DAYTON, Ohio — RJ Davis and the North Carolina Tar Heels presented a compelling case for their inclusion in the NCAA Tournament with a decisive performance against San Diego State on Tuesday night.
Scoring 26 points and showcasing impeccable shooting from beyond the arc with a perfect 6-for-6, Davis was instrumental in propelling UNC to a commanding 95-68 victory in their First Four confrontation. Their victory muted the criticisms following their contentious NCAA selection announcement on Sunday.
Junior guard Seth Trimble voiced the team’s confidence. “We know we deserved to be here,” he asserted. While the chatter surrounding their at-large selection could have been a distraction, North Carolina’s coach, Hubert Davis, emphasized staying focused. “I don’t think it was a weight on us to try to get into the NCAA Tournament,” Davis remarked, adding that his focus was on preparation and playing their game rather than external opinions.
Hot shooting played a critical role. RJ Davis’ six successful 3-point shots matched the program record for an NCAA Tournament game, a title he now shares with Caleb Love, who also achieved the feat against UCLA in 2022. Hubert Davis, a historic scorer himself, previously made five from deep in 1991 against Eastern Michigan. Reflecting on RJ’s influence, Hubert Davis stated, “As a head coach, I don’t know what it looks like to exist without him on the sideline and on the floor, and I don’t want to think about it.”
The 14 total 3-pointers marked a new record for Carolina in an NCAA Tournament game, exceeding their previous best of 13 against Marquette in 2022. Despite the shooting success, Hubert Davis found pride in their defensive strategies. “I know that we hit a record number of 3s here, but made shots come and go,” he said, emphasizing that steals and deflections highlighted the team’s strong defense.
Trimble contributed significantly with 16 points as the Tar Heels, both as No. 11 seeds, progressed to face No. 6 seed Mississippi in a South Region clash in Milwaukee scheduled for Friday.
San Diego State’s offense was led by Nick Boyd and Wayne McKinney III, each scoring 12 points. North Carolina flaunted a shooting percentage of 61% in the first half and clinched seven 3s out of nine attempts. RJ Davis hit a crucial three-pointer right before halftime, extending the lead to 47-23. Reflecting on their gameplay, Davis stated, “I think we did a good job of sticking to our game plan and playing Carolina basketball.”
With a record of 23-13, North Carolina appeared unlikely to qualify for the tournament given their 1-12 record in Quadrant 1 games. Yet, factors such as a solid nonconference schedule and other metrics secured their spot. The Tar Heels aimed to validate their selection, and San Diego State experienced their unyielding resolve. “Obviously, we wish we’d have given them more of a game,” said Aztecs coach Brian Dutcher. He acknowledged the failure to leverage their strong defense, realizing the need to contain UNC’s scoring under 90.
Despite leading the nation in defensive field goal percentage, San Diego State could not stymie the Tar Heels’ offensive prowess, conceding the most points all season. North Carolina’s shooting accuracy was detailed with 52.6% from the field and 58.3% from long-distance. Trimble, recognizing his team’s offensive capabilities, confidently noted, “We know who we are on the offensive end. We know what we’re capable of.”
Prior to their tournament selection, UNC practiced diligently on Sunday, eager to be prepared regardless of the decision’s outcome. “Yeah, we practiced on Sunday and then when we got here, and because of flight delays, this was the only practice that we had,” Coach Davis elaborated. “But it was a really good 40-minute practice.” The foundation had been set through 98 practices and 35 games, making their execution on the court seamless.
