University of North Carolina Athletics
Turner's Take: Hatchell's Tournament Homecoming
March 21, 2015 | Women's Basketball, Featured Writers, Turner Walston
By Turner Walston
Mama Bear is back. A year ago, Sylvia Hatchell wasn't well enough to attend Carolina's NCAA Tournament games, let alone coach them. She watched from afar as the Tar Heels advanced to the Elite Eight under the steady hand of associate head coach Andrew Calder. But on Saturday, with her leukemia in remission, Hatchell returned to the sideline to lead her team in the NCAA Tournament.
In preparing for the Big Dance, Hatchell often thought back a year. She wanted to be in Carmichael Arena when the Tar Heels hosted the first two rounds in 2014, even if just to sit in the stands while wearing a face mask. In time, her condition improved to the point that she could have traveled should the team have made the Final Four, though they fell short. In May, she completed chemotherapy. Back on the sideline with her team, Hatchell led the Tar Heels to a #4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and another opportunity to host the first two rounds. This year, she's experiencing a whole different kind of stress coaching her team, but a “good stress,” as she termed it.
Hatchell is no tournament rookie, but she said that though this is her 40th season, it felt like her first. And because she missed the 2013-14 campaign, the Tar Heel freshman and sophomore classes were experiencing Hatchell in 'NCAA Tournament mode' for the first time.
“It definitely adds fuel to the fire, having Coach Hatchell back,” said sophomore guard Allisha Gray, who led the Tar Heels with 17 points. “You want to make an impact in her first year back.”
Stephanie Mavunga, who scored 12 points and hauled in 9 rebounds, called Hatchell the team's 'Mama Bear.' “She's back, and it's like, 'Oh, man . . . my mom's here now.'” The players said Hatchell fights for her players like a mother would, and having seen what she went through just a year ago, they want to keep playing for her. “She had the possibility of going to the Final Four with us last year, if we would have made it, and we didn't,” Mavunga said. “So having her back, we want to cherish those moments and really have her around for us as long as we can.”
Hatchell has spent much of the time since she was cleared to return not only coaching basketball, but getting to know her players, teaching them life lessons and embracing their lives, even listening to music they choose. “We have great relationships, and I am like a Mama Bear,” she said. “Sometimes I call them in and get on them about something and straighten something out, but they know I'm always there for them. I've got their back.”
Gray and Mavunga both said that they know when their Mama Bear means business. When she takes her jacket off and tucks her hair behind her ears, it's crunch time. “Don't let her take off that jacket,” Mavunga said. “It's like on CSI: Miami, when Horatio takes off the shades.”
There were times when Horatio had to take off the shades on Saturday. The 13th-seeded Liberty Flames gave the Tar Heels all they wanted. Though Carolina led by 14 at the break, Liberty sliced into the lead, coming as close as six points before the Tar Heels pulled away late. In the first half, sophomore Latifah Coleman answered three straight Liberty scores with baskets of her own. In the second period, Carolina got timely rebounds and made free throws to preserve a 71-65 win.
And just as Mama Bear has their back, her cubs have her back, too. Freshmen and sophomores scored 39 of the Tar Heels' 71 points on Saturday and figure to play important roles as the tournament rolls on. Carolina will face Ohio State on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Carmichael Arena. The winner will advance to the Greensboro and the Sweet Sixteen. “I cherish this week and the opportunity to coach these kids and to be here,” Hatchell said. “At the beginning of the year we wanted to host, and we wanted to be in the Greensboro region and all that stuff. I just don't want to let these kids down.”
