UNC guard R.J. Davis’ ‘dog’ mentality helps him thrive on the court for the Tar Heels

North Carolina junior R.J. Davis’ dad, Robert, taught him to be a dog on the basketball court, but he’s just fine being the Weasel. That’s the nickname his mother gave him as a toddler, and it has stuck with him.

Either description of the 6-foot, 175-pound guard — deemed undersized in today’s game — is accurate for what he brings to the Tar Heels.

“My mom still calls me Weasel to this day, because they’re ferocious little animals,” R.J. said. “They might not look like they are like aggressive, but they are deep down so she gave me that nickname.”

R.J. is having his best season offensively for the Tar Heels. He leads the team in scoring in ACC play, averaging 17.7 points per game. He’s eighth in the league in field-goal shooting, averaging 52 percent from the field in conference play. He’s also shooting 46 percent from 3-point range, which would put him in first place, but he doesn’t have enough attempts.

He’s quickly reversed how he started the season. R.J. made just 11 of his first 42 3-pointers (26.2 percent) and was shooting 38.9 percent from the floor while dealing with a dislocated finger on his right hand before the start of the season.

“He had it taped up and it bothered him for a while,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “Maybe that contributed a little bit because I know now it feels 100 percent and great. He’s shooting the ball extremely well right now. He’s in a good rhythm. It’s not surprising to me that his percentages have gotten back to where they are right now.”

Hubert Davis said R.J. takes after the personality of his mother, more quiet and reserved. But a lot of the credit for how he plays goes to his father.

Robert Davis is still the all-time leading scorer at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Three of its top four single-season scoring marks are still owned by him as well — and that was before the 3-point line was in the game.

“I attacked the rim, I went to the hole a lot because there was no 3-point line when I played,” Robert Davis Sr. said. “He would do that early, then he realized that you keep going to the rim, you’re going to get your stuff blocked and all that. So I told him you’re gonna be playing against 6-11, 6-9 kids so you gotta develop that 15-footer, that little floater.”

R.J. has gone from averaging 8.4 points as a freshman and shooting 35 percent from the field, to currently averaging 16.3 points and shooting 44.4 percent.

R.J. is so consistent and smooth with his play, that he often is overshadowed by the games of his teammates. What usually gets UNC fans talking is the play of forward Armando Bacot, who is chasing the all-time rebounding record as well as most double-doubles in program history. Or that of mercurial guard Caleb Love, who in many games fans can’t decide whether they love him or hate him based on his shot selection.

R.J. has never actually seen footage of his father playing for Mercy. He’s read the articles though, and from what his uncle and others tell him, he’s a chip off the old block.

“I’d say the scoring is something that I picked up from him and just being a dog at all times,” R.J. said. “He’s always telling me every time I step on the court, give it my all and just be a dog and go at people. I think that’s the aggressive mentality and mindset that he’s had and I adapted it.”

Robert Davis said he never wanted to be one of those parents who nagged their kids too much, so he encouraged R.J. to play all sports. His dad believes he was a great lacrosse player and he played quarterback in football, too. But early on, it was clear that he was best in basketball.

“I never really pushed him, because he loved it on his own,” Robert Davis said. “And when I saw him, and I thought he had a good shot, we stuck with basketball.”

R.J. never worked with a trainer in high school, there were just the days with his dad in their backyard. That’s where his father helped him go from shooting line drive jumpers to putting some arc on his shot. But there came a point where the elder Davis thought his son would be better served with a different coach.

Tommy Swinton, who was a coach with the New York Gauchos grassroots basketball organization, helped bring out that inner Weasel.

“He used to say, ‘If you don’t play no D, you can’t play for me,’ ” Robert Davis said. “So I told him you got to do anything to stay on the court. You got to rebound and get loose balls. And so at an early age that’s stuck with him.”

R.J. has had double-figure rebounding games twice this season. That wasn’t as big a part of his dad’s game, but R.J. credits him regardless.

“I owe a lot to him just kind of preaching and giving me advice throughout my years of playing basketball,” R.J. said. “He has helped me maintain focus and showed me the path to be where I am right now.”