And, by the way, the Carolina women are 7-0 and killing it.

Courtney Banghart knew what she was getting into when she accepted the head coaching job of the Lady Tar Heels. In her third season, she fully understands that men’s basketball is the 900-pound gorilla in the room and will always be.

But she also knew she was joining one of the best athletic departments in the country with a great history in basketball for both the women and the men.

“I’m so grateful to everyone who has made Carolina what it is,” she said after deciding to leave Princeton for Chapel Hill in 2019. “The women who have worn the Carolina blue, Coach Hatchell who hung a banner, the men’s program that brought us the Jumpman, the outstanding coaches who have been a model of consistent excellence, and the alumni who have loved this place with all their hearts.

“I’m honored to be your coach, and you will get my very best.”

Entering this season her career record was 283-128, including the 2015 season when she led the Princeton Tigers to a 30-0 record and was named National Coach of the Year.

That total victory number has jumped to 290 with a 7-0 start this season, which began with winning the first four games by an average of 49 points, obviously a warm-up for the tougher part of the schedule. That has included wins over VCU and Washington for the Goombay Splash championship in Bimini and a gritty win at Minnesota in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

UNC has picked up five of those Ws away from home, with two neutral-site wins and three true road games, including Wednesday night’s back-and-forth battle in Minneapolis. “When we had five of our first seven on the road, with three against Power 5 teams, I didn’t know where we’d be,” Banghart said. “I like where we are.”

Against VCU, Banghart went with an “all small” lineup after falling behind in the second half and outscored the Rams 34-20 to win 72-59. In the championship game, the Heels equaled a school record by holding Washington to 37 points.

Banghart would be the first to say she has pretty good players, and they would happily return the compliment about their coach.

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