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RJ Davis delivers, but Tar Heels have 'a lot to talk about'

R.J. Davis. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

North Carolina's RJ Davis delivers, but Tar Heels still have 'a lot to talk about'

By Max Rego | Last updated 2/27/24

You can't keep an elite scorer down for long. North Carolina guard R.J. Davis proved that Monday night.

Davis, coming off a woeful 1-of-14 showing in the Tar Heels' win at Virginia on Saturday, was a flamethrower all evening against Miami in the Dean Smith Center. The senior set an arena record with 42 points on 14-of-22 shooting from the field (7 of 11 from downtown), accounting for over half of No. 9 North Carolina's points in its 75-71 victory over the Hurricanes.

How's that for a bounce-back?

"Just all the credit to my work, my work ethic, my confidence," Davis told ESPN's Angel Gray afterward before being mobbed by his teammates.

In his fourth season in Chapel Hill, Davis has been the engine that makes this thing go. The New York native is averaging 21.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals and shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 41.1 percent from three and 89.6 percent from the free-throw line.

With five-star freshman Elliot Cadeau serving as the Tar Heels' primary facilitator, Davis has been tasked with increased scoring responsibilities throughout the season. And at nearly every turn, he has delivered. On Monday, his blend of handles, patience and shotmaking were on full display, as each bucket proved decisive.

"He put the team on his back," head coach Hubert Davis told reporters.

RJ setting a new career-high in style @ariidavis_

ESPN | #WhyNot4 pic.twitter.com/6Rgxd03PAE
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) February 27, 2024

Indeed he did, and the performance likely clinched ACC Player of the Year for the 6-foot guard. North Carolina has not had a player win the award since Justin Jackson won in 2016-17 — coincidentally, the season in which the Tar Heels won their most recent national title — but Davis is well on his way to doing so.

However, if North Carolina is to repeat the 2016-17 team's feat, those around Davis must be better. After all, even with those 42 points from the soon-to-be All-American, the Tar Heels struggled to close out the shorthanded Hurricanes. Miami, playing without guards Nigel Pak and Wooga Poplar, mounted a 14-3 run to cut North Carolina's lead to two with just over five seconds remaining.

The Tar Heels were able to close it out from there, but only after Jae'Lyn Withers grabbed an offensive rebound off Seth Trimble's second straight miss from the line, took a foul and made two free throws of his own.

"The best scenario for a coach is this one, is fortunate enough to get a win, but also have a lot to talk about," Davis said.

He sure does. North Carolina shot just 12 of 21 from the stripe on Monday. And if you take out the man of the night's 7-of-9 mark, the team went just 5 of 12.

Add in the fact that big man Armando Bacot had just five points (after his 10-point performance against Virginia), and the Tar Heels have much to work on going forward.

With a 1.5-game lead over Duke in the ACC standings, and matchups against N.C. State (Saturday), Notre Dame (March 5) and at the Blue Devils (March 9) looming, North Carolina needs more from the supporting cast to wrap up the conference title — and get closer to nabbing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

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