ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 11, 2021

RJ Davis

North Carolina Tar Heels

Postgame Press Conference

North Carolina 81, Virginia Tech 73

Q. You had a big second half, I think 14 of your 19 points in the second half. You've had some big games this season. I guess there's been a little bit lack of consistency. What clicked tonight and how do you maintain the high level of play as we continue in March here?

RJ DAVIS: I just didn't want to go home. I didn't come here to lose. I know Virginia Tech was a great team, so you know, they ran good stuff offensively and defensively, and I just trusted my teammates to find me in good spots and vice versa. We doubled down to the bigs and they double teamed and they kicked it back up to the perimeter guys for us to hit some huge shots down the course of the game.

Q. You guys played Florida State twice this season. How difficult is it to play a team a third time knowing what their strengths and weaknesses are?

RJ DAVIS: Florida State is a great team. We have to come out playing Carolina basketball tomorrow. We played them twice so far, so we know a couple of their plays and how they play, so we're familiar with how they play. We just have to come out and play with some heart. That's really about it, and just play Carolina basketball.

Q. The team struggled in the first half to get offensive rebounds and the three-point shooting struggled, as well, too. But in the second half, you guys had 13 offensive rebounds and you had 40 percent as a team from beyond the arc. Does the offensive rebounding give you guys better looks, especially for a shooter like yourself, to knock down threes and does it put more pressure on you to make those shots?

RJ DAVIS: Definitely. We have a great front court that has the ability to battle down low, get offensive rebounds, finish on their own, and kick it out for three if it's needed. So I think that makes the game easier for our guards to be shot ready. We work on that every day in practice to be shot ready when the time comes, so I think it just makes it easier and us ready to shoot.

Q. What do you like about being in the backcourt with Caleb? We haven't seen that a whole lot this year, but last night and again tonight, it seemed like that allowed you to create some space.

RJ DAVIS: I think me and Caleb, we complement each other well. We're both scoring guards. We both can create our own shots, get our teammates going. I think for me and him to play with each other, it just has a different flow and better flow towards the game as far as if I'm off, he'll be on. But if we're both on, that just helps the team even better.

Q. Can you kind of take us through the sequence where you had the three-pointer, then you got the steal and made the three-point play? I feel like that was the sequence that kind of broke the game open?

RJ DAVIS: I know I hit a big three and then I just kept telling myself one stop. Every time after we score, kept telling myself and my teammates all we need is one stop. And once I saw his back turned to me, I reached in and stole the ball and got an and-one. And I think that changed the momentum of the game, and I think that was like a key for us to win the game.

Q. At the college level, you're usually one of the smallest guys standing on the court. How does it help you to play with guys that are just as big and as physical as Armando and Day'Ron and Garrison and Kessler are?

RJ DAVIS: For me, I don't really see myself as being small. I just go out and play hard every game, play as if I'm 6'5". Just playing with the big men, they just make my job a little bit easier as far as scoring and then getting them involved. I just go out -- you could say I'm basically short, but I play with the heart of height.