Just now: Unwilling to jinx UNC star RJ Davis, the UCLA coach.
Given that senior guard RJ Davis of UNC basketball frequently has to bear the scoring load for the No. 9 Tar Heels (22-6, 14-3 ACC), worries about this seem understandable, especially in light of his incredible 42-point performance in Monday night’s 75-71 home victory over unranked Miami (15-14, 6-12 ACC).
But think about how many times a team has experienced an unforgettable run in the NCAA Tournament thanks to a standout scoring guard over the years. In light of this, what appears to be a worry to some could be a sign to others that the Tar Heels have the ideal March Madness component this year.
It seems that fifth-year UCLA head coach Mick Cronin, who was interested in then-recruit RJ Davis during his time as Cincinnati’s head coach, thinks the former four-star New York school standout has a chance to be this year’s Big Dance biggest story.
During a conversation with reporters in Los Angeles this week regarding the typical requirements for winning in postseason play, 52-year-old Cronin unexpectedly expressed his admiration for what 22-year-old ACC Player of the Year front-runner Tyus Bowen is doing for the talented Tar Heels under third-year head coach Hubert Davis.
Superstitiously, Cronin pondered briefly aloud about avoiding any outright comparisons between the 6-foot RJ Davis and the 6-foot Kemba Walker, the famed 2011 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player from New York who played for UConn. In the end, he was unable to stop himself:
