University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC held its first official practice of the 2023-24 season on Thursday.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Energy And Communication Define Day One For WBB
September 28, 2023 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Let the record show that practice for the 2023-24 North Carolina women's basketball season officially began at 2:50 p.m. on Sept. 28, with Tar Heel players, coaches and staff gathered in a huddle in the center of the Carmichael Arena court.
"First day!" coach Courtney Banghart said to her team, standing beneath the facility's LED video board, a new look for the historic facility. The squad standing beneath it has a new look, too – more than half the team is new to Carolina blue, with eight of the 15 wearing other colors this time last year.
The huddle discussed the importance of practicing daily habits, then got right to work forming those. "Ready to rock on Day 1?" Banghart asked her team. The answer was yes, and the Tar Heels dove right into a defensive drill, cheering, clapping and encouraging each other.
"I'm really pleased that the experienced guys are acting like it and the younger ones are not just along for the ride," Banghart, who is in her fifth season in Chapel Hill, said afterward. "They are absolutely here to make a difference – you can tell. They are here to be held to the standard, they are here to contribute."
Throughout the practice, Banghart emphasized communication, especially important with a group still learning to work together. One of the newcomers, junior transfer Maria Gakdeng, has seen that bond building all summer. "It's been going really well, getting to know the team off the court and on the court," she said this week, looking ahead to Thursday's official start. "Once we start practice we have the opportunity to just put things together, and we have more time to be around each other. I'm looking forward to it."
Gakdeng looked right at home in Carolina blue, as did the team's two other transfers, graduate student Lexi Donarski and sophomore Indya Nivar.
"I'm super excited," Donarski said of the start of practice. "We've been going really hard but it's exciting to get into the full swing of things. It's a new chapter in my life and I'm happy with the people I get to spend it with. We really compete and make each other better every day."
The team practice for a little under two hours, finishing with a six-minute scrimmage that emphasized avoiding turnovers. "Defensively you're on Day 36, remember that," Banghart said to her team. "Putting it all together, we're on Day 1. But defensively this is Day 36."
The navy jerseys came out ahead after a spirited six minutes, capping a successful "first" day, which Banghart acknowledged afterward is as much ceremonial as anything. The one important difference: the shift to 20-hour weeks brings a significant uptick in the number of hours that coaches can work with players. "That means we now have time each day carved out for their development, which is helpful," she said. "Other than that, it's just a part of our journey."
That journey is pointed toward the season opener on Nov. 8, on this same court against Gardner-Webb. Judging by Thursday's practice, those on board are anticipating a thrilling trip.
"The level of competitiveness is really exciting," Banghart said. "There's a really good blend of experience on our roster, but there's also an incredible blend of youth that's already committed to what we're doing. And that shows itself with being more vocal, it shows itself withholding themselves to a different standard.
"This gym feels and sounds different than it did last year, already, just on Day 1."
"First day!" coach Courtney Banghart said to her team, standing beneath the facility's LED video board, a new look for the historic facility. The squad standing beneath it has a new look, too – more than half the team is new to Carolina blue, with eight of the 15 wearing other colors this time last year.
The huddle discussed the importance of practicing daily habits, then got right to work forming those. "Ready to rock on Day 1?" Banghart asked her team. The answer was yes, and the Tar Heels dove right into a defensive drill, cheering, clapping and encouraging each other.
"I'm really pleased that the experienced guys are acting like it and the younger ones are not just along for the ride," Banghart, who is in her fifth season in Chapel Hill, said afterward. "They are absolutely here to make a difference – you can tell. They are here to be held to the standard, they are here to contribute."
Throughout the practice, Banghart emphasized communication, especially important with a group still learning to work together. One of the newcomers, junior transfer Maria Gakdeng, has seen that bond building all summer. "It's been going really well, getting to know the team off the court and on the court," she said this week, looking ahead to Thursday's official start. "Once we start practice we have the opportunity to just put things together, and we have more time to be around each other. I'm looking forward to it."
Gakdeng looked right at home in Carolina blue, as did the team's two other transfers, graduate student Lexi Donarski and sophomore Indya Nivar.
"I'm super excited," Donarski said of the start of practice. "We've been going really hard but it's exciting to get into the full swing of things. It's a new chapter in my life and I'm happy with the people I get to spend it with. We really compete and make each other better every day."
The team practice for a little under two hours, finishing with a six-minute scrimmage that emphasized avoiding turnovers. "Defensively you're on Day 36, remember that," Banghart said to her team. "Putting it all together, we're on Day 1. But defensively this is Day 36."
The navy jerseys came out ahead after a spirited six minutes, capping a successful "first" day, which Banghart acknowledged afterward is as much ceremonial as anything. The one important difference: the shift to 20-hour weeks brings a significant uptick in the number of hours that coaches can work with players. "That means we now have time each day carved out for their development, which is helpful," she said. "Other than that, it's just a part of our journey."
That journey is pointed toward the season opener on Nov. 8, on this same court against Gardner-Webb. Judging by Thursday's practice, those on board are anticipating a thrilling trip.
"The level of competitiveness is really exciting," Banghart said. "There's a really good blend of experience on our roster, but there's also an incredible blend of youth that's already committed to what we're doing. And that shows itself with being more vocal, it shows itself withholding themselves to a different standard.
"This gym feels and sounds different than it did last year, already, just on Day 1."
Players Mentioned
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