Elijah Davis has a tattoo of the Old Well on his right shoulder. Standing in front of the UNC landmark is a figure with its back turned, which Davis could neither confirm nor deny is actually him.
“My mom asked,” Davis said. “That wasn’t the plan, but… sure. That is me.”
Elijah was in the mood to go along with a reporter’s assumption. After all, his Tar Heels had just beaten Clemson 67-63 to complete an undefeated home slate. And best of all, Davis, a graduating senior, got to start the game. He ended it on the floor, too, after the win was already in hand.
“At the end of the day, this is home,” Davis said. “This place means everything to me. That Old Well doesn’t just signify home, but family and togetherness and my teammates.”
The Tar Heels, led by Davis’ father Hubert, have displayed that love for home all season long. Tuesday’s win meant Carolina finished the season 18-0 at home — the best such record in program history. No team has ever won more games at the Dean Smith Center in a single season. The last UNC team to go through a season without dropping a home game? You may remember them, because one of the biggest banners in the Smith Center commemorates them: the 2016-17 national champions.
When asked about his team’s home record, Hubert Davis joked next week’s ACC Tournament will be moving to the Smith Center. The Tar Heels won’t have to travel far, though; it’s only two hours down the road in Charlotte’s Spectrum Center. But you can’t blame the man for trying.
“I want to thank the fans,” Davis said. “Their support all year has been remarkable. The energy that they bring every game, it is a difference maker and it helps us. To have their support all year has meant so much to us. The success that we’ve had at home, these are things that we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.”
Seth Trimble, the other UNC senior honored alongside Elijah Davis Tuesday, will certainly remember this win, if not his shooting performance. Trimble, fresh off an ACC Player of the Week nod, shot just 2-10 from the field in his 37:32 of game time. He scored nine points.
No matter, though. Trimble has done more than enough just in his past month of action to put him in Tar Heel fans’ good graces forever. From the shot to end all shots vs. Duke – UNC’s next opponent, by the way – to a 30-point masterpiece against Louisville, Trimble has ensured his last collegiate season will be a memorable one.
“It speaks volumes on the way this team has been able to persevere this year,” Trimble said. “All year long, we’ve been hit with a lot of backlash of we’re not this, we’re not that, and we can’t do this. I think it shows how we’ve been able to come together and regroup after tough losses and not only defend our home, but take care of business in general.”
Trimble was also instrumental in bringing back a beloved UNC Senior Night tradition: postgame speeches. On his radio show Monday night, Hubert Davis said both seniors told him they wanted to speak, and Davis gave them his blessing. Seniors had not spoken in any of Davis’ other Senior Night games as head coach — not Leaky Black, not R.J. Davis, and not even the ever-talkative Armando Bacot.
And so, Elijah Davis and Seth Trimble had the microphone in their hands after Tuesday’s win, using it to thank teammates, coaches and parents. Standard operating procedure for senior speeches, but meaningful nonetheless.
Trimble spoke last. He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. And yet he took more than five minutes to reminisce on the young man he’s become in Chapel Hill. (If that doesn’t sound impressive, you try playing basketball for two hours and then give a five-minute presentation)
“I wouldn’t have gotten this at any other place,” Trimble told the crowd. “I’m so glad I got to be able to be here four years. I’m so glad this place has been able to embrace me as just a kid from Menomonee Falls, and I just appreciate y’all so much.”
The crowd applauded as if the speech was over, but Trimble remembered one more thing. Maybe he was thinking about his team’s 18-0 home record. Maybe he was thinking about coming to games to see his older brother, J.P. Tokoto, more than a decade ago. Or maybe he was thinking about Elijah Davis’ tattoo, and all the meaning it carries with it.
Whatever the case, Trimble needed to deliver a final, crystal-clear message.
“I know y’all on my side,” he said. “But I really, really hope to see the Smith Center here for a long, long time.”
Featured image via Todd Melet
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