The North Carolina Tar Heels will start their ACC Tournament run on Thursday after having a bye on Tuesday and Wednesday. Star guard RJ Davis spoke with WRAL Sports' Kacy Hintz ahead of Heels' opening game.
Ice Brussel sprouts um and some dumplings Brussels sprouts. But uh it went well. Um but the way um HD like kind of just um released the news, it was definitely like from a um a genuine place and uh I almost got emotional after I was like saying words um to the, to the team. Um But yeah, the first phone call I made was to my parents and uh it was great because we just discussed everything of, you know, how I started here and, you know, where I'm at now and, you know, all the hard work I put in. And so just to kind of just um be awarded and acknowledged for um my years here, especially this year. I mean, just felt great was part of the emotion he connected you to his own home, not just to Davis, just the way he did it linked you directly with it. I mean, that was, yeah, I think he did a terrific job of just kind of setting it up a little bit. And um I think I just got emotional just from just hearing my thoughts out loud and I don't think I ever like really think about like, you know, what this means to me, but to the program. So just kind of like, you know, hear myself talk about it to the team. I think it just made me emotional, but also just, you know, super happy and just kind of give myself grace and for, you know, what I have been doing all year, what about your thoughts about having your jersey in the rock? That's even more big time I think uh you know, a lot of the greats that went here and just to see um there's no number four up there and for me to make history like that. Um I, I mean, I can't be more proud of myself than that, especially like the, the amount of players that went here and um had the history and the success they had. So for number four and the Davis to go up there, I mean, that means a lot to me, your parents' reactions. No, they were happy. I mean, my, my dad, like he tried to play it cool but um he was like, you know, welcomed me with open arms and he was super happy for me. Um So, but he was here so we had actually went out to dinner that night, but I facetime, my mom and my mom was just happy for me. Um and just, you know, just cause I envisioned this going to the year and she was just talking about how proud I am of just doing the things that I said I was gonna do. I wrote down my goals. I manifested it and for me to go out there and just do what I did and uh complete one of my goals. I mean, she was just super proud of my efforts, but also told me there's still more left, still more room for improvement and definitely got more, a lot of games to play. So, um but she was just super proud of me. What else is all that was, is that the goals a lot more? Um I'll just give you one just uh the one that's next to the AC C tournament and then when that and then I'll review the rest, the rest later. Did you write this down in like a Yeah, I actually like journal a lot. Um Just like write down my thoughts just to see, just kind of just like reveal my thoughts and kind of just write them down on a piece of paper. So I just get them out of my head sometimes and I wrote down like before the year even started. Um So like during the summer, I was just like write down like what I want to accomplish this year, um and whatnot you envisioned this, but just seeing how the preseason awards rolled out that coming into this season, I mean, yeah, I definitely definitely played a part in, into my feel and motivation this year. Um but it was definitely also accomplishment that a goal that I had set for myself, even before the awards, the preseason awards had came out. So, um but I mean, that definitely motive made me as well. Caleb winning the PAC 12 here and have you talk to her like, yeah, I mean, I congratulated him and he congratulated me. Um There's always love between me and him. Uh and uh for us for both of us to win conference play of the year. I mean, I think that's is all God works right there. Um Always been a fan of, of his game and that's my brother. So for us, this is to go out, um the way we did and when both conference play of the year, I mean, I think that just shows our success as individuals. Um but also as brothers, one of, one of the project is Carolina is the one in the west and Arizona as the two in the west. How would that be facing Caleb in the incident? Really true? Now, that would be a crazy storyline. Um just for that game, if it was possible to happen. Uh I think that would be probably one of the most watched games and a highly anticipated game. So, um, I mean, um if it, if it habits, it habits. Uh but um I think that would be a crazy story line just to even think about it and hear it out loud, I hope for you that Armando came back, really grateful. I mean, the way Armando has instilled his legacy here, um, as a player, but just to have him as a teammate has been the world for us and, um, he gets us going. He's, you know, our anchor, the way he plays defense, the way he rebounds. I mean, he's the greatest rebounder in Carolina history, but also just all the things he does for his team is, um, espresso and it means so much to me, like, couldn't even put into words, uh, but he just, his presence is, you know, from offensive end to defensive end and just to have him as an extra leader, um, was definitely needed for this team. And, um, he's definitely has like, instilled his legacy here. How important is it for you guys to win this tournament? Like, put a lot of emphasis on it, but Armando said it's something that you guys want to accomplish as a group as well. Yeah, I mean, this is definitely something that, um, you want to accomplish as a group and, um, we wanna win. So it's a championship and we're playing for something. So just because we won the regular season doesn't mean the season is over for us, we still have more games to play more, uh, championships to win. So, um, it's a key emphasis for the team and, uh, we just gonna go out and play our basketball, you talked a little bit about your dad being a pretty high scorer back in the day. You all playing a little bit when you were younger, this award? How much is he a part of it? I mean, he's a part of it a lot. I mean, the way he, I mean, he was always hard on me throughout my years, just like growing up like um growing up uh playing a AU in high school. So um but I mean, I appreciate him for doing that because it kind of just molded me into the player. I am today. And um you know, I if I, I felt like if I could deal deal with his criticism, I feel like I deal with anyone's criticism. So um but I mean, it really just shaped me to the play. I am just to be aggressive at all times and never back down to anyone and that's always like the main mindset. He always want to instill in me um and to play the game like it's your last and always have that dog in you in you. So he's definitely helped me get to the position. I am. Um I really like like eight and nine. That's when I was like second grade. I was playing with gauchos. Yeah, I was still wearing goggles. Um An example of him being hard on me. Oh, there was a lot of, there's a lot uh I remember I remember um so he was playing the hoops in the sun and I didn't really, I didn't play well at all. And like, he had like, cursed me out, like, in the parking lot in front of everyone. I was pretty embarrassed that day. Part of this aim to please him. Um, I wouldn't say please him, but more so just, um, him pushing me into the potential because I think at times, like he believes in me more than I believe in myself and he just sees how great I can be. So he's just trying to push me beyond my potential and limits so I could be the best player that I can be. And it's more so just he's him wanting to see his son sign. Uh Now it's not that nothing about pleasing him is more about one of the best players, his son. I was talking to him the other day and he was telling me about a time that you sprained your ankle, I think and the doctor had told you you weren't gonna play for like I can't remember how long he went in two weeks early. I wanna say you made that decision. You talked to Tommy was like, no, the doctor said you can play but you guys decided to do you remember that? And then like, what kind of impact did that have on, you know your mind? Yeah, I think it just, it just spoke about like toughness, I mean, mental toughness. Um and just kind of just, you know, playing through, I mean, obviously it could be something minor but if you feel like you could play, go ahead and play. Uh, but II, I mean, I definitely just spoke on like mental toughness and just having that mentality just to be like, ok, I may be a little bit injured but if I could play through it and have the ability just to go out there and get my effort a whole, um, 100% effort, then, um, I, I could be fine and I think that really spoken to, uh, conscious years throughout, um, where I may just have a little tweak or just, you know, get elbowed in the head, like how Seth elbowed me this past this past year, just get right back up and I'll continue to keep fighting. So, I mean, I think those little, uh, plays in my, you know, a U days had played a big role in today's game or when the, uh, Armando, obviously, he made the all defensive team to be an, how have you seen his defense, like, you know, take a step up this season compared to now, he's been great all year just defensively. I mean, just his way. I mean, we switch now. So there's been times when he's been put on two guards and, um, his ability just to gu guard smaller guards and, uh, be defensive impact, I mean, has been huge and, um, his presence at the rim blocking shots, uh, um, forming his V in the ice and week. So, like little things like that. Um, I mean, mom has been great all year round and, um, I know a lot of people always talk about the offense and stuff like that, but like his defensive presence has been huge for this team and it really has got us going and, uh, was, has led us to win games. So, uh, big credit to tomorrow though because he been doing a good job. It's hard to like that change the defensive play that I know you guys obviously have a lot of different personnel or rating or that like, you know, change the way he has. Um, it, it builds trust on the defensive end. Like, you know, if you, if like Mando goes ahead and block a shot, like someone's gonna be there to box out his man. So, um, it's not really relying on like, let me guard my man more so just playing like a team defense and I've seen that throughout the whole year. I mean, the way we progress throughout, um, it kind of just our defensive transitions and being in the gaps and just having that, you know, good help. Our defense has been great. So, um, I mean, the, the key theme for this, for this team this year has been like, you know, trusting each other that your man, if you, if you get blown by your teammate is gonna be there. And, um, you know, that all started with Mando and just, you know, ha him having the building to trust his teammates. RJ has Mando referred to himself as a three and D guy with you. Nah, I mean, he refers himself as a slam. I don't know, he probably told you that but, uh I wouldn't say three and d um I don't think anyone would say, I wouldn't say I'm gonna say, yeah, but I mean, he does have the ability to knock the three down. I think I saw that against Notre Dame, that the combination of that and all of the, yeah, he's solid though. More pick and pop plays for him. I told him, like I said, like if you're open, just shoot it. Like I, like I've seen you like, especially the top of top of keys like his spot. So, um, I have confidence in him shooting at three so that it was during the 10 game win streak. Have you seen that at all? Because there were, there was a stretch there where it was at this good. I mean, I think we definitely took some strides defensively. Um, and we did a didn't been doing a good job of doing that and just moving in the right direction. I think we have a another step that we could take further and go beyond. Um, but right now we're in a good position defensively. We just gotta continue to keep doing that. Um And just take it one game at a time. Uh But right now we're in a good spot and we see what happens when we play in really good team defense. Uh So as long as we see that in the film and um see the positive aspects of that, then we'll be more than fun. Yeah, I'm actually vlogging this one right now, the AC tournament. So my friends love it and like, they like main ones, like, on me about it, like, you need to, like, post, like, you need to stay on it. Um I'm telling him like, it's kind of hard for me to vlog and play basketball at the same time. So, but I mean, I have like 22 videos um, in the making right now. I recorded Louisville and uh senior night and has it been like, good for like, is it just like a fun time or why did you start doing it? I mean, I really, so I've always had like, a weird obsession for you too. Like, even when I was like a little kid and I always, like, watched, like day in the lives and I was like, uh, like elementary school, just like, uh athletes, especially like NBA players in high school. I mean, in college. So for me, I kinda just wanted to see how it felt for me and I actually enjoy doing it. It's like a little side hobby for me. Um, it's fun for. So I think that, like, the interaction will just, uh, because a lot of people just know me for being basketball and not just like, I, like, I'm a regular human being as well and I'm a goofy kid. So just kinda show that little aspect and the side of my life as well. So, like, nah, I'm an endgame will probably have to be, uh, like one of like my managers like record on the bench. Are you talking about the actual play? Like wear a headband and have a camera? I might try that. Um I mean, i it's, it's so like, I'll like, sometimes I forget I'll wake up in the morning and kind of forget my camera and I was like, walk out the house, but I try to get it like when I wake up to like just kind of record everything throughout the day. Um And then uh kind of get all the footage and download to my computer and then I just like um start editing. Um Yeah. Well, I have a friend that edits it for me. Yeah, so he just helps me out with that and then um and then we upload it. I, I look at the draft, see how, see how I like cut and paste anything I don't want and then I upload it and see how you guys like it. No, the only person that does is Seth is always about what happened.