Davis a perfect fit with Tar Heels

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. Five national championship banners hang in the rafters of the Dean Dome, along with 17 Final Four and 17 ACC tournament championships flags.

Success is not a stranger to men's basketball at the University of North Carolina.

In addition to all that, five members of the Tar Heels' family, all members of the Basketball Hall of Fame, were in the arena yesterday -- former coach Dean Smith, current coach Roy Williams and former players Billy Cunningham, James Worthy and Bob McAdoo.

That's impressive. Some might find it daunting and wonder how they ever can fit in. Those players don't belong in the Dean Dome.

Ed Davis belongs. Davis, 6-10, 215 pounds and only 19 years old, is a graduate of Benedictine High School. He also is a contributing member to the Tar Heels' nationally ranked team.

"It was never intimidating," Davis said of all the history and tradition of North Carolina basketball. "It's one of the main reasons I came here. In the summer, you have all these NBA players around, teaching you stuff. That is a big thing."

Davis is not the biggest cog in the Tar Heels' machine this season. He plays a secondary role to the highly acclaimed Tyler Hansbrough.

Yet, Davis is second on the team in rebounding, with 7.3 per game. Hansbrough, a 6-9, 250-pound All-America player, averages 7.8 rebounds.

Davis gets his board work done in less than 20 minutes per game. Hansbrough averages almost 30 minutes per game.

Yesterday was not a banner day for Davis. He played just 11 minutes, had four points, two rebounds and two blocked shots.

Afterward, he was cool, calm and collected. If anything about his performance or playing time bothered him, he did not let it show. It helped that North Carolina won 76-61.

"Whatever I can do to help the team, whether it's get one rebound or 20 rebounds, that's what I want to do," Davis said.

When you are as talented as Davis, you can do that almost anywhere. He had his choice of colleges last year. He chose one where he would be Ed Davis, freshman backup, instead Ed Davis, much-adored star.

"You're right, I could go to a lot of schools and get 30 minutes a game," he said. "But I might not have a winning record, and I wouldn't get to contend for a national championship. So this is what I chose to do."

Davis has a high basketball IQ, and he comes by it naturally. His father, Terry Davis, played 10 seasons in the NBA.

"He's helped me more with things off the court, always making sure I'm doing the best thing," the younger Davis said. "Making smart decisions and good choices."

On the court, Davis chooses to appear stoic and imperturbable.

He works at the game. This season, his role is to rebound, block shots and play defense. On offense, he stations himself in the low post, sets screens for teammates and works to get open. You will not find him wandering out to 3-point territory to display his long-range chops.

"Don't let him fool you," Hansbrough said. "He's a goofy kid, a jokester. "He brings a lot, more than length and shot-blocking ability and all this other stuff.

"He's always making a joke here and there in practice. I enjoy hanging out with him."

Practice often is the biggest obstacle for freshman athletes to overcome. In high school, they were stars. In college, they face young men several years older, with considerably more time logged in the weight room. Veteran players approach every practice as if it were a game.

"That was a big adjustment," Davis said. "In high school, I could take two or three weeks off and be fine. Here, I take one play off, and I'm behind the eight ball. You've got to give your all every possession."

So far, so good.

Basketball at North Carolina is not too big for Ed Davis. Now, if he can just help add to all those banners.