RJ Davis addresses level of physicality against Duke

North Carolina guard RJ Davis said the physicality of last weekend’s rivalry game against Duke was to be expected. The Tar Heels struggled to get their shots off in an efficient manner and finished with a season-low shooting percentage of 34.3%.

“It’s the biggest rivalry in college basketball,” Davis said after the game. “I kind of expected the refs to let us play a little bit.”

Davis had 11 points, five points and five rebounds in the game but shot an inefficient 5-for-16 during the game.

Hubert Davis tells the media what he told RJ Davis and the rest of the team after the Duke game

Hubert Davis talked with the media after the game about how he wants his team to bounce back after the defeat.

“I don’t know what else to tell the team,” Davis said after the game. “‘We gotta play Wake on Tuesday. Crap.’ No, this is basketball. This is life. Let’s go back to work tomorrow. Let’s get back to work. Let’s work hard. Let’s do it with energy and effort and passion and enthusiasm. Let’s go show up on Monday. Let’s work hard. Energy. Effort. Passion. Enthusiasm. Togetherness. Closeness. Hunger and thirst. Then let’s play on Tuesday against a great, unbelievable Wake Forest team.”

He also explained to the media what he said in the locker room after the game. There is still a lot of season left for the Tar Heels to turn their season around.

“That I was proud of their effort and that I love being their coach and I love these kids,” Davis said. “It’s a blessing and an honor to be with them every day and … that for us this year, consistently it’s been the discipline and the details. The little things — a box out, a defensive assignment, execution on the offensive end that has been up and down in late-game situations. Once we get better and more consistent at that, I think it’ll be a happier locker room than a sad locker room.”