CHAPEL HILL – UNC basketball's Harrison Ingram was all smiles Thursday afternoon inside the media room at the Smith Center.

Smiling, laughing and joking with media members, Ingram’s happy-go-lucky demeanor was on full display as the seventh-ranked Tar Heels (24-6, 16-4 ACC) prepare for the regular-season finale vs. No. 9 Duke (24-6, 15-4) on Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

We’ll see a different Ingram once the ball is tipped this weekend, an Ingram that brings something UNC lacked in a 2022-23 season that saw the Tar Heels miss the NCAA Tournament.

“Anything that involves a competition, I don’t like to lose,” Ingram said.

“I had an older brother (Will) growing up and he wasn’t the nicest guy to me when I was growing up. He was always bullying me, so I feel like I developed that chippy attitude from the way I grew up.”

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If there’s a scrum on the court, Ingram is usually right there in the middle of it, ready and willing to defend teammates or stand his ground.

He’s also averaging 12.5 points and 9.2 rebounds as one of the top all-around players in the ACC.

With Ingram, UNC has clinched at least a share of the ACC regular-season championship and is in position to snag a high seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

“I just think he has the ability to kind of turn off his goofy personality and just be locked into the game,” RJ Davis said of Ingram.

“That’s the type of player you always want on your side, because he’s always chippy. He’s always ready to get down and do the dirty work. I just love playing with him. Just seeing his fire and energy … once we get onto the court, he’s locked in and ready to take someone’s head off.”

Like Davis, Armando Bacot welcomed Ingram to Chapel Hill with open arms. The only thing that has surprised him is Ingram’s outside shooting. Ingram is making a career-high 38% of his 3-point attempts.

“He’s brought his personality, which is probably the best thing we’ve got out of him,” Bacot said. “He makes everything so fun. … He’s been everything we’ve expected and more.”

So will Ingram, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds in his debut against Duke, engage the Cameron Crazies on Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium?

Will they get to see his dual personalities?

“100%,” he said with a smile. “Can’t wait.”

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball's Harrison Ingram brings needed intensity to ACC champions