Tag: RJ Davis

Could Seth Trimble’s return spell a positive domino effect for UNC?

Guess who’s back…back again?

There was a collective sigh of disappointment two weeks ago in Chapel Hill, when UNC basketball guard Seth Trimble decided to enter the transfer portal.

Trimble, one of North Carolina’s best defensive players, could get more playing time elsewhere. Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis made a questionable decision to not play him much in the second half of UNC’s Sweet 16 loss to Alabama, leading to speculation Trimble’s time in Chapel Hill was coming to an end.

Two weeks after Trimble announced his decision to transfer, Tar Heel Nation breathed a collective sigh of relief, as Trimble withdrew himself from the transfer portal and announced his decision in returning to Chapel Hill.

Trimble’s news of returning might not be the only return either as CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander tweeted:

Having RJ Davis, the reigning ACC Player of the Year and a 2023-2024 Wooden Award Finalist, return to UNC would be arguably the biggest roster plus entering the coming season. He, Trimble and Elliot Cadeau would form an experienced guard trio that not many other teams can say they have.

Not to mention, North Carolina also welcomes 5-stars Ian Jackson and Drake Powell (guard/forward) to the roster next year. Those are talented guards 1-5, who could all start if Hubert Davis wanted to roll with a small lineup at times.

I have a strong feeling that since Trimble is returning, Davis will be highly encouraged to play him more.

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North Carolina’s RJ Davis coming back for a fifth year? One report says yes

Another year of RJ Davis in Chapel Hill? Say it ain’t so! One CBS writer says the All-American has already made up his mind.

Duke fans might have accidentally got two pieces of bad news in quick succession on Tuesday afternoon.

North Carolina guard Seth Trimble announced he’d withdrawn himself from the transfer portal. In response to the news, CBS senior writer Matt Norlander said that All-American guard RJ Davis is expected to make the same decision to stay in the coming days.

Davis started 118 games across the last four years for the Tar Heels, but with the one-year extension due to COVID-19, he could still exercise a fifth year if he wants. He’s yet to officially say he’ll be back in 2024-25, but Norlander said the decision’s already been made.

The First Team All-American and ACC Player of the Year last season, Davis averaged 21.2 points per game along with 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists. The Blue Devils managed to hold him in check, however, as he averaged 13.0 points per game and shot 34.6% from the floor against Duke.

If he’d decided to forgo his extra year for the NBA, all four double-digit scorers from last year’s UNC team would leave the program this offseason. Armando Bacot and Cormac Ryan are already out of eligibility, and Harrison Ingram declared for the NBA draft.

Davis’s official announcement is expected by the end of this week.

UNC basketball still ranked second in CBS Sports’ Top 25 and 1

Will RJ Davis and Harrison Ingram return to Chapel Hill?

With the transfer portal in full swing, it’s hard to tell who will be amongst college basketball’s elite next year.

It’s easy to say that UConn is the favorite to win again, which would mark the first 3-peat in college basketball history, but the Huskies lose future NBA Draft selections Tristen Newton and Donovan Clingan.

One team that could be really good next season – but is also awaiting decisions from star players – the North Carolina Tar Heels.

UNC’s biggest question marks surround Harrison Ingram and leading scorer RJ Davis, who can either declare for the NBA Draft or choose to return for one last season. Both enjoyed extremely productive campaigns, highlighted by RJ being ACC Player of the Year, but they could spurn high draft stock for additional chances to don Carolina Blue and NIL money.

In Gary Parrish’s latest CBS Sports Top 25 and 1 rankings, North Carolina slides in at second behind Houston.

“This ranking is based on Hubert Davis’ Tar Heels returning three of the top five scorers – specifically RJ Davis, Harrison Ingram and Elliot Cadeau– from a team that won the ACC and secured a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament,” Parrish wrote. “UNC is also adding a top-10 recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospects Ian Jackson and Drake Powell that should give the program a chance to make a 22nd appearance in the Final Four.”

Even if Davis and Ingram don’t return, the Tar Heels will likely nab a top transfer (of two) to bolster their roster. Early signs have pointed to UNC being in the running for former Belmont forward Cade Tyson and Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi.

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UNC lands a Top-10 ranking in USA Today’s Way-Too-Early-Top 25

Will the UNC men’s basketball team play up to its Way-Too-Early Top 25 ranking?

Just like that, college basketball season is officially over.

UConn pulled away from Purdue in the second half Monday night, winning its sixth NCAA Championship. The Huskies showcased their well-rounded talent, while the Boilermakers showcased they’re nothing more than Zach Edey.

Will UConn 3-peat next year? Will Purdue find itself back in the title game?

Those questions will be answered throughout the 2024-2025 campaign, which is never too early to start with the USA Today Way-Too-Early Top 25?

Even with Armando Bacot exhausting his eligibility and the recent departure of defensive standout Seth Trimble, one team USA Today likes a lot is the North Carolina Tar Heels, who are ranked sixth in the WTE Top 25.

“First, UNC is waiting for decisions from RJ Davis and Harrison Ingram,” the USA Today wrote. “Davis has probably achieved enough to head off to the NBA, though Ingram could use another year as the Tar Heels’ focal point to hone his skills. Hubert Davis will definitely bring back guard Elliott Cadeau. UNC has some major recruits arriving on campus, but will definitely be active in the portal.”

The possible returns of Davis and Ingram would be great veteran moves, particularly for the likes of incoming 5-stars Drake Powell and Ian Jackson. UNC is bound to be a popular destination in the transfer portal, but who will choose Chapel Hill as their next step?

I like North Carolina’s chances to compete atop the ACC again. How far in the Big Dance will it go?

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Where UNC basketball lands in ESPN’s way-to-early top 25 for 2024-25

What does ESPN think of the UNC basketball program in their way-too-early top 25 for the 2024-25 season?

The 2023-24 college basketball season is officially in the books as the UConn Huskies have gone back-to-back, beating Purdue on Monday night for their sixth title since 1999. The Huskies completed a 37-3 season and capped it off with another title, ending the season.

But as the Huskies are celebrating, it’s never too early to look ahead at what next season could bring.

As soon as the confetti came down, ESPN released its way-too-early top 25 rankings for the 2024-25 season. For the North Carolina Tar Heels, they are coming off an ACC regular season title but a loss in the Sweet 16 that ended their season.

And Jeff Borzello has them right in the middle of the pack at No. 15:

How the Tar Heels are ultimately ranked heading into next season will be determined by the decisions of RJ Davis and Harrison Ingram. Davis isn’t likely to be drafted and he still has a COVID year of eligibility, while Harrison Ingram has played himself into the early second-round discussion. Without those two, Hubert Davis will be heavily reliant on returning guards Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble, and incoming five-star guards Ian Jackson and Drake Powell.

Projected starting lineup:

Elliot Cadeau (7.3 PPG)
Seth Trimble (5.2 PPG)
Ian Jackson (No. 16 in ESPN 100)
Drake Powell (No. 13 in ESPN 100)
Jalen Washington (3.9 PPG)

Now, that’s a fair ranking with that projected lineup. But it’s still very early in the offseason and there are two big decisions to be made still from RJ Davis and Harrison Ingram.

Those decisions plus possible additions out of the transfer portal will certainly change things. For now, this is UNC’s ranking and it’s not a bad one considering the decisions to be made still.

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RJ Davis becomes first UNC player to win Jerry West Award

RJ Davis makes UNC basketball history by winning the Jerry West Award.

North Carolina guard RJ Davis continues to make history after an impressive 2023-24 season.

After winning the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year award, Davis earned some national recognition. And ahead of Saturday’s Final Four games, Davis became the first player to win the Jerry West Award.

Davis was announced as the winner of 2024 Jerry West Award, presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

The shooting guard award is named for 14-time NBA All-Star Jerry West, who was a Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Olympic gold medalist, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player and NBA champion. West was honored on Friday with his third election to the Hall of Fame, this time as a contributor.

Not only is Davis the first UNC winner of the award but the first ACC winner since Duke’s RJ Barrett in 2019.

It’s the latest honor for Davis who was named a consensus/unanimous first-team All-America. He was also a finalist for the Player of the Year award as well.

Davis averaged 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 42.8 percent from the field.

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RJ Davis doesn’t receive single vote for Player of the Year

UNC basketball standout RJ Davis didn’t earn a vote for the AP Player of the Year award which was given to Zach Edey.

North Carolina guard RJ Davis put together a heck of a season in his senior year in Chapel Hill. He took home the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year award, earning it as he was the best player in the league all season long.

He also picked up several national honors by being named to All-American teams from different publications. It earned Davis a spot in the Dean Dome rafters as his legacy will be there forever. But on Friday, when the Associated Press announced that Purdue’s Zach Edey had won the National Player of the Year for the second-straight season, the voting showed that Davis didn’t receive a single vote.

Edey received 57 of the 62 votes with Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht receiving three votes and Jamal Shead receiving two. The voters are media members who vote in the AP Top 25 poll each week.

Now, the argument is that Davis deserved to win the award because Edey did have a fantastic season and earned it. But not to receive a single vote? That’s a little shocking overall.

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RJ Davis earns CBS Sports All-America honors

CBS Sports listed RJ Davis on its First Team All-America list Thursday ahead of the Final Four.

North Carolina point guard RJ Davis put together a career year in 2023-24, having a heck of a season for the Tar Heels. Davis’ efforts earned him Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors for his play and he’s also earned some recognition on the national stage as well.

And on Thursday, he earned some more recognition.

CBS Sports released their 2023-24 All-America teams and to no surprise, Davis made the first team. Here is what Matt Norlander of CBS Sports said about Davis’ season:

Although top-seeded UNC’s season ended in the Sweet 16 against Alabama, and Davis had one of his worst games in that spot, there’s no denying the impact he had on the Tar Heels during his senior season. It was fellow/former All-American Armando Bacot who was anticipated to be UNC’s MVP, but Davis stepped up in a lead guard role and brought Carolina back to relevance one year removed from its historic miss of the NCAAs after being ranked No. 1 in the preseason. He averaged 21.2 points (39.8% from 3-point range), 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists on a 29-win team. Crucially, the 6-footer was unafraid and willing to take big shots in big moments — and often made the right plays down the stretch of many games. Davis was the catalyst for an ACC championship season. The question is: With one year of eligibility left, does he opt to come back for a fifth year?

Davis was the lone Tar Heel to earn honors, although his former teammate Caleb Love was named to the All-America third team for Arizona.

The guard averaged 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 42.8 percent from the field this season.

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Hubert Davis holds his head high during Monday meetings

Just how much does UNC head coach Hubert Davis love his players? Read the quote – in this article – from Monday’s team meetings to find out.

How the UNC basketball season ended was pretty tough, but considering how North Carolina missed the NCAA Tournament entirely last year, you could call the 2023-2024 campaign a success.

The Tar Heels earned the West Region’s top seed, won games against Wagner and Michigan State, then lost a heartbreaker to Alabama in which very little went right late.

One area I was impressed with most is coaching. UNC head coach Hubert Davis came under some fire last year for not using his bench, then figured out how to effectively utilize his extras this season.

In short, we learned Hubert was a good coach who knows how to connect with his players. That was particularly evident in team meetings Monday via Inside Carolina:

“I want to know how the year has gone,” Davis said. “As the season ends, just to catch up and just see how the year went for them. Anything that they liked, things that they didn’t like, my expectations early on of what I expect coming back next and what I want it to look like. Those conversations were really good today (Monday). It was a lot of fun.”

Hubert doesn’t just treat his players like employees, but as they were his own sons. You watched that firsthand during games, with cameras consistently showing Hubert encouraging his players in huddles or at the scorer’s table.

While Hubert won’t have the likes of Armando Bacot next year, his fourth season as head coach could be bolstered if RJ Davis decides to return.

I can’t wait to see how much further Hubert grows in Year Four.

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RJ Davis named Wooden Award Finalist, All-American team

UNC basketball guard RJ Davis was named a finalist for the 2023-24 Wooden Award as well as making the All-American team.

The 2023-24 season didn’t end how the North Carolina Tar Heels wanted it to but there were some bright spots to build on. And one of the brightest spots for the Tar Heels this season was point guard RJ Davis.

The senior point guard had a monster season for the Tar Heels being named the 2023-24 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. He’s also earned some national recognition with the latest coming on Tuesday.

Just days after UNC’s season ended, the guard was named to the 2024 John R. Wooden Award All-American Team and a finalist for the national player of the year.

Davis was one of 10 players named to the All-American team joining Hunter Dickinson (Kansas), Zach Edey (Purdue), Kyle Filipowski (Duke), Dalton Knecht (Tennessee), Tyler Kolek (Marquette), Jaedon LeDee (San Diego State), Caleb Love (Arizona), Tristen Newton (Connecticut) and Jamal Shead (Houston).

As for the Player of the Year finalists, Davis is joined by Edey, Newton, Shead and Knecht on the list. The award will be announced in Los Angeles for the 48th annual presentation of the John R. Wooden Award Gala on April 12.

Davis averaged 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 42.8 percent from the field.

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