Carmichael Comments: Let's Dance

CARMICHAEL COMMENTS: Inside Carolina Women's Basketball
Vol. 3, Edition 16: Let's Dance
It's a moment you wish you could celebrate with fans present. Just imagine the scene – a jam-packed room of family, friends, and die-hard Carolina Women's Basketball supporters inside the Blue Zone at Kenan Stadium. ESPN's broadcast of the Selection Show on a huge video screen to celebrate head coach Courtney Banghart earning her first NCAA Tournament berth as the Tar Heel leader. Anticipation building to hear "North Carolina Tar Heels" called out by the show's hosts.

That last part happened, just without the fanfare. Like so much else about the 2020-21 season, Monday night's NCAA Women's Basketball Selection Show viewing party was a subdued affair for the Tar Heels. But that shouldn't take away from the news that became official on the show: for the 28^th time in program history, Carolina is headed to the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, and Banghart will appear in the event for a ninth time – but first in Chapel Hill.

Carolina was named the No. 10 seed in the Hemisfair Region for the unique 2021 event, to be held entirely in the San Antonio, Texas, area. The Tar Heels open their NCAA Tournament journey on Monday, Mar. 22 at noon ET against No. 7 seed Alabama, with the winner of the game seeing the winner of No. 2 seed Maryland and No. 15 seed Mount St. Mary's on March 24.

Banghart's second-ever trip as an at-large selection was special for her because while coaches may get numerous chances to compete on the sport's biggest stage, every year and team is unique.

"I've been before, and it's a habit I'm starting to get used to, but for each individual team, it's our only chance," the second-year Carolina head coach reflected.
This happy outcome was far from certain in early February. After a Feb. 4 loss to Florida State, the Tar Heels sat at 3-8 in the ACC and just 8-8 overall. Three days later, a 76-69 upset of No. 4 (and eventual No. 1 seed and ACC champion) NC State kick-started a stretch of five wins in the Tar Heels' final six regular season games. There's little question that even in a season as unique as this one, Carolina earned its place among the sport's best in the event known universally as the "Big Dance." After all, Carolina's truncated season denied the Tar Heels a chance at playing the ACC's last-place team, Boston College. All but two of Carolina's 17 ACC games came either against fellow NCAA Tournament participants, or were on the road. The credit for assembling a resume worthy of postseason selection lies with the players, and leaves Banghart grateful.

"I'm just so humbled to have earned our way in, because it's one of those things in life you just have to earn," she said. "You've got no other way to do it. Our crew earned it, and I'm really happy for them."

It's the culmination of a rebuilding process that began last March, when seven seniors departed the program and left Banghart and her staff in charge of a roster makeover. With five freshmen and two graduate transfers in the mix, there was a definite sense of newness come the start of practice in the fall. And with a limited non-conference schedule, the process of adjustment, gelling, and growth carried over into the ACC gauntlet. That factor only furthers the sense of achievement with being selected for the NCAA Tournament.

"There were so many new faces, and it was a total rebrand, and you throw in the global pandemic at the same time, it's been unique for everybody," Banghart said. "It just shows the resiliency of our team. It makes it much more special."

But pandemic and new faces aside, this NCAA Tournament trip carries extra weight for Banghart. Two years ago, she left a mid-major power she had built at Princeton, and the comfort zone that comes with eight NCAA Tournament berths in 12 seasons. While few doubted the potential of the North Carolina job for the Ivy League-educated Banghart, the truth was that the Tar Heels had only appeared in the Big Dance once in the four seasons prior to her arrival. Even after a tough finish to her first season in Chapel Hill, Banghart has the Tar Heels back in the NCAA Tournament in just her second season. It's a labor of love for her, and an annual goal to be here.

"This is not a job for the faint of heart, this is not a job for a time card," she said. "It's all-encompassing. You learn to love the kids you coach and you want it for them, there's no better athletic event for women than the NCAA Tournament, and every year it's my goal to earn this opportunity."

So now that Carolina is here, what are the keys to success? Focus on that team growth that resulted in five wins over the last six regular-season games for the first time since 2008.

"The great thing about the NCAA Tournament is that it's the 64 best teams that year," Banghart said. "Not the 64 best traditions, none of that. It's a team sport, and you have to meet the moment with how connected you are."

Opponent Capsules
Want to know more about the confirmed and potential foes for Carolina in the first two rounds?
Alabama
16-9 (8-8 SEC)
Series History: Carolina leads 6-4
Last Meeting: 12/15/19 – Alabama wins, 83-77, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Coach Banghart History: 1-1 (12/28/13 – Princeton 79, Alabama 59 in Charlottesville, Va.)
Last Meeting: 12/15/19 – Alabama wins, 83-77, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Synopsis: The first game in the tournament journey for Carolina pits the Tar Heels against the Crimson Tide for the 11^th time all-time, and third in the Big Dance. Alabama is making its first trip to the tournament since 1999, when, coincidentally enough, the Crimson Tide fell to Carolina 70-56 in the second round (the Crimson Tide beat Grambling before). Prior to that, Carolina beat Alabama 74-73 in overtime in the 1993 second round in Chapel Hill. Alabama is in its eighth season under head coach Kristy Curry, and has advanced to the WNIT three times under her watch in 2016, 2017, and 2018. If it weren't for the cancelation of the 2020 postseason, the Crimson Tide would have likely appeared in the WNIT again at 18-12 overall and 8-8 in the SEC.

The 2020-21 Crimson Tide is a classic case of a team that takes care of its business. The Tide boasts just a 1-8 record against ranked teams, beating then-No. 14 Mississippi State on Jan. 14, 86-78. However, Mississippi State slipped down the stretch and was not selected for the NCAA Tournament. On the flip side, Alabama is 15-1 against non-ranked teams, falling 67-62 to Ole Miss on Feb. 11. Look out for 6'3 F Jasmine Walker, whose 19.2 PPG and 9.6 RPG landed her a spot on the All-SEC First Team. Walker can stretch the floor, shooting 40.0 percent (72-for-180) from three-point land. Named to the All-SEC Second Team was G Jordan Lewis, who added 16.8 PPG, 4.2 APG, and 4.0 RPG.

Maryland
24-2 (17-1 Big Ten)
Series History: Carolina leads 39-37
Last Meeting: 3/7/14 – Carolina wins, 73-70, in the Greensboro Coliseum in the ACC Quarterfinals
Coach Banghart History: 0-3, all games at Princeton
Last Meeting: 3/16/18 – Maryland wins, 77-57, in Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh in the NCAA Tournament First Round
Synopsis: Once a longtime rival of the Tar Heels, these teams have not met since 2014, when Maryland exited the ACC for the Big Ten. There is one NCAA Tournament matchup between the two programs, in the 2006 Final Four, when Maryland won 81-70. The Terrapins went on to win the NCAA championship that year, topping Duke 78-75 in an "ACC invitational" – three of the four Final Four teams hailed from the ACC. By the way, two of longtime head coach Brenda Frese's assistants for Maryland in that 2006 season? Jeff Walz and Joanna Bernabei-McNamee, both of whom are now ACC head coaches.

This year's Terrapins have steamrolled through the season, racking up a 24-2 overall record and 17-1 Big Ten record, with losses against Missouri State - on a neutral court in Estero, Fla. way back on Thanksgiving weekend – and a two-point setback at Ohio State on Jan. 25. A 13-game win streak has followed that Ohio State loss, including a Big Ten Tournament title over Iowa, 104-84. Frese was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for leading the Terrapins to a league title, while two starters – G Diamond Miller (17.2 PPG/5.9 RPG) and G Ashley Owusu (18.3 PPG/5.7 RPG) – were named first-team All-Big Ten. Two more starters were honored in the Big Ten's postseason awards: G Katie Benzan was picked to the second team on the strength of 13.3 PPG and a whopping 50.6% three-point percentage (88-for-174), and F/G Chloe Bibby (13.4 PPG/6.0 RPG) was named honorable mention.

Mount St. Mary's
17-6 (14-4 NEC)
Series History: Carolina leads 2-0
Last Meeting: 12/2/96 – Carolina wins, 84-41, in Carmichael Arena
Coach Banghart History: First meeting
Synopsis: The Mountaineers are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995, and just the third time ever – with the first coming one year before the second, in 1994. The Northeast Conference champions smashed Wagner 70-38 in their league title game, earning a matchup with in-state foe Maryland…played in Texas. Mount St. Mary's lost each of its previous two showdowns in the NCAA Tournament, falling to Iowa in 1994 as a No. 14 seed and Alabama in 1995 as a No. 13 seed. No 15 seed has ever won a game in the NCAA Women's Tournament, though oddly enough, a No. 16 does have a win – 1998 Harvard over Stanford. So yes, the odds are miniscule that the Tar Heels and Mountaineers will see each other in the NCAA Tournament, but don't say I didn't prepare you!

At 14.1 PPG and 8.6 RPG, G/F Kendall Bresee was named Northeast Conference Player of the Year. She was also tabbed as the league's Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the All-Northeast Conference First Team. Three other Mount players received postseason awards: G Michaela Harrison (12.6 PPG/2.2 RPG; 33.1% 3PT PCT) was named to the All-NEC Second Team; G Aryna Taylor (11.9 PPG/3.0 RPG; 36.6% 3PT PCT) was named All-NEC Third Team; and G Jessica Tomasetti (3.9 PPG/2.1 RPG) was picked as an All-NEC All-Rookie Team member. Maria Marchesano is in her fourth season at the helm of The Mount, and was named NEC Coach of the Year this year for leading Mount St. Mary's to its most regular season wins since 1999-00, and most NEC wins since that same season.

Tar Heel Tournament Fun Facts

This is Carolina's 28^th all-time berth in the NCAA Tournament, and Courtney Banghart's ninth. It's her first trip as the head coach of the Tar Heels, and second-ever at-large bid (2016 with Princeton)
It will be Alabama's second straight NCAA Tournament game against Carolina – 22 years since the Tar Heels won 70-56 on Mar. 14, 1999 in the second round in Carmichael Arena.
Carolina has won at least one game in nine of its last 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament
It's the second time that Carolina has been a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as the Tar Heels feel to No. 7 seed Gonzaga in the first round in 2010.
Carolina has won two of its three games played on Mondays under Courtney Banghart, beating Navy and Pitt during the 2019-20 season.
Carolina is 8-8 all-time against SEC teams in the NCAA Tournament.
Carolina is 2-1 in NCAA Tournament games played in Texas, beating George Washington and Purdue in the 2007 Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, respectively, in Dallas. The Tar Heels then dropped a 2019 contest to California in the first round in Waco.

Up Next
Our Tar Heel Sports Network coverage of Monday's game begins with the Reeds Jewelers Pregame Show at 11:30 a.m. Catch the call 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. Additionally, fans in the Triangle can tune in on WCHL 97.9 FM/1360 AM.
Wednesday's second round matchup with either second-seeded Maryland or 15^th-seeded Mount St. Mary's will begin at a time to be determined on a court that is also TBD. As always, coverage will begin with Reeds Jewelers Pregame Show 30 minutes prior to tipoff. Catch the call 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. Additionally, fans in the Triangle can tune in on WCHL 97.9 FM/1360 AM.
In the meantime, check out this week's edition of the Courtney Banghart Show on the Tar Heel Voices podcast channel. Fans can listen after Wednesday morning by clicking here, or by searching "Tar Heel Voices" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and wherever else you get your podcasts. Be sure to subscribe to the channel to automatically receive each episode! Plus, fans in the Triangle can hear the show on WCHL 97.9 FM/1360 AM on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.

That's all for now! Go Heels!

-Matt