All Tar Heels

Pundit Snubs Prolific UNC Basketball Senior Guard RJ Davis

There's no telling how many losses the UNC basketball squad would have if not for the undeniable brilliance of RJ Davis.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
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No list of the best college guards this season looks complete without RJ Davis. Nevertheless, just days after the UNC basketball star posted his seventh straight outing with 23 or more points in Wednesday night's 81-69 neutral-site win over previously unbeaten Oklahoma, CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein inexplicably left Davis off his list.

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According to the following post from Rothstein on social media, the nation's five premier perimeter weapons thus far are, in no particular order, 11th-ranked Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr., No. 2 Kansas' Kevin McCullar, No. 5 UConn's Tristen Newton, No. 10 Marquette's Tyler Kolek, and No. 15 Colorado State's Isaiah Stevens.

Nothing against those impressive talents, but it seems Rothstein should have either replaced one of them with Davis or expanded his list to six, so as not to inexcusably ignore UNC's consistent senior playmaker, bucket-getter, and overall top producer.

After all, through 11 games for the now-No. 9 Tar Heels (8-3, 1-0 ACC), who faced ranked opponents in five of their past six matchups and finished with an admirable 4-2 record across that stretch, the 22-year-old RJ Davis is averaging a career-high 21.7 points.

That's not to mention his 3.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and only 1.7 turnovers in 34.5 minutes per contest. Moreover, he's shooting 38.1 percent from three on 7.6 attempts per game. And with his absurd 94.6 shooting percentage at the charity stripe, Davis appears well on his way to defending his ACC crown in that department.

Davis and the battle-tested UNC basketball team return to action at 8 p.m. ET Friday (ACC Network) when they host unranked Charleston Southern in the Dean E. Smith Center.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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