Carmichael Comments: Lock ‘Em Down

Carmichael Comments: Lock 'Em Down
Vol. 7, No. 4
By: Matt Krause (@MattKrausePxP)

What a trip for the Tar Heels! Carolina ventured to the Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas, and returned home with a trophy. The Tar Heels picked up a trio of impressive wins against Ball State, Villanova, and Indiana by clamping down on the defensive end of the floor and riding a balanced scoring attack. Alyssa Ustby was named the tournament MVP thanks to three straight games of double-digit rebounds. Trayanna Crisp joined her on the all-tournament team after an impressive game of five made three-pointers on Monday in the championship game.

Here's five notes and nuggets that summarize the week that was:

Carolina is now 10-2 in Thanksgiving Multi-Team Events (MTEs) under Courtney Banghart. The Tar Heels went unbeaten and claimed the championship of their MTE for the fourth time under Banghart: 2019 Cancun Challenge, 2021 Goombay Splash, 2022 Phil Knight Invitational, 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis.

It's become a staple of the Courtney Banghart era for Carolina to have success in early-season MTEs. These events are *difficult* to win, especially events with the bracket format used by the Battle 4 Atlantis with eight teams and three games in three days. It's hard for coaches and staff because of the preparation process behind the scenes lasts much, much longer than simply the time between games. Coaches are preparing for seven potential opponents, while only playing three of them. For the players, the challenge is obvious. The Tar Heels tipped off on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., and wrapped tournament play by 2 p.m. on Monday. That's three games in 44 hours.
"It was a great week," Banghart reflected. "We had eight days to prepare. We felt we got better, (and) in a long season you've got to get better day by day."

Carolina held consecutive opponents under 40 points for the second time under Banghart, having previously done so last year against Hampton and Elon. It's the first time in program history that Carolina has held consecutive power conference opponents below 40 points in consecutive games.

Needless to say, the defensive effort in the games against Villanova and Indiana was downright impressive. Villanova was coming off of a comeback win against Texas A&M, and Indiana off an upset of No. 18 Baylor for each team to reach their matchup with Carolina. At this point in Carolina history, there are still milestones being reached, but it's genuinely hard to set a program first in year No. 51. But when you hold teams to 28-for-106 shooting (26.4%), and an impressive 19-for-62 on two-point attempts (30.6%), you hold two legitimate NCAA Tournament-caliber programs to 36 and 39 points, respectively. Carolina's size and length bothered Villanova and Indiana inside, while attention to detail in the scouting report took the Wildcats and Hoosiers out of their preferred looks.
"We guarded all weekend," Banghart explained. "I give (my team) a ton of credit, they trust each other, they're accountable to what we ask them to do, they take pride in it."

Carolina's 47.8% three-point percentage against Indiana was the Tar Heels' best this season and best since 52.4% against NC State on Feb. 22. Carolina's 11 made three pointers are the most in a game for the Tar Heels since also hitting 11 against NC State on Feb. 22. The last time Carolina made more was 12 against Wofford on Dec. 11, 2022.

When teams hit a lot of three-pointers, they are prone to success. It's simple math, as Coach Banghart will say, that three is better than two. Monday's game against Indiana was one of the Tar Heels' best displays of perimeter shooting in recent memory, as five different players contributed a three-pointer. Transfer Trayanna Crisp had a breakout game, becoming the 14th individual player in the Banghart era with five made threes in a game. Ciera Toomey, lauded and hyped for her ability to stretch the floor, hit a career-best three three-pointers.
For Banghart, the three-point barrage can be attributed to her team's unselfishness and willingness to share the ball when the defense focuses on a particular player with the ball in their hands.
"We are good enough to create a collapse," Banghart said. "We have to make good decisions out of it."

Indiana's three made free throws are the fewest for a Carolina opponent this season and fewest since Syracuse also had three on Jan. 4. Indiana's five free throws attempted are the fewest for a Carolina opponent this season and fewest since Western Carolina tried just one on Dec. 15, 2023.

Indiana came into the game averaging 19 made free throws per game, and shooting foul shots at an 83% success rate. In Sunday's win over Baylor, IU was 26-for-30 at the line. Needless to say, limiting Indiana at the line was an area of focus for Carolina into the game.
The Tar Heels did just that. Not only did Indiana fall well below the 19 free throw makes, their 3-for-5 performance was the lowest against a Tar Heel team in nearly a year.
"That was a huge part of our game," Banghart mentioned. "We said 'they shoot 83% from the line, if you foul them, it's a guaranteed two points,' so give (Carolina players) a lot of credit. This is a team that went out and did it on their own."

Alyssa Ustby posted 13 rebounds against Indiana, her third straight game with double-digit rebounds. It's the sixth time in Ustby's career that she's had a stretch of three straight games of 10+ rebounds. Her 27 rebounds in two games are the most in a two-game span since 27 on Feb. 1 & 4 against NC State and Virginia Tech. Ustby's five assists matched a season high.

Through four games this season, Alyssa Ustby hadn't recorded a double-double despite owning 38 in her Tar Heel career. That changed on Saturday, when her 12-point, 11-rebound game against Ball State marked double-double No. 39. She upped the production on Sunday, reaching a double-double by halftime and owning 14 points & 14 rebounds. Then on Monday, Ustby's 13 boards helped the Tar Heels outrebound Indiana 47-31 in the dominant win. Even though she didn't record a double-double, Ustby handed out five assists while still scoring nine points.

Up Next
Just one game is on the schedule for the Tar Heels this week – a post-Thanksgiving Friday showdown with nearby opponent North Carolina Central. It's a 2:00 p.m. start at Carmichael for the Tar Heels and Eagles in the eighth meeting in a series that the Tar Heels lead 7-0. NCCU has played a very difficult schedule, as Carolina is already the fourth power conference opponent that the Eagles have played, with two more to come after visiting Chapel Hill. THSN radio coverage of the game begins 30 minutes prior to tip with the Reeds Jewelers Pregame Show at 1:30 p.m. Catch the call worldwide for free on the Varsity Network app from Learfield, GoHeels.com, or the GoHeels app.

That's all for now. Happy Thanksgiving and Go Heels!
-Matt