UNC women’s basketball head coach Courtney Banghart spoke with the media for the first time this offseason on Wednesday afternoon. Banghart addressed a range of topics, from facility improvements to the team’s challenging 2023-24 non-conference schedule.
Here are some highlights from the conversation:
On improvements to Carmichael Arena, including new LED lights and a new scoreboard: These have all been necessary things. The scoreboard needed to be caught up. The scoreboard is older than some of the kids I’m recruiting. To have a better visual for the fans, the lighting, all of it is exciting. It’s needed, and it will enhance the gameday experience for sure.
On her team’s non-conference schedule: The UConn “neutral-neutral,” or whatever you want to call that, we’re ready for that now. I’m not sure we were ready for that a couple years ago. And then the South Carolina ACC-SEC Challenge, it shows the respect that we have as a program, because that’s a matchup clearly ESPN wants. And we’re thrilled to be able to host it. We have great respect for what [South Carolina] has done. And then the [Gulf Coast Showcase] tournament, getting a chance to play at a neutral site against we hope two Power 5 [teams] down there, with the potential of playing Iowa, it’s the right time for us to do that. It’s not easy to schedule. We’ve been trying to get some other guys on the schedule that we’ve not been able to land. But with the ACC being a real challenge every year as well, I feel like we’ve got some great challenges for our group.
On the team’s freshman class: They are totally assimilated. They do what they’re told, they’re on time, they bring great energy, they’re super connected with one another, they came here with a very clear purpose. They remind me a lot of the [2019] class [Deja Kelly, Alyssa Ustby, Anya Poole, Alexandra Zelaya] in that way. They came here to do things special together. And they’ve been really purpose-driven in their approach. Every team is so different, and this team is really special. I’ve really enjoyed their collectiveness. It takes good people to be welcomed, and they are good people. They are warmly welcomed by the people around them: the transfers and the returners. From a talent perspective, but also from a culture fit and a sense of purpose, it’s a home run.
UNC’s 2023 freshman class. L-R: RyLee Grays, Reniya Kelly, Sydney Barker, Laila Hull, Ciera Toomey. (Image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter)
On the team’s three transfers: Lexi [Donarski from Iowa State] is really fun for us, because we prepared to play them two years ago. If we had beaten South Carolina [in the 2022 NCAA Tournament], we had a chance to have them. And then of course, we played them last year. It’s a kid I’ve been able to see and scout against, and she’s a kid you worry about every time. You know she’s gonna be on your best offensive player, and she’s a knockdown [shooting] threat, but she’s also really versatile. As soon as she went into the portal, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’… There were a lot of hats in that ring for Lexi.
When Maria [Gakdeng from Boston College] went in the portal, I remember two years ago when we were at Boston College, her freshman year. We could not get a shot off. She was just blocking everything. And we recruited her the first time, so it was basically between us and Boston College. Once she went in the portal, I was like, ‘Remember me?’ I think that was my first text to her. I’ll never forget the day she committed, and I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so happy!’ She’s so lovable. The team loves her. She is so long, it’s ridiculous. She has great extension, she’s got a really soft touch, she’s incredibly coachable. I think she’s already making strides to be a little more skilled.
I wanted to ask [Indya Nivar from Stanford, who is originally from Cary] why she didn’t pick us the first time. It was only a year ago. And she had a really poignant answer. She said she didn’t know we’d get good so fast. If you can get to a Sweet 16, you’re one weekend away from the Final Four. When she saw that we were doing that, she was like, ‘Wait, I should just go back there, then.’ She brings such an athleticism. She’s one of our most explosive and powerful athletes. She’s great on the glass. And she’s thrilled to be back home. When her name went in [the portal], I was like, ‘We’re gonna get her.’ I think that recruitment took a day. She never asked about playing time, it was just about, ‘How can I help?’ That’s when you know you’ve got the right kids.
On the international experiences Deja Kelly, Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski have gotten recently: I think any time you play with other good players, and also you get coached by other coaches, it reminds you sometimes to be thankful for what you’ve got, because they love it here and we’ve got a great thing going. But they also see different styles. USA Basketball, the stuff they’re running now, they’re going a lot through the bigs. Deja’s used to being more through guard play. And in the 3×3, their high motor is valued even more, because it’s a smaller distance than 5-on-5. Just the newness of the experience is only helpful to their cap. Playing alongside other players with other tendencies and other coaches with other expectations sometimes brings you back home.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jerome M. Ibrahim
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