North Carolina guard R.J. Davis is preparing for what could be his final game against Duke in the Smith Center. The National Player of the Year candidate is playing the best ball of his four-year career ahead of UNC’s rivalry clash and said he’s prepared for a “special” Saturday night in Chapel Hill.
“Anytime you play Duke, it is going to be a good game,” Davis told reporters Thursday. “It’s the best rivalry in college basketball. Being a senior in the Smith Center, this will be special.”
Davis revealed his favorite career moments against the Blue Devils and his message to freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau as he prepares for the biggest game of his young career. Davis also joined the Field of 68 podcast on Friday and touched on several other topics, including his improved play on defense, the Tar Heels’ tight locker room chemistry and his goals for the remainder of the season, among other things.
Here’s what Davis had to say about Saturday’s rivalry matchup with Duke:
ON HIS FAVORITE MEMORIES OF PLAYING DUKE
“My favorite moments are definitely Coach K’s last game and the Final Four; those are the ones that I obviously cherish and will remember forever. Leading up to the game, people doubting us and whatnot. It was just super fun. The overall environment energy was awesome. The Final Four game was the most watched in history. That’s one of the things I remember. Anytime you play Duke, it is going to be a good game. It’s the best rivalry in college basketball. Being a senior in the Smith Center, this will be special.”
ON HIS MESSAGE TO CADEAU BEFORE THE DUKE GAME
“I will have a talk with him today, just to tell him to go out there and just be Elliot. He’s a supreme talent. He’s been playing really well for us this year. He needs to just go out there and play his game and not get too caught up in the rivalry game. Just go and be Elliot. That’s what we need from him, and he’ll play really well for us. The way he’s been playing, his aggressiveness, his playmaking and even as defense has been great for us.”
“Elliot has been doing a good job. He’s lived up to the hype as a freshman. We’ve all seen the highlights and the mixtapes, but for him to come in as confident as he is and be able to set guys up in the right positions has been phenomenal. Playing alongside him has been beneficial not only for me but for himself as well. He’s super quick and able to blow by defenders. He is a really true point guard. My role has been different. During the first three years, I was on the ball a little bit, facilitating and then scoring. Now, I’m more off the ball and able to get to my shots. It’s been a disadvantage for myself and for the team.”
ON LEAVING A LEGACY AT UNC
“It would mean a lot. One of the questions I ask myself is, ‘How will I leave?’ I want my legacy to be remembered. For me and Armando (Bacot), it’s been a roller coaster ride in Chapel Hill. Winning a national championship would make things a lot better for us. Just getting back to the Final Four and finishing the job is what I came back for. After having a rough junior year, I felt like I hadn’t really accomplished anything. The main goal for me is to get back to the Final Four and finish the job. Winning the national championship would mean the world to me.”
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