University of North Carolina Athletics
Depth In The Long Haul
November 8, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 8, 2010
By Helen Buchanan
Depth may be the 2010-11 women's basketball team's best friend this season. Consider that 62 of the Tar Heels 116 points came off the bench in their Monday night exhibition ousting of Carson-Newman. Carolina forced 37 turnovers on the Eagles bringing back to action a defensive wall. Thirteen of the Tar Heels' 24 steals and 14 of 25 assists came from subs.
Sheer numbers are in Carolina's favor and that will be something that will set this team apart from all the rest come February and March.
Head coach Sylvia Hatchell commented in post-game that her line-up options seem infinite, which isn't something new to her tenure. However the maturity, work ethic and versatility of the depth she has accrued makes a big difference.
"We'll be able to change our line-up based on what's going on," says Coach Hatchell of the depth, "That competition in practice is great. It makes them work hard knowing that someone is right there, right behind you and if things aren't going well, someone is there to take over."
Having that depth now and getting experience on those bodies through these early season games are the greatest assets a team could have, especially with how Coach Hatchell likes to run the game with speed and unrelenting attack.
"It's a lot of help," says Italee Lucas, "[We play] a consistent inside-outside game and having that depth opens up the inside and the outside so [opponents] can't stop us."
Having Jessica Breland back in the line-up already amps up the flow of the game. Then consider that she said she was unhappy because she missed a lot of shots and didn't realize that she earned a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds and you've got an even deeper intensity.
Factor the new physical appearance of several players like Tierra Ruffin-Pratt and Waltiea Rolle as what Coach Hatchell describes as "in basketball shape" and you've got a recipe for toughness and speed that this program prides itself on.
Add in that several players saw action in multiple positions and that minutes were spread evenly with only three players seeing more than 20 in the exhibition game and you've got an interestingly open-ended formula.
All of those factors in depth can allow for a certain freshness to the players without giving up the flow of the game, something that the length of the season could upset any other team.
"They have a lot of confidence and I think a lot of that is just maturity," says Coach Hatchell of the players' feelings of their abilities, adding that those contributions from up and down the bench will make all the difference.
Helen Buchanan is a contributor to Tar Heel Monthly.
