North Carolina
Davis: The stakes are always high when we face each other
UNC senior guard RJ Davis previewed the regular season finale vs. Duke. Davis spoke about how Duke has improved since the first meeting, his mentality going through senior night & more
How have you seen him, I guess, you know, be different since the last time. What have you, what have you seen out of there? Um, the guard play has been really good for them. Um, obviously, you know, you know, flip is really good the way he does, but I feel like just, you know, from Rhodes to mccain and Proctor, they really have done a good job of just kind of controlling the game and stepping up when they, when it's needed. Um, and then I actually watched their past game to play against Duke. I mean, when we played against NC State, um, and Sean Stewart at the big time for them. So, um, I guess, you know, they're playing with a lot of Coms right now. So that's what I've been seeing lately recently. RJ. Is there a way to for you personally to try to prepare for them face guarding you if they do that again? Like, I don't know, how do you try to get ready for that mentally or physically or whatever, if that's gonna be, how the way that, uh, just be aware of it? I mean, I'm pretty sure it's gonna be able it's gonna be there. Um It's going to come. So, uh just kind of um knowing in practice that um most probably, probably try to do it today just to see how it feels. Um So, uh my other teammates could get involved, you know, last time they face guard, me Harris and Armando played really well and stepped up at big time moments, but um I know it's gonna happen, so I just gotta be prepared. I have to do a good job of just kind of setting my man up um taking open shots when I have it. Um And just when the double team does come, be able to kick it to one of my teammates when I knock it down. So um I think that's also just a respect thing as well, like I don't know one of the, yeah, they'll probably have like crate in their packs and do it. Yeah, so um I'll probably just just to get a rhythm and see how it feels. So I'm prepared for that Saturday. Mhm. Shots have teams been changing the way they defend. Yeah, I mean, I think teams are throwing all different types of defensive schemes. Um Notre Dame had a 69 dude on me the other night and then uh you know, Reese beat me in the U VA and then um stay the chat ball screens never had the ball. So um I've done seeing a lot of uh different defensive schemes. But at the same time, um you have to also pick your poison because, you know, we have Cormack who's a really great shooter and is able to get streak at any time. And um he's shown that throughout these past field games and throughout the whole year. So Inherit and he's a dominant force whether it's in the block or perimeter and then Mondo's Mondo. So, um but I mean, that just also speaks to how much of a dynamic team we are and how much key factors we have. So, um I def, I'm definitely expecting another big game from Cormack again as he did against Duke the first time last year. Mhm motivating. Yeah, it was definitely um a motivator just going into this year just because of how we uh finished off last year and um it didn't sit right with any of us and definitely not the coaching staff. So, uh we went into this year with just a chip on our shoulders just to kind of just put last year behind us and have a new year and have a new team, a refresh start and just go into each game with the mentality of like, you know, we're gonna win these games and kind of just do it all together. And so far we've been doing that all year and I think we, we play with a fire and the fire in our eyes and uh we wanna win. So, um that's where all that mentality and the energy is coming from like surrounding coast Davis. You're having some of that stuff. Um One thing I love about coach Davis is how he always always tells us to ignore the noise and I think he does a great job of doing it himself because he doesn't let it phase himself or in the locker room in between the lines of our team. So, um I mean, I think, you know, you're always gonna receive noise whether it's praise or criticism and it's, you can never control that. What you can control is how you prepare for these games, how you come into each day to practice and play. So, and overall you're just your energy and he's been a great coach. So I think um the way he's dealt with it, um I mean, I have a lot of respect for him and, and, you know, I don't see why the criticism comes but um that's something you can't control. Mm-hmm. How are you are growing? Mm-hmm. Yeah, I mean, first and foremost, he's always been a player's coach and e everything he says is, is just genuine and he just really wants us to succeed and experience the things he experienced as a coach. And that's one thing I loved about him because that's always been his main message. Um I never speaking to any of us, but just his uh progression throughout his years has been great. I mean, for his first year to go all the way to national championship and, you know, the following year with all these expectations and, um, how that went, uh, but the way that he was able to turn around just, uh, his growth has been amazing and for me just to play with him and be able to coach by coach Davis has been, uh, nothing but great to me. And then I couldn't ask for a better head coach. Um, the way he, you know, stays on us at, in practice and even the games, he make sure that none of us ever take the short cut route. And, uh, I think that's what keeps us going and, um, his mentality, his, you know, play calling his, um, passion in, in, in the huddles. I mean, just everything, uh, his progression has been great. Mhm. But also, you know, not looking. Yeah, I mean, it's definitely hard because I'm not gonna say and act like I don't think about it. Um, but, uh, I know for me mentally wise it's, it's better for me to stay in the moment, stay present rather than worry about something that I can't control that may happen in a month or two. So, um, just realizing what I have right now and, um, just kind of finishing out that you're strong because I don't know what next year may look like for me. So just go out there and just cherish every moment I have and, um, just stay in the present moment the season that. Mhm. Championship obviously does it feel like anything is just brighten normal and the stakes are this high. I mean, I think the stakes are always high. Whenever we reach each other, it doesn't matter if we're both having respectable seasons or whatnot, it's always gonna be, um, a highly intensity, um, energy type of game. But I think just the season that we're both having, I think, uh on both sides, we're, we're playing basketball and we're doing the best of our abilities and we're having UN C and Duke kind of uh season so far. So, um, you know, credit to them, they're a really good team and they've been having a phenomenal year as well as we are. So I'm expecting a big time game and the big time matchup and uh I don't expect the energy to be anything different or the anticipation because it's always gonna be up there whenever we play each other because the le mhm. Is that, is that the right way to you expect it to be? Yeah, I was actually thinking about leading up to the game like, um if I was gonna cry or not, like Lisa said a tear. Um but I wasn't, uh I think I was just more excited just to kind of share that moment with, you know, especially Armando um and his being his last year as a tar heel. Um and playing on the home court. Um, and just the rest of the guys, it was more of an excitement rather than just me being sad about it. Um, but I think that's the best way to put it and, uh, it probably hit me more like whenever the season comes to end. Mm-hmm. Well, I mean, I agree with Mando's statement and, um, I feel like he always shows up for those type of games and his, his passion is always there, his energy is always there, his confidence is there. Um And uh and for him to say that um I, I agree with it and I don't think there is a player that has loved the school like he has like has he um and for him just to, you know, be a uh a dominant player and then leave a legacy the way he did. Um I think there's no way to go out of the college like that. Yes. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah. Um Armando is like, he's like, it depends on how he feels. Um But one thing about him, he's a troll. So I think that's the best way to put it and the best way he shows his emotion and passion. Um But I think he gets us going definitely like before the games, uh he does like a little speech that gets us riled up. So um but the best way to put it for his passion is he's a troll. It's I mean, I couldn't even say it on here. So you him trolling um the pro the Twitter profile pics, the Twitter profile pics like he always change his profile pic. I remember I was his profile pitcher like my freshman year. Um and then bo was one like in the following year. So that's a good example. A still bow. We don't say no, I'm, I'm pretty sure like what you guys see is what we all see. Yeah, he is. Mm-hmm. Mhm. No, it was just natural. It was just like, really natural. Um, I just saw the chemistry we just rooting for each other. Um, so for everyone to just do that and it wasn't rehearsed or anything, it was more so like in the moment and it just came about years and, uh, I mean, it's a cliche thing to like it. Mhm. Kind of amazing. Mhm. Um, I just think he has the ability to, just to, you know, kind of turn off his person, uh, goofy personality and just be locked into the game and that's the type of player you wanna have on your side because he's always chippy, he's always ready to get down and do the dirty work. And, um, I mean, I just love playing with him and just to, just to see his, his fire and his energy. Um, and this type of team, team chemistry he has, uh Emma Harrison is a great player, but just to see how he is off the court and then once we get on to the court he's locked in and ready. Take someone's head off that same kind of element that, that Brady did a couple of years ago. That might have been, yeah, I think we feed off of Harrison's energy. Um, I think it's affectionate and the way he just, the energy he brings to the table into this team, it's been, uh, great for us and it's something that was needed, something that was missing. So, um, you know, definitely love having him as a, yeah, it seems like he's proud to have embraced it. Mhm. Yeah, that's fair to say. Um, I feel like Harrison has been here for four years. He's only been here for one, and just for, just because of who he is and, um, he never changes who he is and I think that's what, you know, why we love him and why the fans love him and he always brings his, you know, uh, his energy, his, uh, effort every day in practice and even in the game. So that's one player that we could always rely on that. He's always gonna bring it. And, um, I'm pretty sure everyone's glad he's a, he's a Carolina guy open down now. Mhm. Especially with IC M. Do you? I think we're in a good spot right now and, uh, we're doing a good job, is taking it one game at a time. So, uh, we're moving in the right direction and, you know, so Saturday being our last regular season game, we gotta continue to keep doing the things that we're doing, um, which is, you know, preparing well, um, playing together and overall just bring that, uh, intensity and energy into the game. So, um, we're on a good winning streak right now, so we just gotta stay in the present moment and just continue to keep doing what we're doing. Thank you.