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University of North Carolina Athletics
Luke Maye
Photo by: J.D. Lyon Jr.
GoHeels Exclusive: It's About Winning For Berry & Maye
March 6, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
If there was ever a time when Luke Maye could have broke character and reveled in the success of his stellar junior season, Monday's press conference might have been it.
Just a day before, Maye had been named to the 2018 All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team. He was also recognized as the league's Most Improved Player, making him and Marcus Paige the first pair of players from one school to earn the award since its inception in 2014.
But when asked about the former Monday, Maye, in typical fashion, deflected praise. And instead of speaking about his individual accolades, he responded to the question by talking about Joel Berry II joining him on the All-ACC first team and what that says about this UNC team.
"I think the coolest thing, honestly, is the opportunity to have a teammate on the same team," Maye said. "Being able to have two people viewed as two of the five best players in the conference, I think that's pretty special."
The last time North Carolina placed multiple players on the All-ACC first team was in 2012, when Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes and John Henson were on it. The conference featured 12 teams then. So for Berry and Maye to both make the first team now, with 15 teams in the ACC, speaks to what the duo has accomplished this season.
Averaging 17.8 and 17.7 points, respectively, Berry and Maye are the first Tar Heels to both average 17 points in a season since Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins in 1984. The scoring averages are career highs for both Berry and Maye.
As a junior last season, Berry was UNC's second-leading scorer (14.7). He also led the ACC regular-season winners in assists (138), 3-point percentage (.383) and steals (53).
Still, that only earned Berry a second-team All-ACC selection. And even after being named the 2017 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, guaranteeing his No. 2 jersey will be honored in the Smith Center rafters, he found motivation in attempting to make the first team as a senior.
"There are a lot of guys who just get complacent with being second team or just having an OK year or good year," Berry said. "I could have lived just off my accolades I got from the last two years and came back and just settled. But I continued to work hard, and I improved this year going from second team to first team. That's something I wanted to do, and it was big accomplishment.
"I couldn't do it by myself. I've gotta thank my teammates. Theo (Pinson) wanted me to make sure I thanked him for getting first team, so I've gotta thank Theo. But they help me out a lot."
More individual accolades could await Berry and Maye this season.
On Monday, Berry was named one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, which recognizes the top point guard in Division I men's college basketball. That announcement came two days after Maye learned he's one of 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, given to the nation's top player.
But both players have other priorities.
"Joel and I both have our similar view," Maye said. "We want to have as much success individually, but at the end of the day, it's about winning. We've lost two games in a row, and that's not acceptable."
If there was ever a time when Luke Maye could have broke character and reveled in the success of his stellar junior season, Monday's press conference might have been it.
Just a day before, Maye had been named to the 2018 All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team. He was also recognized as the league's Most Improved Player, making him and Marcus Paige the first pair of players from one school to earn the award since its inception in 2014.
But when asked about the former Monday, Maye, in typical fashion, deflected praise. And instead of speaking about his individual accolades, he responded to the question by talking about Joel Berry II joining him on the All-ACC first team and what that says about this UNC team.
"I think the coolest thing, honestly, is the opportunity to have a teammate on the same team," Maye said. "Being able to have two people viewed as two of the five best players in the conference, I think that's pretty special."
The last time North Carolina placed multiple players on the All-ACC first team was in 2012, when Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes and John Henson were on it. The conference featured 12 teams then. So for Berry and Maye to both make the first team now, with 15 teams in the ACC, speaks to what the duo has accomplished this season.
Averaging 17.8 and 17.7 points, respectively, Berry and Maye are the first Tar Heels to both average 17 points in a season since Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins in 1984. The scoring averages are career highs for both Berry and Maye.
As a junior last season, Berry was UNC's second-leading scorer (14.7). He also led the ACC regular-season winners in assists (138), 3-point percentage (.383) and steals (53).
Still, that only earned Berry a second-team All-ACC selection. And even after being named the 2017 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, guaranteeing his No. 2 jersey will be honored in the Smith Center rafters, he found motivation in attempting to make the first team as a senior.
"There are a lot of guys who just get complacent with being second team or just having an OK year or good year," Berry said. "I could have lived just off my accolades I got from the last two years and came back and just settled. But I continued to work hard, and I improved this year going from second team to first team. That's something I wanted to do, and it was big accomplishment.
"I couldn't do it by myself. I've gotta thank my teammates. Theo (Pinson) wanted me to make sure I thanked him for getting first team, so I've gotta thank Theo. But they help me out a lot."
More individual accolades could await Berry and Maye this season.
On Monday, Berry was named one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, which recognizes the top point guard in Division I men's college basketball. That announcement came two days after Maye learned he's one of 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, given to the nation's top player.
But both players have other priorities.
"Joel and I both have our similar view," Maye said. "We want to have as much success individually, but at the end of the day, it's about winning. We've lost two games in a row, and that's not acceptable."
Players Mentioned
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