University of North Carolina Athletics
Alexandra Zelaya is one of five freshmen who will make their Carolina debuts on Wednesday.
Photo by: Dana Gentry
Carmichael Comments: Thankful We're Here
November 24, 2020 | Women's Basketball
CARMICHAEL COMMENTS: Inside Carolina Women's Basketball
Vol. 3, Edition 2: Thankful We're Here
We made it.
The longest offseason in the history of modern college basketball is finally (almost) in the rearview. And in a week where we pause to give thanks, count me among those thankful of that fact. Year two of the Courtney Banghart era in Chapel Hill tips off Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. inside Carmichael Arena with a non-conference matinee against Radford, exactly 38 weeks since the Tar Heels last played a women's basketball game. Yes, just add consecutive 1:00 tipoffs on Wednesdays to the list of 2020 oddities, but in a way it's fitting that the opening game of the 2020 ACC Tournament and the ensuing season opener share a start time and day of the week.
You see, it gives us a chance to see just how much has changed since Carolina and Wake Forest squared off in Greensboro on March 4th. The Tar Heels officially completed their 2019-20 season, which many teams did not when the COVID-19 pandemic began and the NCAA Tournament was canceled. That was just the tip of the iceberg for the impact the pandemic would have upon Carolina and the college basketball universe, with live recruiting shut down, offseason activities truncated, and ultimately the strangest preseason any of these players and coaches have ever seen commenced. Amidst the pandemic, social justice issues gripped the nation, and college athletes realized a new level of influence and power to share their message.
Simply because games are back doesn't mean that the influence of the pandemic on the sport will go away – in fact, it's quite the opposite. Numerous programs across the country are already feeling the impacts of COVID-19 on their non-conference schedules, further underscoring the need to adhere to strict protocols moving into the game portion of the season.
Putting that newfound influence into action, the Tar Heels announced on Monday that the program would dedicate the season to raising awareness of social causes important to each player.
Those storylines have grabbed the majority of the buzz headed into the season, but it's finally time to think inside the lines and have games to talk about. Normally by now, we'd be two weeks into the regular season, with an exhibition game or two before that. But this season, we don't have the privilege of those exhibitions to set storylines into the regular year.
This week, we finally get to see five elite freshmen in action. We finally can observe Stephanie Watts back in a Tar Heel uniform. Or just how lethal sharpshooter transfer Petra Holesinska can be from behind the arc. Don't forget about checking on in the improvement of Janelle Bailey or Malu Tshitenge as they represent the returning group of Tar Heels. The good news: we'll enjoy a lot of action and answer a lot of questions in a short amount of time. Carolina will take the floor three times in five days between Wednesday and Sunday, which will allow the Heels' newfound depth to shine. We might know a consistent starting five by the end of the week – or given Coach Banghart's suggestion that she might mix and match her initial quintet this week, we might have some position battles.
Yes, there might be hiccups in the season. After all, all five of Carolina's fall team sport programs had a schedule adjustment due to COVID concerns at the opposing school. It's the reality of 2020. But the Heels are back on the floor with another color jersey on the opposing bench. The players are using their voice. We'll enjoy basketball together (yet apart), and watch the growth of the Tar Heels.
Yeah, I'm pretty thankful for that chance.
The Week Ahead
Carolina plays a trio of mid-major opponents at Carmichael Arena this week, with Radford visiting Wednesday, UNC Greensboro on Saturday, and High Point on Sunday. All three games tip at 1:00 p.m., meaning that our Tar Heel Sports Network radio coverage from Learfield IMG College begins at 12:30 p.m. with the Reeds Jewelers pregame show. Tune in early for the exclusive pregame thoughts of Carolina Head Coach Courtney Banghart before the game tips. Check out the broadcast streaming worldwide for free on the TuneIn app (search "North Carolina Tar Heels Women's Basketball"), GoHeels.com (click "listen" on the women's basketball schedule), and the GoHeels app. WCHL 97.9 FM/1360 AM, the flagship station of the Tar Heel Sports Network, will carry Saturday and Sunday's broadcasts for listeners in the Triangle.
In the meantime, we'll have the debut edition of Courtney Banghart Live for the 2020-21 season on the Tar Heel Voices podcast channel on Wednesday morning. Coach Banghart and I will catch up each Tuesday via Zoom, and you'll be able to hear the show on Tar Heel Voices when you wake up each Wednesday. Feel free to tweet me questions @MattKrausePxP, and we'll get them on air!
Happy game week, and Happy Thanksgiving! I'll *finally* say "talk to you on the radio soon!"
-Matt
Vol. 3, Edition 2: Thankful We're Here
We made it.
The longest offseason in the history of modern college basketball is finally (almost) in the rearview. And in a week where we pause to give thanks, count me among those thankful of that fact. Year two of the Courtney Banghart era in Chapel Hill tips off Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. inside Carmichael Arena with a non-conference matinee against Radford, exactly 38 weeks since the Tar Heels last played a women's basketball game. Yes, just add consecutive 1:00 tipoffs on Wednesdays to the list of 2020 oddities, but in a way it's fitting that the opening game of the 2020 ACC Tournament and the ensuing season opener share a start time and day of the week.
You see, it gives us a chance to see just how much has changed since Carolina and Wake Forest squared off in Greensboro on March 4th. The Tar Heels officially completed their 2019-20 season, which many teams did not when the COVID-19 pandemic began and the NCAA Tournament was canceled. That was just the tip of the iceberg for the impact the pandemic would have upon Carolina and the college basketball universe, with live recruiting shut down, offseason activities truncated, and ultimately the strangest preseason any of these players and coaches have ever seen commenced. Amidst the pandemic, social justice issues gripped the nation, and college athletes realized a new level of influence and power to share their message.
Simply because games are back doesn't mean that the influence of the pandemic on the sport will go away – in fact, it's quite the opposite. Numerous programs across the country are already feeling the impacts of COVID-19 on their non-conference schedules, further underscoring the need to adhere to strict protocols moving into the game portion of the season.
Putting that newfound influence into action, the Tar Heels announced on Monday that the program would dedicate the season to raising awareness of social causes important to each player.
Those storylines have grabbed the majority of the buzz headed into the season, but it's finally time to think inside the lines and have games to talk about. Normally by now, we'd be two weeks into the regular season, with an exhibition game or two before that. But this season, we don't have the privilege of those exhibitions to set storylines into the regular year.
This week, we finally get to see five elite freshmen in action. We finally can observe Stephanie Watts back in a Tar Heel uniform. Or just how lethal sharpshooter transfer Petra Holesinska can be from behind the arc. Don't forget about checking on in the improvement of Janelle Bailey or Malu Tshitenge as they represent the returning group of Tar Heels. The good news: we'll enjoy a lot of action and answer a lot of questions in a short amount of time. Carolina will take the floor three times in five days between Wednesday and Sunday, which will allow the Heels' newfound depth to shine. We might know a consistent starting five by the end of the week – or given Coach Banghart's suggestion that she might mix and match her initial quintet this week, we might have some position battles.
Yes, there might be hiccups in the season. After all, all five of Carolina's fall team sport programs had a schedule adjustment due to COVID concerns at the opposing school. It's the reality of 2020. But the Heels are back on the floor with another color jersey on the opposing bench. The players are using their voice. We'll enjoy basketball together (yet apart), and watch the growth of the Tar Heels.
Yeah, I'm pretty thankful for that chance.
The Week Ahead
Carolina plays a trio of mid-major opponents at Carmichael Arena this week, with Radford visiting Wednesday, UNC Greensboro on Saturday, and High Point on Sunday. All three games tip at 1:00 p.m., meaning that our Tar Heel Sports Network radio coverage from Learfield IMG College begins at 12:30 p.m. with the Reeds Jewelers pregame show. Tune in early for the exclusive pregame thoughts of Carolina Head Coach Courtney Banghart before the game tips. Check out the broadcast streaming worldwide for free on the TuneIn app (search "North Carolina Tar Heels Women's Basketball"), GoHeels.com (click "listen" on the women's basketball schedule), and the GoHeels app. WCHL 97.9 FM/1360 AM, the flagship station of the Tar Heel Sports Network, will carry Saturday and Sunday's broadcasts for listeners in the Triangle.
In the meantime, we'll have the debut edition of Courtney Banghart Live for the 2020-21 season on the Tar Heel Voices podcast channel on Wednesday morning. Coach Banghart and I will catch up each Tuesday via Zoom, and you'll be able to hear the show on Tar Heel Voices when you wake up each Wednesday. Feel free to tweet me questions @MattKrausePxP, and we'll get them on air!
Happy game week, and Happy Thanksgiving! I'll *finally* say "talk to you on the radio soon!"
-Matt
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