60 |
| Wake Forest | 2–4 | 11–8 | 65 |
| Georgia Tech | 2–4 | 11–8 | 142 |
| Boston College | 2–4 | 9–10 | 157 |
| Notre Dame | 1–5 | 10–9 | 81 |
| Florida State | 1–5 | 8–11 | 116 |
| Pittsburgh | 1–5 | 8–11 | 120 |
* — Through Wednesday games
Tuesday’s results
Florida State 65, Miami 63
N.C. State 80, No. 18 Clemson 76, OT
SMU 91, Wake Forest 79
Wednesday’s games
No. 22 North Carolina 91, Notre Dame 69
Boston College 65, Pittsburgh 62
Virginia Tech 76, Syracuse 74
Saturday’s games
No. 22 North Carolina at No. 14 Virginia, noon, ESPN2
No. 18 Clemson at Georgia Tech, noon, ACC Network
N.C. State at Pittsburgh, noon, ESPNU
Wake Forest at No. 5 Duke, noon, The CW
Miami at Syracuse, 2 p.m., ACC Network
Virginia Tech at No. 23 Louisville, 2:15, The CW
Florida State at SMU, 4 p.m., ACC Network
Wake Forest at No. 5 Duke, noon, The CW
Boston College at Notre Dame, 6 p.m., ACC Network
California at Stanford, 8 p.m., ACC Network
Monday’s game
No. 23 Louisville at No. 5 Duke, 7 p.m., ESPN
Tuesday’s games
Wake Forest at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m., ACC Network
No. 14 Virginia at Notre Dame, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Syracuse at N.C. State, 7 p.m., ESPN U
Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech, 8 p.m., ACC Network
| Date | Month/day | Time | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV/ record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | ||||
| 24 | Friday | L, 78–76 | vs. No. 13 BYU in SLC | Exhib. |
| 29 | Wednesday | W, 95–53 | vs. Winston-Salem St. | Exhib. |
| November | ||||
| 3 | Monday | W, 94–54 | vs. Central Arkansas | 1–0 |
| 7 | Friday | W, 87–74 | vs. No. 19 Kansas | 2–0 |
| 11 | Tuesday | W, 89–74 | vs. Radford | 3–0 |
| 14 | Friday | W, 97–53 | vs. N.C. Central | 4–0 |
| 18 | Tuesday | W, 73–61 | vs. Navy | 5–0 |
| Fort Myers Tip-Off | ||||
| 25 | Tuesday | W, 85–70 | vs. St. Bonaventure | 6–0 |
| 27 | Thursday | L, 74–58 | vs. No. 10 Michigan State | 6–1 |
| December | ACC/SEC Men’s Challenge | |||
| 2 | Tuesday | W, 67–64 | at Kentucky | 7–1 |
| ————————— | ||||
| 7 | Sunday | W, 81–61 | vs. Georgetown | 8–1 |
| 13 | Saturday | W, 80–62 | vs. USC Upstate | 9–1 |
| 16 | Tuesday | W, 77–58 | vs. ETSU | 10–1 |
| CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta | ||||
| 20 | Saturday | W, 71–70 | vs. Ohio State | 11–1 |
| ————————— | ||||
| 22 | Monday | W, 99–51 | vs. East Carolina | 12–1 |
| 30 | Tuesday | W, 79–66 | vs. Florida State | 13–1, 1–0 ACC |
| January | ||||
| 3 | Saturday | L, 97–83 | at SMU | 13–2, 1–1 |
| 10 | Saturday | W, 87–84 | vs. Wake Forest | 14–2, 2–1 |
| 14 | Wednesday | L, 95–90 | at Stanford | 14–3, 2–2 |
| 17 | Saturday | L, 84–78 | at California | 14–4, 2–3 |
| 21 | Wednesday | W, 91–69 | vs. Notre Dame | 15–4, 3–3 |
| 24 | Saturday | 2 p.m. | at No. 14 Virginia | ESPN |
| 31 | Saturday | 2 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | ACCN |
| February | ||||
| 2 | Monday | 7 p.m. | vs. Syracuse | ESPN |
| 7 | Saturday | 6:30 | vs. No. 5 Duke | ESPN |
| 10 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | at Miami | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 14 | Saturday | 2 p.m. | vs. Pittsburgh | ESPN |
| 17 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | at N.C. State | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 21 | Saturday | 1 p.m. | at Syracuse | ABC |
| 23 | Monday | 7 p.m. | vs. No. 23 Louisville | ESPN |
| 28 | Saturday | 6:30 or 8:30 | vs. Virginia Tech | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| March | ||||
| 3 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. No. 18 Clemson | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 7 | Saturday | 6:30 | at No. 5 Duke | ESPN |
| 10–14 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament | Spectrum Center, Charlotte |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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