RJ Davis finds rhythm in 26-point performance as UNC men's basketball takes down SMU

Little has been easy for RJ Davis this season. 

With 3.4 seconds left on the shot clock on Tuesday, Elliot Cadeau inbounded the ball to Jalen Washington. Cadeau then set a screen for Davis, who curled off of it and received the ball from Washington. He took one dribble and threw up a desperation heave from well beyond the arc over the seven-foot-two Samet Yiğitoğlu as the time expired. 

It banked around and in. Davis put his arms in the air and looked up.

“I was thanking the basketball gods for that one,” he said. “Wash told me that was some BS.”

Despite the answered prayer, Tuesday night is the easiest the game has looked for the fifth-year guard this season. Davis led the Tar Heels to a comfortable win over SMU, 82-67, in the Dean E. Smith Center. He scored 26 points and was efficient, shooting 8-15 from the field and 3-6 from three. 

“I think I did a good job of taking what the defense gives me,” Davis said. “Hitting my open shots.”

On the defensive possession after he drained his most un-open shot of the night, Davis took a Matt Cross head butt square to the nose. Blood started to gush. He looked down and saw it on his hands and on the court. Davis is no stranger to nosebleeds, but he said this one was eight out of ten on the pain scale.

That’s the kind of season Davis has lived so far. Entering the night, he averaged 17.7 points on 38 percent shooting from the field. He shot 27 percent from three. Last season, he shot 43 percent from the floor and 40 percent from distance. 

“I feel like this whole year has been an adjustment period for me,” Davis said. “It’s been challenging from a mental standpoint to stay present and stay in the moment.”

He said he has focused on film, studying how teams are playing him and how he can be most effective. 

Davis has critiqued his form. He feels he was pressing and rushing his shot early on. Over the last several weeks, he has been intentional when practicing his shot to prepare for specific game actions when he catches the ball. He also has made a small adjustment to add more arc to his jumper.

On Tuesday night, the Mustangs played a zone defense that allowed Davis to find more space from deep. He shot with confidence and buried open looks. 

“You let RJ be that comfortable, it’s going to be rough,” first-year guard Ian Jackson said. “He’s a great player, he makes shots. Everybody knows. It’s RJ.”

Jackson said he and his teammates realize things have been hard for Davis this season, but they will always look for him to lead.

He led in other ways besides shooting Tuesday. Davis finished with five rebounds, four assists and only one turnover. Twice he sliced into the lane and finished with his patented soft floater. After Washington blocked a shot, he ran the floor and finished through contact in transition for an and-1. Davis also filled gaps on defense and recorded two steals.

It was vintage RJ Davis. He played his game and made it look easy. 

“He’s in more of a rhythm now, knocking down shots,” head coach Hubert Davis said. “And that’s exactly the way that I like it.”

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