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#UNC coach Courtney Banghart, forward Taliyah Henderson and guard Elina Aarnisalo after win over BU
Dec 7, 2025
#UNC coach Courtney Banghart, forward Taliyah Henderson and guard Elina Aarnisalo after win over BU
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0:00
David, then open up for questions.
0:02
Yeah. Um, well, we can break down the
0:04
stats a little bit. Um, you know, 42
0:07
missed shots, but rebounded, offense
0:08
rebounded almost half of our misses. Um,
0:10
16 assists on 32 made field goals, five
0:13
guys, almost seven in double figures.
0:15
Um, after a three and 14 start in the
0:18
first quarter, shoot 50% the rest of the
0:19
way. Right? So, there's some statistics
0:21
that are good. Um, it was a quick
0:22
turnaround. You know, we had a lot of
0:24
prep and energy, mental and physical,
0:25
going to the Texas game. Came back real
0:27
late. Kids had exams, had a very short
0:29
prep day, uh early start to this one.
0:32
So, um clearly didn't respond as well as
0:34
we had hoped to that beginning. Um so,
0:36
certainly glad to, uh find a way and to
0:39
play better as the game went on, get our
0:40
sunk our teeth into the game a little
0:42
bit. Um and we know we start ACC play
0:43
soon. We're looking forward to it.
0:47
kind of kind of an odd game because you
0:49
came back so late and I assume some of
0:51
the players had exams already and you
0:53
got exams coming up. Yeah. Is it hard to
0:56
really find a rhythm in a game like
0:57
this?
0:57
Yeah, I mean it's kind of what they
0:58
signed on for, right? You can't come to
1:00
Carolina because you want to go to a top
1:01
five school and a top 10, top five
1:03
basketball program and then complain
1:04
during exams, right? Like you signed on
1:06
for that, right? Um, but you when you
1:08
get back at 2 in the morning and then
1:10
have literally an exam that day, you
1:12
know, and then have one quick uh
1:14
practice in prep mode with more exams
1:16
and then play. Yeah, that's not easy,
1:18
right? And that's not an ideal matchup
1:19
and not an ideal makeup to play elite.
1:22
Um, but I can tell you there's no one in
1:24
that locker room that's going to make an
1:25
excuse, right? We came out flat. That's
1:27
how it was. That's just a fact. We
1:28
didn't we didn't step on their necks
1:30
defensively. Um, we were a little bit
1:31
late on our tags. We didn't take any
1:33
charges. I mean, we were we were flat,
1:34
right? Offensively, we were I thought we
1:37
were surprised. We were so open that we
1:38
we weren't aggressive on catches, so we
1:41
turned down shots which lead to a lack
1:42
of rhythm. I mean, we were we were just
1:44
okay. Um but they responded um better
1:48
and I think in a way I think that will
1:49
settle into their stomachs a little bit
1:50
as we prepare for ACC opener.
1:53
Tied a season low, not in turnovers. You
1:55
have to be have
1:57
I mean I think I mean I'll pick on E. I
1:58
think she's one of the best ball
1:59
handlers in the game. I I mean I don't
2:00
think her three are are acceptable. I
2:02
mean she's better than that, right? And
2:04
so, um, yeah, nine turnovers is low. I
2:06
think zero is even better. Um, but, you
2:09
know, I'm I'm pleased that Tillia goes
2:12
in the game and and impacts it right
2:13
now. I said it on radio, I'll say it
2:15
again here. I think she's going to be
2:16
one of the triple double players at
2:17
Carolina as well. I mean, she got what,
2:19
five rebounds and 11 points and and four
2:22
steals and a pogo finish, which she just
2:24
learned while she's been here. Um, has
2:26
learned a lot. Um, she asked a lot of
2:28
questions. These guys bring her along.
2:30
they know we need her and um so I you
2:33
know I eat what you get again pretty
2:34
quiet in terms of how she performs but
2:36
the three turnovers we could have had
2:38
six.
2:39
Yeah.
2:39
Yeah. We should have had
2:43
Julia obviously a stat uh game didn't
2:46
miss. You had four steals, five
2:49
rebounds. Uh just talk about your all
2:52
game today. Um yeah. Well, I got in um
2:57
coach gives me the opportunity to kind
3:00
of come off the bench and bring much an
3:03
energy that
3:06
can help our starters. I think that is
3:09
my role on the team and I take that very
3:10
serious. I'm going to give 110% energy,
3:13
effort, intensity, whatever coach or the
3:15
team needs, I'm there for it. Today that
3:17
was scoring. What? Tomorrow it's
3:20
rebounding. The next day it's defense.
3:22
Whatever it is, I'm here and 100% ready
3:24
to kill it.
3:25
So, you feel like you could help the
3:26
team in many different ways.
3:28
Wherever coach and the team wants.
3:31
She sure can.
3:32
You have a week off comes to a little
3:34
almost South Carolina and then just won
3:36
today by 61. Can I not your thoughts on
3:39
a little team that seems to be trending
3:40
very much in the right direction?
3:42
Yeah, sort of what I said and to um
3:43
someone was asking if I was worried
3:44
about the ACC, right? I know the coaches
3:46
and players in the ACC and I'm not
3:47
worried about the ACC, right? Um it's a
3:50
it's a league that will continue to get
3:52
better um throughout the year. Coach
3:54
coaches are too good for their teams not
3:56
to. Um players are too good to not kind
3:58
of find their rhythm and there was you
4:00
know Jeff had some turnover so he had to
4:01
kind of find his rhythm with his new
4:02
group, right? But but the ACC schedules,
4:05
right? So we've scheduled well so we're
4:06
a little more battle tested. Um and so
4:08
we have a lot of respect for what what
4:10
Louisville has done. I mean they've
4:11
we've had great battles with them year
4:13
after year after year, right? Um whether
4:15
it's a week it's during exams or it's
4:17
two days, you know, it's a great it's a
4:18
great battle. Um, and uh, we're glad to
4:20
be home. We haven't been home. I feel
4:22
like I haven't been home forever. I like
4:23
didn't know my routine at home. Um, but
4:26
yeah, we we we know that Louisville will
4:28
give us a formidable challenge as they
4:29
always do. Uh, they're players are too
4:31
good. Their coach is too good not to.
4:34
What have the kind of older players and
4:35
I guess your first time to the ACC told
4:37
you about ACC play and some of the stuff
4:40
you're going to see anywhere you're
4:41
excited to go or?
4:43
Um, you can answer first. Um, I think
4:46
I'm excited for the rivalry games.
4:49
Everybody talks about like it's in our
4:50
fight song to like we don't like Duke.
4:55
Um, we don't like State. Those kind of
4:57
like rivalry games I really am excited
4:59
to be a part of because it you can tell
5:01
that like every team, every Carolina
5:04
team bands against or bands together
5:06
against our rivals. I think like that's
5:08
going to be exciting this year.
5:10
Yeah, I agree with her. Um, I'm excited
5:12
for the competitiveness, um, and how you
5:15
have to prepare for every game the same
5:16
way and be ready to play and you got to
5:18
show up every day. Um, and then your
5:21
results going to be good.
5:23
What What did you learn from this game,
5:25
you know, coming off the frustration
5:26
Thursday and and what went so well today
5:29
for you guys game and everything?
5:32
Um, well, I think we learned to well
5:36
take care of the ball more. Um,
5:38
especially coming from that Texas game
5:39
where they pressured us a lot. um this
5:42
game was a little bit different in that
5:43
way cuz they started in zone and I felt
5:45
like our offense was a little you know
5:47
we were just not as energetic or not as
5:50
we weren't playing as hard um as we
5:52
should. So I think that's the biggest
5:54
thing moving on for next week like we
5:55
got to be ready from the start and
5:56
actually like play defense and attack
5:59
and offense and take our opportunities
6:00
because we're not going to have as many
6:02
when we play against Louisville.
6:04
You mentioned kind of the slow start but
6:07
statistically in the third quarter it
6:08
was almost perfect. What do you think?
6:12
Well, I mean, I I think when you have a
6:14
chance to uh your teeth are into the
6:16
game, right? So, you've gotten your
6:17
hands and feet on them. You've kind of
6:18
got your eyes on them and then we have a
6:20
chance to reconnect behind closed doors
6:22
and and get an opportunity to to to
6:24
fine-tune to show in some ways some of
6:26
the things are not doing well and and
6:28
they get a chance to to look at each
6:30
other and and and and be accountable. Um
6:33
I I think that they respond accordingly.
6:35
Um and so I thought they they did that.
6:38
Now, this two this team will have to
6:40
continue to learn how to do that. Maybe
6:41
not after the first 20. Um, but for the
6:43
most part, you know, this is this is a
6:45
group that has gotten better game to
6:46
game. I mean, it's really hard to
6:48
complain at them. I watch how they they
6:49
practice. That's why I wasn't wasn't
6:51
that I was pissed. I was more like, why?
6:53
Like, why would you practice so hard and
6:54
then and then play kind of eh, right?
6:57
Um, doesn't happen very often,
6:58
thankfully. Um, but now we have to we
7:01
have to be able to address it when it
7:02
does.
7:03
Just uh rest and recovery for Reinia to
7:05
make sure she's ready for Louisville.
7:06
Exactly. Yep. I think we fortunately I,
7:09
you know, I trust a lot of our young
7:10
guys so they can kind of shoulder some
7:12
extra load. Um, and and let some of our
7:15
veterans have some rest like we rested
7:16
Nyla Harris before the three game in
7:18
three days. Um, you know, I think that
7:20
that's that's really important. Um, and
7:23
thankfully we feel like we've we can do
7:25
that without losing any sleep.
7:26
Is that part of her struggles? I mean,
7:28
she hasn't hit a field the last two
7:29
years.
7:30
She looks crazy. you know, I just I know
7:33
she's got to be frustrated and I think
7:35
she she's so team oriented that she
7:37
doesn't let on to that. Um but she's got
7:39
to be frustrated. Um you know, whether
7:41
she's she has her hands and feet and she
7:44
has just her soul all into our program
7:45
whether she's playing or not. Um I'm
7:48
sure these guys feel that way. So even
7:49
though she wasn't in uniform today, you
7:51
know, she has her imprint on us. Um but
7:54
we're fully for a kid that's done it,
7:56
you just know it's going to be all
7:57
right. Like she's going to be fine. We
7:58
just, you know, we've got to have that.
7:59
that she started her freshman season 0
8:01
for 16 or maybe it was one for 16. And I
8:03
remember meeting with her and saying, "I
8:05
don't make recruiting mistakes. So,
8:06
we're just going to keep believing in
8:08
you and look at how her freshman year
8:09
ended, right? So, she's just got to keep
8:11
keep believing in herself and keep
8:12
trusting and she will. She's proven
8:14
that." Um, and we're this is the part of
8:16
the season that she's most excited about
8:17
and so we I think we've handled her
8:19
offseason or her preseason pretty well
8:21
to put her in the best position to help
8:22
us be successful.
8:23
Yeah. You mentioned earlier the idea of
8:25
like team spirit, especially in those
8:26
rivalry games. It does really seem like
8:28
on the whole this kind of collective
8:30
team performance has been a big part of
8:32
your season and today I mean five
8:33
separate players had double digit points
8:35
which is pretty incredible.
8:36
What do you think has defined that kind
8:38
of collective aspect of the season and
8:39
how important is it for you as a coach
8:41
and you guys as players to keep working?
8:43
I'll go first because I think it's I
8:45
feel very strongly about this. I think
8:47
show me a competitor right and that that
8:50
the competitors are the best teammates
8:51
because they actually do care about
8:52
winning the most. the kids that are
8:54
actually are are racing to the stat
8:55
sheet after the game and there's plenty
8:56
of them in our game. Um they're they're
8:59
they're not as competitive quite
9:00
honestly, right? These guys are Ela's
9:03
played against pros for many years. She
9:05
came here not because she's excited
9:06
about going to English class tomorrow,
9:08
right? Um she came here because she
9:10
thought this was a program where she
9:11
could make a mark, right? And and we
9:13
could be good as a program, right? Tia,
9:16
as I'm sure you just saw, she had other
9:17
choices as well, right? Um but she on
9:20
her visit and and with our
9:21
conversations, she knew this was a
9:23
program that could get her um the best
9:25
chance to get to a final four where she
9:27
could help us do that, right? And so I
9:29
think I've got a whole team of those
9:30
kind of guys. And so that's partly why
9:32
the first quarter I was confused. It's
9:34
hard to get mad at them because I know
9:35
how competitive they are because they're
9:36
not racing to the stat sheet. Now they
9:38
care. Their numbers matter, right? If E
9:40
or Tulia play as many minutes as they
9:41
did and don't contribute statistically,
9:43
that's a problem, right? So I'm not
9:44
saying it doesn't matter. The stat sheet
9:46
doesn't matter. What I'm saying is if it
9:48
matters more than the result, right,
9:50
that shows itself in so many different
9:52
ways. And then what happens is those
9:54
kids start talking about how they're
9:55
they're really competitive and they're
9:57
not selfish. That's not what these kids
9:59
ever talk about, right? Because that's
10:00
just so not in their realm of thinking.
10:02
So I do think their their collective
10:04
camaraderie is because they really do
10:06
care genuinely about winning, right? As
10:09
as do I. I've recruited kids that kind
10:11
of fit my personality. Um again, it's
10:13
not that it's not that my win loss
10:15
record isn't doesn't matter. It does
10:16
matter, right? But like you're either
10:18
about winning and you are an elite
10:20
competitor or you're not. There's not
10:21
really a midway. Um and so these guys
10:24
are like like uh T didn't play as much
10:26
as you usually does against Texas. There
10:28
was not one long face, none of that
10:30
crap. She was just like whatever the
10:31
team needs for the next game. So no one
10:33
is surprised. This is how she performed.
10:36
She practiced yesterday ready to do
10:37
this, right? Um those are the type of
10:39
teammates we have. Um and I think that's
10:42
the undertold story. Actually, I think
10:44
that the overld story is how talented we
10:46
have so many talented players. It's like
10:47
a lot of people don't have really
10:48
talented players because they have three
10:49
of them that are selfish. So then the
10:51
really talented ones who are team
10:52
players don't want to be there because
10:53
the really other ones are are so
10:55
selfish, right? Um this is a this is a
10:57
talented group of people that truly are
10:59
about winning and that matters.
11:02
The previous games has been either
11:03
Harris or Grant in the starting line. I
11:05
think today was the first time with
11:07
both.
11:07
How does that change to where you've run
11:10
your offense or does it not? It does
11:12
because that means we had two bigs in,
11:14
right? And so that gives us some
11:15
strengths. It gives us some things that
11:17
um out of rhythm that we haven't done as
11:19
often. Um I don't think it matters
11:21
necessarily which one. It's that now
11:23
there's she's navigating a bigger lineup
11:25
versus versus um a smaller lineup on
11:28
both ends, right? So it's just
11:30
different. And I think that's one of our
11:31
strengths. Um as Tia continues to evolve
11:33
in our program, she'll sort of be both.
11:35
She'll be a small lineup and a big
11:37
lineup, right? I mean today I think she
11:38
played the three, the four, and the five
11:39
in one game, right? Um, and so I think
11:42
that's what changes it. It allows you to
11:44
be there are certain teams in the ACC
11:45
that um, we won't be able to be big the
11:48
whole time. We'll be able to be small
11:49
the whole time. So I think we've done a
11:50
good job as a as a program putting
11:53
ourselves big and small at different
11:54
times to get more and more rhythm with
11:56
that. But again, like Laney's not here
11:59
crying about not starting or or Harris
12:01
or whoever else hasn't. I don't I don't
12:03
exactly remember who has and hasn't.
12:04
Raniah, right? It's about whatever we
12:07
can do to make sure that we can continue
12:08
to progress to be good enough, right?
12:10
Um, and again, as a coach, not that they
12:12
don't care how they perform, but as a
12:14
coach, it allows me to dive all in
12:15
knowing that winning is the is their
12:17
primary focus. Primary focus.
12:19
Hey, talk about continuing to progress.
12:21
I guess what's the number one priority
12:22
for the team ahead of you involvement?
12:24
What you really want to work on
12:25
training?
12:26
For me, it's it's I need them to, which
12:29
we talked about in the locker room, they
12:30
need to we just need to own the reality
12:31
that they're in exams, right? So, when
12:33
they're not in exams, they need to be
12:34
here. And when they are in exams, they
12:36
need to be there, right? We can't kind
12:37
of be half and half. um and that and
12:40
that we're we're not Louisville doesn't
12:41
care that we're in exams. Our fans don't
12:43
care that we're I don't care that we're
12:44
in exams, right? So, they're going to
12:46
have to navigate that accordingly. Um
12:48
and I have to navigate that to give them
12:49
the time on the heavier days that they
12:51
need to prepare some a little bit of
12:53
extra off time. Um but, you know, we
12:55
know Louisville is a very formidable
12:57
opponent. You know, Jeff's one of the
12:58
better coaches in our game. He has some
13:00
of the more talented players in our
13:01
team. He's a winning tradition in his
13:02
program. I mean, we battled them. I
13:05
mean, I remember all the way back when
13:06
that basket went ball went out at the
13:08
last second and we beat Louisville and
13:10
they were like a top five team and we
13:11
were still building. Um, this is just a
13:13
great the ACC as he said, you have to
13:15
win them all and if you go and beat
13:17
Louisville and then you go lose to
13:18
whoever's perceived to be the worst
13:19
team, it doesn't matter, right? So, the
13:21
next game on our schedule is is
13:22
Louisville and it's it happens to be
13:24
against a very very good team, right?
13:26
Yet, then you have to go on to the next
13:28
one and see how it all plays out in the
13:29
end, right? Um, so I know for for these
13:33
guys they haven't worried about it at
13:35
all because we do one game at a time.
13:37
Um, but the next time I see them, I know
13:39
their eyes will be locked into what
13:40
what's the next challenge.
13:46
Defensively, but also just collectively
13:47
as
13:51
um, I would say just my teammates
13:54
ability to kind of cause disruptions. I
13:57
was able to see the ball before it got
14:00
to my player, but it's because of our
14:03
team collective communication and to
14:06
speed them up. I wouldn't be able to get
14:08
those without my team.
14:10
Back to that unselfish and any of you
14:12
can can answer this, but
14:14
E will go. She loves answering
14:15
questions.
14:17
Play late in the second quarter. Um,
14:20
sorry, excuse third quarter. There's a
14:22
steel
14:23
pass up in transition. I think Laney
14:25
pass
14:25
indie Laney back to Indie. Yes. Um
14:28
or is it you
14:29
How important is it for you guys to pass
14:30
up a good shot for a great shot where
14:33
you kind of see that help this team down
14:35
the road?
14:36
Um yeah, I think it's very important.
14:38
It's something we really emphasize
14:40
finding the best shots in the offense.
14:41
Um whether it's early in the shot clock
14:43
or not, but just trying to find the ways
14:45
to get the best shot. Um, I also think
14:48
like that position really shows our well
14:51
our competitiveness, but also we don't
14:53
care who scores as someone as as someone
14:56
does it. Like when someone scores, we're
14:58
happy. We want to win, but we we don't
15:00
care like how many pass it needs. Like
15:02
we're going to do it. Um,
15:04
yeah, I think that that just like shows
15:07
our our game and our like mentality. I
15:11
think there were times where E was a
15:12
little unselfish, right? And so I think
15:14
sometimes turnovers
15:16
Yeah. Sometimes we've got to make sure
15:17
that they the best shot. We're so used
15:20
to the best shot being we have we force
15:21
closeouts and we play with space and all
15:23
the things and and sometimes we get so
15:26
excited about creating it for the next
15:27
guy instead of wait they just created it
15:28
for you, right? Um and so sometimes
15:30
their unselfishness they'll see that on
15:32
film. I thought we missed opportunities
15:34
to take some charges. It's a toughness
15:36
stat. They'll see some of that on film.
15:37
We'll have to figure out as coaches what
15:39
part of the film is relevant to prepare
15:40
us for the next opponent. Um and and
15:42
where do we move on and that's that will
15:44
be to be determined. Um, but sometimes
15:46
they're a little bit too unselfish
15:48
actually offensively. So, we try to talk
15:49
about making the right basketball play,
15:50
whatever that play is. And in that
15:52
particular moment, that was the right
15:53
basketball play. Fun to watch.
15:56
Any other questions?
15:58
Perfect. Thanks everyone.