All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Thrives With 'Whatever It Takes' Mentality

UNC basketball exhibited grit in overcoming a notably low shooting percentage at Virginia.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Hannah Pajewski-USA TODAY Sports
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UNC basketball starting guards RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau were a combined 3-for-22 from the field in Saturday's 54-44 road win over unranked Virginia (20-8, 11-6 ACC). As a team, the No. 10 Tar Heels (21-6, 13-3 ACC) shot only 32.0 percent overall and 31.8 percent beyond the arc.

Typically not a recipe for success.

But as Hubert Davis repeated throughout his postgame presser, his Tar Heels, now alone atop the ACC standings in light of archrival Duke's 83-79 loss at Wake Forest on Saturday, excelled in doing "whatever it takes" in Charlottesville:

"Going into this game, one of the things we consistently said to each other is 'whatever it takes' — on both ends of the floor.

"Whether it's whatever it takes to get through the screen, to box out, to rebound, to talk on defense, to dive on loose balls; offensively, whatever it takes to come off those screens, to post up hard, to get second-chance opportunities, to knock down open jumpers, to get to the free throw line.

"Whatever it takes.

"You know, I think I mentioned it before: we've been in games like this where you just had to find ways to be able to win. And just another gritty win for us.

"And I'm really proud of this group."

NEXT UNC BASKETBALL GAME: at home versus unranked Miami (15-13, 6-11 ACC), 7 p.m. ET Monday (ESPN)

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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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