How UNC basketball’s RJ Davis is handling an early-season test of his perseverance
The tattoo on R.J. Davis’ right shoulder says “Perseverance” and is some art he decided to add this past summer.
Little did he know.
The start of North Carolina’s basketball season has been anything than what he expected. The All-America guard can’t make a 3-pointer — or not enough of them, as more teams are defending him differently on the 3. The Tar Heels are a .500 team after eight games, albeit against a rugged nonconference schedule packed with games against Kansas, Auburn and Michigan State — and now Alabama, ranked 10th nationally and again a winner over the No. 20 Tar Heels, just as the Crimson Tide was in the NCAA Tournament last season.
Davis was 0-for-9 on 3-pointers and 4-for-20 from the field in the 89-87 loss to the Tide in the Sweet 16 game in Los Angeles. It was one reason he returned for another season at UNC and not make the jump to pro ball.
“I wanted that opportunity to get back at them,” Davis said Wednesday. “It was on my list.”
Davis got another shot at Alabama, only to go 1-for-11 on his 3’s. He finished with 18 points but on 7-of-24 shooting in a 94-79 loss in the ACC/SEC Challenge at the Smith Center on Wednesday.
Through eight games, Davis is shooting 24% from 3, hitting 15 of 62. That has come after nearly 40% shooting on 3’s last season.
He smiled when asked about the tat, about how much he has to lean on, well, perseverance.
“A lot, a lot.” he said. “It’s been a key word for me throughout my whole career here and just life in general, to continue to persevere through the hard times and even the good times.
“It’s about how you’re going to deal with it when things aren’t going your way. Are you going to be negative or going to be positive? That’s why I have the tat, as a reminder.”
Davis has had his share of good times, the games when the shooting stroke feels pure, the shots are dropping and the Heels are winning. He has been to the Final Four. The Heels have been a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Davis went into the season realizing something of a repeat of last season — his 784 points — could make him the Heels’ all-time leading scorer, passing former All-America Tyler Hansbrough.
But other teams are taking a different approach and making the 3-point shot literally a taller task for Davis, a 6-footer, while also doubling on him at times.
The Tide did not go into the game with a plan of matching its star guard, Mark Sears, against the Heels’ star guard and let the best man win. Alabama had 6-11 Jarin Stevenson, 6-8 Derrion Reid and 6-7 Mouhamed Dioubate alternating on Davis.
“Just different guys, all 6-5 and up with great length,” Davis said. “That was their game plan.”
While the long ball did not drop, Davis tried to compensate by taking the drive when it was there, trying to get to the free-throw line, trying to be the leader in the huddle.
“We’ve got to stay together through the hard times,” he said. “Because it’s not going to be pretty, not going to be easy, especially against the teams we’ve been playing.”
What have the Heels been lacking that is needed?
“Tougher, effort, enthusiasm, energy, all of the above,” he said. “All those details that come with basketball. You can’t play basketball without any energy or joy.”
UNC coach Hubert Davis remains confident R.J. Davis, like his team, will regroup and play better. The 3’s, the coach said, will drop.
“Yes, teams are loading up on him,” Davis said. “Coming off ball screens they’re trapping him, they’re putting physical big guys on him. It’s hard for him to get loose on screens. We’ve got to find a way to get him more open looks.
“But that’s an opportunity for others to step up, as well. It’s not the University of R.J., even though I love to have coached him. It’s the University of North Carolina, so we’ve all got to step up.”
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
