CARMICHAEL COMMENTS: Exhibition Roundup

CARMICHAEL COMMENTS: Inside Carolina Women's Basketball – Edition 2

By: Matt Krause, Women's Basketball Play-by-Play Broadcaster, Tar Heel Sports Network from Learfield

"I'm just excited to be back out on the court rather than watching from the bench."

Stephanie Watts, you aren't the only one who's excited that you're back out on the floor for the Carolina Women's Basketball team. The comeback story for the Wesley Chapel, N.C. native was just one of many storylines to take away from Thursday's 115-74 Carolina triumph over Carson-Newman in the Tar Heels' lone preseason exhibition.

Watts, the 2016 ACC Rookie of the Year, suffered a knee injury on Feb. 16, 2017 against Georgia Tech and missed the remainder of that campaign, plus the entirety of the 2017-18 season. On Thursday night, Watts returned to the floor — albeit in an unofficial exhibition game — for her first public competitive action since the injury, and promptly showed why she can be a key factor for Carolina this season. Watts blocked a pair of shots in the game's opening minutes, including a rejection on a three-pointer that sent the ball flying toward the courtside seats at Carmichael Arena, and drew oohs and aahs from the Carolina faithful.

As if that weren't enough, Watts' offensive exploits quickly kicked in. After a 13-point first half, Watts began the second half by getting a look from three and connecting. Then, it happened again. And again. And again.

Yes, Tar Heel fans. Stephanie Watts is back. When the dust settled, Watts scored 28 points on 11-17 shooting — 5-9 from three — leading Coach Sylvia Hatchell to add
"if the score hadn't have been what it had been and I didn't let everybody play, she probably would have made another five or six." One of six Tar Heels to score in double figures (more on that later), Watts also finished with six rebounds, six assists, and four blocks.

Though Watts would have much rather been out on the floor the last season and change, she was able to improve her game without playing.

"I think the biggest thing is decision-making," Watts said. "Our team, going up and down the court, you get to watch different mistakes being made that the coaches talk about. When you're on the court, you're thinking 'oh, they think I made that mistake but I didn't really.' So I absorbed every little thing that the coaches tell me, and I was able to learn from watching."

As excited as Carolina fans are to see Watts back in action, her teammates may be even more energized by the spark the redshirt junior provides. With a front-row seat to Watts' recovery and rehab, the level of appreciation those inside the locker room have is unique.

"Stephanie is one of my best friends," junior guard Taylor Koenen said. "I know it was a tough time for her, but she persevered and now she's shining, and that's all you can ask."

Carolina certainly received all you can ask for from Watts on Thursday. Let's hope it's a sign of things to come.

Here's what else caught my eye on Thursday night…

Early Defense

Carolina forced 10 Carson-Newman turnovers in the game's opening quarter, leading directly to 18 of the Heels' 30 first quarter points. Eight of those 10 takeaways were off of steals, as the aggressive Carolina defense clogged Carson-Newman's passing lanes and quickly turned mistakes into fast-break buckets.

"We threw about six or eight defensive things out there, and they can't figure it out, and sometimes we can't even figure it out," a victorious Coach Hatchell remarked postgame. "We're doing traps and we're playing screens and handoffs different ways. It looks like chaos, but it's organized chaos."

Guard Shayla Bennett, projected to take over point guard duties from the graduated Jamie Cherry, recorded two of those first quarter steals, and finished her night with six total steals. Bennett's athleticism was on display early and often en route to the impressive defensive performance.

Pushing The Tempo

Carolina scored 115 points over 123 possessions on Thursday, roughly 40 points and possessions more than the 2017-18 regular season average. Not only is the up-tempo style exciting for fans, but for Coach Hatchell, it's a return to the style that she has found success with over the years.

"This is what I love," she said. "Our great teams have always played up-tempo like this. The last few years have been torture, really. I love to run, love the fast break and to let them show their skills and abilities."

The up-tempo style seems to be when Carolina is at its best, so we'll see how effective the Tar Heels can be at pushing the pace in the regular season.

Looking Ahead…

Okay, it's almost here for real. I'm so excited to get the regular season, and our broadcast schedule, rolling on Tuesday night from Elon. This will be the third meeting in the last five seasons between the Tar Heels and the Phoenix, with Carolina earning wins in Myrtle Beach in December 2014 and in Carmichael in December 2016.

Obviously, the storyline whenever these two teams get together is the relationship between teacher and pupil, mentor and mentee, or whatever cliché you want to use to describe Coach Hatchell and Elon's Charlotte Smith. Coach Smith's retired No. 23 hangs in the rafters of Carmichael Arena, and she spent nine seasons as a Carolina assistant prior to taking the Elon job.

Elon is the two-time defending Colonial Athletic Association champion, but has been unable to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament on either occasion, falling to West Virginia in 2017 and NC State in 2018. Tuesday's game marks the first regular season intercollegiate basketball game in the Schar Center, Elon's brand new 5,100-seat arena, and will be the first of two Carolina-Elon showdowns in four days there next week, as Roy Williams takes his men's team to Alamance County on Friday, Nov. 9.

Our broadcast of Tuesday's game begins at 7:00 p.m., with tipoff shortly after. Due to the head-to-head conflict with the Carolina men's game at Wofford, the women's game can be heard exclusively on GoHeels.com.

And lastly — I'm not the type of broadcaster that makes things about me. However, as you may know, I'm an Elon alum and still a part of the football broadcast over there. While I have tremendous admiration and appreciation for the women's basketball program and athletic department at Elon (I wouldn't be in Chapel Hill without them!), I am 100% Carolina inside and out on Tuesday night. No split allegiances here!

So, let's get a win on Tuesday. See you on the radio at 7:00 p.m. from the Schar Center.