#UNC women's basketball Coach Courtney Banghart's summer press conference

for questions. Thanks. Good stuff. Hi everybody. Thanks for your time. It's like the best time of year. Um we have a

a little bit better sense of of who our team is. We're sort of in the thick of it with uh on the recruiting side. Um

got the transfers and everyone's kind of settled. Um so, uh it's been a great summer. We're in our last week of

workouts. Um so, uh we got we finish up on Friday and then they head home for a

little bit before we get back for the fall. So, excited about our non-conference schedule. Um, I think I'm

allowed to announce most of them. Um, we'll be playing in Vegas. We'll be playing UCLA in Fairfield. We'll be

playing Kansas State, South Dakota State in Colombia in Cancun, all of whom won a tournament game. We'll be opening of

course in an exhibition game with South Carolina. Uh, we've got obviously Texas and the SEC Challenge on the road. Um,

so just a lot of formidable challenges before our our gauntlet and ACC season. So, uh, happy you guys are on and and

certainly happy to talk about our team or about the league or whatever I can do the state of the game. Anything that that you guys find useful.

Mitch, hey, how's it going? Awesome. Good to see you. Good to see you, too. Um, I just wanted to ask, you know, this this kind of time

around with the transfer portal, how different or if it was different was

that process with house kind of looming in terms of like maybe like what players

were sort of asking for and like how much unknown was sort of out there. Yeah, you know, the transfer portal has

been so good to us um in that we haven't had sort of the max essays and the mass addition had basically one to two a year

and all of those people have added so much to our team. Um and so, you know,

it happened pretty quick, you know, because we were really targeted in who we were looking for. Um Nyla Harris, you

know, she's been a bear to handle on the other team for so long. And when her name went in the portal, uh especially

with the graduation of Alyssa, we were like, whoa. You know, just a really good experienced elite eight, lots of

starting experience in our league. Um and she really was really targeted on what she wanted. You know, she wanted to

have an enhanced offensive role. Um she wanted to be developed in a way that Alyssa had really expanded her game with

us. Um, so that was kind of I don't even know if she took any other visits besides ours. That was a really quick

process. Um, and then, um, you know, because we were able to sort of prepay

rosters before the rules changed, you know, that really helped. You know, it gave a lot of people, um, some more

flex, there were less regulations on it. Um, and then obviously E played all the

way through the final four. And so we were we knew we sort of wanted more facilitating guard play, but we weren't

going to um we weren't going to step below a certain level. Um and when she came available, it was between us and

UCLA the first time. And um we ended up falling in second or really had another

point guard commit earlier and you know, whatever the details were, but uh when she went in, it was very similar as

well. I know she took I think two visits total back toback. Her parents flew over, her mom flew over from Finland.

Um, and you know, within two hours after leaving campus, she had decided. So, um, I'm not sure we sort of had quite the,

you know, there were some other teams that probably dealt with that a little bit more. Um, ours were really targeted on what they wanted and, um, because it

was before the June 1st. It was from a prepaid standpoint, we were in pretty good shape. Does that answer your

question, Mitch? Yeah. Yeah. I was just, you know, I know like some schools kind of dealt with that differently. like they had some NIL

and that they weren't really sure what they were going to have with House and how how stuff was sort of going to shake

out. So, yeah, we've been really fortunate. We had done a good job raising money and before the rules changed, we were

allowed to sort of utilize that. Um, and so we've done a good job as you've seen at home games kind of galvanizing the

the fan base and so if they want good players here, we needed them to donate for them and um and they did a really

good job. So, we didn't feel any of that stress. I think that other programs felt that we might moving forward with the

regulations, but we felt okay in this particular year. Yeah. Orl,

hey Cordy, good to good to see you. You too. Happy summer. Uh

Boba laid out the uh distribution of revenue sharing money and while football, men's basketball get the most

of it, you and the baseball program are all getting also getting some of that. What kind of impact is that having for

you as a program? Yeah. Well, I mean this past year the numbers were a bit skewed because we had done so well on

the fundraising side, right? And so you sort of Bubba wanted to make sure that everyone was taken care of based on what

they needed and clearly the roster we had, we had what we needed, right? Um and you know it's an annual decision

that they make. Um and so moving forward into this coming year with sort of more

regulation in place. So needing more asurances from the revshare side, I think we feel really good um you know

about the support we've been given. So, um, that's kind of the new age, right? You can't just compete in basketballs or

football or some of these revenue sports, uh, because you like your team. You have to invest in them in different

ways and pay back, um, in a way give some of the revenue they're earning back to the athletes that are earning it,

right? And so, um, you know, it's it's I've always said all along, if our competition is getting nothing, we're

happy getting nothing, right? It's sort of where are what is the state of the game and how competitive do we want to

be in it? And um I like what I said. I want to ask about that. We heard about

a Russian wing. I'm going to botch the name if I try to pronounce it. I don't know if you can talk about it. Could you

give us an update on her? I don't think we're allowed to talk about it until things are signed and all

that. So I'm not able to give much information on that. And then Kayla Mcerson, what's her

status and what are the chances that she might play next season? You know, we always are hopeful. you

know, the kid has really been given a lot of bad luck and sometimes the the higher powers determine that final

decision. Um, and so I know she's got an impactful career in athletics. I don't

know how much it's going to be playing and how much of it's going to be leading in coaching and mentoring. Um, so we'll

that's an ongoing thing and um we will we will certainly release an all ahead or or an all breaks when that

information is available. It's we're not trying to keep it. It sounds like we can't keep anymore. Sounds like that that rule is changing, but yeah, it's

the summer. We're we're we're not we're not really sure where we stand on that quite yet. Thanks. Of course, Michael.

Uh hey, Courtney. Good to see you again. Um last season was obviously there were a

couple of firsts uh in your tenure that you got to the AC semi-finals. Um hosted in Carmichael, highest seed for you guys

in the tournament since 2013. Do you feel like now going into year seven for you here, you're kind of at a point

where the program can start to level up those benchmark achievements during the season? Like instead of just hosting,

maybe it's getting number two, number one seed, um instead of just getting to the AC semi-final AC championship, you

know what I mean? Yeah, I do. You know, clearly the uh the program success has only increased our recruiting competitions. Um you know,

and so much of it falls under that. Every team's got its own unique um personality and so we're in the process

of that. Um you know what there's I think I I saw that there were there are

three teams in the ACC that have won 11 or more games each of the last four years and we're one of them. Um and so

as I sort of sit I sort of say we don't always know how we're going to do it and what style we're going to have to play

to do it but we're going to find ways to win here and we've done that. I think hosting is a big deal. Two sweet 16s in

four years like you said. um which means you're 80 minutes. We're final four and um we've got to keep finding ways for

that 80 minutes to go in our favor. Um you know, with your roster and and the style in which you play to the strengths

of your players on your team. Um so, you know, our recruiting is is is helping

us. We like the way the roster is shaking out. We like where we're kind of at with 26s and 27s. It's just we need

to keep moving forward. And you know, with all how deep our game is, Michael, it's like, you know, you can you can

beat NC State, you can beat Duke, you can lose to NC State, you can lose to Duke, you can, you know, it's just it's

it's it's really you got to kind of get a little bit of luck in there as well. And um we'll keep hoping for that, too.

And and you mentioned Alyssa, Aushi, and Lexi, and Maria are gone to the pros.

and grace. You know, we got that's a lot of leadership that uh you lost in one summer. Who have you seen at least in

the early stages of the team coming together step up to fill that void? You know, I I I'm really careful in the

summer not to put them in boxes, right? Because you want to give them the offseason as a chance to to grow and

then show it. Um, I will say that the seniors on this year's team with Kayla and India and Nyla Harris, man, it's

hard to find a more competitive athletic group, right? Um, so Nyla has fit in

like a glove to our group. She brings a lot of joy, but she brings a lot of competitiveness and experience. I was talking to her earlier today. She had

this play in practice yesterday where she like literally laid out to save a ball behind the basket and ended up

being a tip to a three for her team to win it. and I said, "If you had gotten hurt in that moment, we would have been

in a fight, you know." Um, but she's just competitive. Um, so they've really done a really great job. I mean, the

juniors both in Sid and Ria, you know, they're two of the most well-loved humans kind of on planet Earth and as

well as on this team. And so what they say goes. Um, so the team will be different, right? It will be different,

but it'll be led by different personalities and people that have watched um, good leadership and and are

looking forward to having their turn that have the team play to their personalities. For sure.

Jeremiah, good to see you, Courtney. You, too. I wanted to ask again about uh Elena. I

know you talked about her and some of the things she brings to the table as well. Um, how do you when you were

watching her on film and everything like that? How do you kind of see her game complimenting some of the existing

guards that you have on the team, you know, particularly Ria and Laney who had big girls last year. How do you see her

game kind of complimenting theirs? Yeah, he's good. I mean, I watched her play so many of the of the of the teams

when she played overseas. Um, you know, these kids play professionally almost before they even come to college. So,

you know, I know she was in the same league as Steph Watts and actually average like three times as many points at 16, right? This kid's been playing at

a high level for a long time. Um, and then, you know, UCLA, it's hard to watch the West Coast teams. I go to bed

relatively early. Um, but she's an interesting, she's always kind of, like I said, we were I spent a lot of, I

talked to her once a week for about two years before, um, she went to UCLA. So, um, I've loved her game for a long time.

She's got an she's got really, really shifty. Um, she makes really good decisions. Like, she has great floor

vision, can pass on the move, can kind of pass all different ways on all different planes. Um, and so I think

she'll really help from a from a um, helping other people play to their strengths position. Right. we sometimes

lacked facilitators last year kind of across the guard uh spot. Um and she can

dribble shoot and pass and uh in so many different ways. Um so she'll she can play on the ball, off the ball as many

of our guards now can. Um so I think the ball will move a little bit more. Our post players have much more range. Um

and so we're we're going to have more spacing. Our offense will be quite different than it's been. And that's

okay, right? It's you know, our job as coaches is to play to the strengths of our best players, right? and our best

players typically have been kind of our inside, you know, the Alyssa Maria matchup and and those two um you know,

weren't sort of as comfortable behind the arc as as some of the people behind them. So, um yeah, but e, you guys are

going to are really going to love her. Um she's just very experienced and knows how to play the game the right way,

which has been great. Erin, what's up? Howdy, Courtney. Um, we've seen secret

scrimmages and all these things in the past and now exhibitions are becoming more the thing. I'm curious kind of how

the the South Carolina game and playing it in Atlanta, not at one venue or

another, a home court or another came about. You know, we had scrimmage down there a couple years ago and then when they were

due to come up here, I had to call Don. We didn't have we didn't even have six bodies to actually do it. That was the

year we were really injured a couple years ago. Um, and so we pushed it a year. Um, and then this past year, um,

you know, we ended up, it just ended up not kind of having a date that worked. And so they were they were going to kind

of return or we we knew we wanted to play another one. Um, and then we were fortunately other people are excited

about it. And so when other people are excited about it, it comes with some compensation and um, and some tickets

and and all the things. So, you know, these two teams have been really good for a couple years. there's a lot of excitement and Atlanta feels like the

right right place for both of us in terms of where we have donors and and where we have alums um and in an area

where instead of Greensboro or Charlotte or or us or them kind of another area uh

to allow some of our our great fans of our brand to be there. So, it just made sense for both of us and and it comes

with it some um some perks as well for our programs. Do you like the idea of playing these

public exhibition games that like I said it wasn't that long ago that everybody kind of talked about them very quietly

and off the record so to speak and now it's just out there like any other game in a sense.

Yeah. I mean we'll still scrimmage. So we'll also scrimmage Tennessee. I mean we'll still do that. Um and we opted um

I think I think the exhibition is in place of our second scrimmage. I don't I don't really know. But um I think the I

like both. Right. The hard part is is that let's say like last year when we scrimmaged Tennessee, you know, she was

brand new and so she's not going to put things in a progression in that work for Carolina. She's going to do it in terms

of getting her team ready for November. Um and so it becomes like, well, you can't zone. Oh, we're not going to count

fouls. Oh, we can't call, you know, based on where each team is ready or hey, will you press us? Will you not

press us? Right? So those become more situational whereas an exhibition game will become more game-like and I think

there's homes for both. Um we we bring back some experience, they bring back some experience. So maybe we don't maybe

we're more ready this year for that than we may have been in the past. Um so it just worked for this year and I think

it'll be good uh for the fans to kind of get a taste of of what's going what's what's to come. It gives us a good

starting spot and them too, you know, where where are we and and where do we need to be before we have that tough November that I just mentioned.

Mitch or Caroline, sorry, sorry, sorry, I haven't got you yet. Caroline, sorry. Hey, Courtney. Thanks so much. Um, I was

just curious about Blanca Thomas. She's a player that was kind of sitting behind Maria, still getting some in-game reps.

I'm just curious what kind of improvements you've seen during this off season and how her role is kind of taking shape. Yeah, I mean I think it it

sounds cliche that every coach in the country is telling you how how improved their pieces are, but um I think what

happened for this past year is is we really kind of had a top six or seven and then there was everybody else and

there had been a there was there was a drop off and I think that group that that was outside of that six or seven

felt it and they said there's got to be a change. I've got to make more progress in order to be ready in order to earn in

order to you know to contribute. And um all of them, I mean, Sierra and Blanca are going headtohead every day and they

don't even look the same, right? I mean, you their bodies look different. And then, you know, same deal with with

Leila and Jordan Zubich. They're just We had some some fans of the program in at practice the other day and they just

couldn't believe it. And I was like, yeah, I mean that if you get better all the time, right? Some people's journey

happened takes longer, right? And so although you weren't seeing them in the games for the most part, they were getting better. And then I think they

have just a really coming, you know, we had some pretty honest conversations in the spring that there's no such thing as

like your turn. It is like preparedness. It is confidence. It is it is it is um

results, right? And and there was skill development needed to happen. There was physicality needed to be developed. Um

so that both both Sierra and Blanca allow us to play with a lot of space. They're good with the ball in their

hands. They're really good passers. They can really shoot it. um you know so it allows us to play a little bit different

way um which allows our guards to have more space which you know again if if they hadn't worked so much on their face

up game and maybe wouldn't have had that flexibility so um yeah

I'm also curious for your non-conference schedule what kind of things or lessons have you guys learned when putting that

together that maybe educated or informed the way that you went about it this year we really look at you do the best you

can you used to worry about what the other team had and say sort of, okay, we want to catch them when they're bigger

or smaller or slower or faster or whatever based on where you are. Now, with the transfer portal, it's really hard to do that. So, instead, what what

we're looking at is who are on those one, two, threes, and four lines, right? Um, and you know, how can you if you do

well in your league, you're going to end up fine, right? So, how can you schedule in this in the non-conference that'll a

prepare you for the league, but will also let you play some one, two, threes, and four lines that will be good comparison points as as you get deeper

into the season. Um, and I think with our group being um graduating three kind

of significant multi-year starters, um, you know, I I wanted to make sure that they kind of we understand the rigor and

the pace and the physicality and the the value of the possession earlier so that we can keep honing. um because I I know

the league will be really competitive. Um so it it's it was a deep dive into who we are and then looking at the seedlines and and how you stay in that

top four seed line is is creditable. Thank you so much. Of course, Mitch.

Um, I wanted to ask you about um, you know, this past NCAA tournament, we

there was a lot of high-profile coaches, Gino and Kim Mali and Vic Schaefer all kind of complaining about the double

regional format, you know, that Sweet 16 elite 8 weekend about um, you know,

practice times and stuff like that. as as you have now gone to a sweet 16 in

both the the old format and the new format. What is kind of your your opinion on

double regionals? Yeah. You know, like everything if if it's the decision is made in an island,

you're missing all the water, right? Like I think Okay, so when we played in

Birmingham, it was a bigger arena. It's a lot further from Duke and us. So, our

fan base certainly was less than if the game was in in Greensboro, for example. You know, so that was that's I guess

part of the argument. However, I'm sure that NC State when they when they actually were had to go to Yuk uh not

Yukon, but wherever their site is, Albany, which is basically Yukon country, and have to play them as a

higher seed, right? There's more fans, but they're not the fans that you earned with your seating.

Right. Right. or they're not the fans that you earned with um with the equity of the

game, right? And so I think we've got to sort of figure out which which is more

important, right? Are there enough fans if we drew it enough times in the same location so people can plan for it like

they do the AC like they do the NCA tournament, they do it every four years, you know, you know where the NCA

tournament is going to be um the final four in three years from now. So you can kind of plan ahead for that location.

Um, so I think if you send me to if you send me to South Carolina and I'm

playing South Carolina in the sweets in in the round of Elite in the Elite 8, I'm I'm sort of like I'd rather play

them on the moon, right? So I think if you take off I think that to make those decisions, we got to take off our

institutional caps and say what's best for the game. And is that ensuring that that a two seed has an opportunity to

play a neutral side game against a three seed or is that ensuring that the stadium is full? Right? is that you

can't have them both quite yet, right? And you know, out of integrity to to to recognizing the depth of of at least

those top 16 C's, I sort of the idea of it is is that reward reward the body of

work, right? Not the not the location closest to the one seat. So, I can see

both sides. Sort of like how I feel about conference realignment. I have to win whoever's in my sk whoever is on my schedule. So, uh, but I I guess I think

it's making sure people who are making those decisions understand the give and take, both sides. Cool. I had one more for you, just kind

of an encore thing. Um, new this year, you got a coach's challenge, right? So, um, you know, I've talked to a

couple other coaches and they they seem to think it's going to increase the pace of play in the game. How much do you

kind of have to think about that now like as the game progresses? Like, all right, I got one of these. If I win it,

I get another one. And if I lose it and I have no timeouts, then it's a tech. And how does that kind of go into your

prep? Yeah. I think the first thing it does is it I really have to watch and listen um

and know, right? Because not everything's reviewable. I mean, there's always the the big macro and then it's

the like except you can't do it here, there, or about this, right? Um and so

coaches are always right as you know. So once we once I know which ones are challengeable, which ones are not, you

know, you make sure you do the best again and make sure they're right. Um, which we always are, as you know. Um, but I don't I'll be honest, I haven't

even watched the video. I kind of do that as close to game time as possible to try to, you know, not forget. Um, so

I don't know quite the nuance yet of how I'm going to handle it. Sure. Jaden.

Hello. Um I want to go back to the uh

exhibition versus scrimmaging situation and kind of situation. Yeah. You you know you talk about both

of them being very beneficial but in terms of the ex the public exhibitions

themselves. how how significant do you

think those have been for growing the sport of uh you know college women's club?

Um I would say that's a great question because I do think that's why we're choosing Atlanta, right? You want to do

it in locations where maybe not everybody from Atlanta has had a chance to see us play. Georgia Tech's hard to

get to on a Thursday night, you know, all the things. So I think the strategic location is certainly part of it that

we're trying to bring our product um closer to or close to different areas, right? But outside of that, I mean I do

think there is still a it is not a wing win at all cost exhibition for me,

right? because I need to get I need to get multiple people different looks at

different points in games and and and be able to play to certain things at

certain with certain skill sets of who's in and then okay, we'll take that one guy out, put this guy in, we might play this differently. So, it it's not

that part for the fans that aren't paying attention to that and they're looking at the result of it. Either way,

I think it's probably not terrible because at least they're watching, right? But in terms of the basketball

side of it, it's still so early that you don't want to miss the competitive opportunity to get some of your guys

with less experience that experience, right? Um, so I think it's more

locationally that the choice was made to make sure we bring access to our two programs in in a different market or a

market that we're not in as often. Does that help? Yes. Thank you.

Cool. Michael, uh, Courtney, you mentioned Sid earlier.

Um, you guys did that video of Sid doing her coaching clinic, I guess you would call it, in Vietnam. Um, that's a pretty

major trip for a college student. What What do you hope she gets out of that experience? And do you see, you know,

full-time coaching either at the college level or the pro level in her future? Oh, for sure. Yeah. Uh she's also

teaching biology. You know, she speaks no Vietnamese. So, what I hope she gets out of it is is um just everything good,

right? I think she's such a special kid and and um you know, like you said, the schedule for a division one athlete at a

high level is so packed. So, they don't get a lot of opportunities to experience things like this. Um and so this was a

no-brainer to give her that experience. Um you know, I know she'll have fun. I know she'll make an immediate impact.

And I I want for her to get every day of that three-week experience to be additive um because she's earned it. But

um I can't speak for her journey at all, but it would be a miss if we don't somehow keep her in the game. Um I think

from a basketball standpoint when she's on the bench, she really enjoys kind of questions and and and what's happening

and and all of that. Um and so you know what, as we always do with our best ones, we'll try to get her on as a grad

assistant and try to get her on staff. I mean, that's sort of obviously what I've done with Jaylen and with Liz Roberts. Lexi Wager now my poor player at

Princeton. Um but yeah, she's I think coaching she'll have to go through May if she tries to get out of it.

So is she leaving basically as soon as workouts in for you all? She's already gone. No, she left it last Wednesday. She's missing the last week

of workouts and then the next two weeks and then she comes back and we kind of start school.

Yep. Yep. Jeremiah. Hey coach, this is Jeremiah Todo of

North Carolina on SI. Since the loss to Duke in the Sweet 16, what steps have you taken to improve and make changes?

Oh man, I mean, you always are looking at the offseason as a chance to revamp your roster, you know, but you also lose

pieces that have done a lot of good for your program. So, it's always it's not a net sum, it's not a sum zero game,

right? So, you lose the Alyssa and and Grace and Maria and Lexi group that did a lot for your program. Um, and then you

add in, you know, like I said, we add in the two transfers and the three freshman that I haven't even talked about yet.

you know, I haven't had a McDonald's All-American here since Deja. Um, and Nyla Brooks is moving every bit like one. Um, and so, you know, I think

talent length. I think the um the versatility of our bigs is really going to help us. Um, you know, the fact that

you've been there, you know, going two of four years, you know, as as was noted earlier, um there's a confidence that

comes from that, I think, internally. Um, so I think that um we we physically

had to get a little bit more physical in in the Garden Post spot. Um, so we're kind of in a constant state of of of

improvement. Um, and you know, you whenever you lose in the NCA tournament,

it hurts and you know that your journey is then new beginning and um, fill those holes as soon as you can with the with

roster and with skill work. No, it's okay. My last question is, how

do you feel about the trio of freshman on this roster? What are their strengths and things that need? So happy. I mean, every day Nyla Nyla

Brooks walks in the gym, hugs me, and says, "Coach, I got two goals. Get better and to learn." And she's doing both. Um, she's she's gifted. Um, she's

able to get to her spot. She's tough. She's um I mean, I could just I'm trying

to be patient so I don't just give away all the things I love about her, but I just She is just a She is such a bright

spot. I mean, she obviously you probably saw her in the Jordan brand game, the McDonald's game, and um she just she's

every bit as good as a McDonald's All-American should be, and she's handling this process even better than

most do because she's patient. Um she understands her job right now is to learn. Um she doesn't take that process

too seriously. Like one told her the other day, the other day about a couple days ago, she struggled and it was the

first time I've seen struggle. And I told her after I was really happy to see it because I was like this is getting I'm starting to get a little worried and

not having a lot of struggle. Um and how she handled it was just oh co she laughed and she was like oh boy that was

left right and all around. Um and she just wants to get better. So uh she's got great length, great athleticism,

elite defensively um and can really get to her spot. She's shooting the heck out of it too. Um so she adds a lot to our

team. And then Tia Henderson you know would have been a McDonald's but she was hurt. that you can't be hurt and be that

um you know she I picked up a late Yukon offer because the kid is so athletic. I mean she's like she makes Alyssa look at

at times slow. I mean she's incredibly dynamic. She's very uh very bouncy. Um

you know she's probably a bit ahead athletically even than she is as a basketball player and she's pretty darn good basketball player. Can really shoot

it rebounds out of her area um really well and same deal just wants to learn. So those two just add so much length and

athleticism to our to our roster. And and then of course we've got Tissa who red shirt who was came here in the

winter, but she you guys haven't seen her play yet. So she hasn't had meaningful work in terms of being evaluated. Um but she's been here since

January. So she's gotten herself much more physically ready. Um has a has a probably the strongest on the team. You

know, she and India ran into each other the other day. I didn't think either of them were going to leave the gym on their own two feet. Um, you know, so all

three of them have been um have been real bright spots and uh I feel really I

was hopeful that they were going to be this good and they've proven me right. So um I'm not sure we've had an asame

ready freshman class in a while which is fun. Thank you coach. Of course RL.

Yeah. So so you lost three starters but you have 10 back and five uh newcomers.

I know you wouldn't tell me who you expect to start and may not have an idea, but is is it the most competitive

for starting spots that you've had in a couple years? And with all that depth, will you be able to play faster?

Yeah. Yeah. For yes to all that. I mean, I don't know. I don't know what the first group's going to look like. I just know we'll have more than one group. I

feel like two years ago, we were so injured, we were basically bubbles bubble wrapping them when they left the gym. Uh and then this past year there

was such an emergence in experience and and then the young guys were kind of on their own journeys. Um so there was sort

of a much tighter rotation. Um I would be I would be very surprised if our rotation was anywhere near as tight as

it has been. Um we got of course you have to stay healthy but um and as that you just you love nothing more than

being able to um recycle bodies through. You know people at this level shouldn't be playing. It's really hard to play as

hard and as efficiently as you need to for 32 minutes a game, right? So, if you can get those numbers down, especially

because the length of the season as we've gotten better is longer, that would be great. So, yes, I think we'll I

have absolutely no idea um who our first group is going to be because we can go a couple different ways with it. Um and

you know, the sixth man, that's an important position now because as you sort of say, who can be that guy that can step in and help a variety of

positions but also provide consistency. Um and then right right down through the

roster lets you play a little bit faster. It lets you um defend a little bit tighter, you know, because you're

not hanging on to that foul early. Um so yeah, I think all that is makes us really different this year than we've

been the last couple years. And quickly on Sierra, he she came in with so many accolades and it it's not

always been easy for her. Do you what do you need to see from her this upcoming season and do you think it

could be a breakout season for her? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. we fully expect Sierra to be, you know, she missed a role senior in high school and then of course

missed her whole freshman year of college and then had to really kind of hadn't played in 700 days and is now

playing on a top 10 team or top 15 team, right? And so she really needed this offseason. It's the first offseason

we've had her the entire time. Um, which has been amazing. And her body just she's she's added that with the

consistency of two years worth of strength work. Um, so this will be a breakout. Absolutely. I have full

confidence in that. She's had 26 days of consistent performance. She's been practicing instead of out and in and

some of the things she's had to go through in her career. So, um, you know, I think her she's proving her accolades,

right? Um, and she's also proving that everyone's journey is different, right? And and I'm really proud of her that she

didn't allow sort of the fact that her journey was maybe it started like this and then it kind of felt like that at

times uh stop her from stacking days. Um, and so she's getting the rewards of that. I gave her sort of a authentic

shout out in our circle up the other day or the other week and um the the applause was real for her from her

teammates because they see it and they're so grateful for it and you know they've she's she's taken that that step

that we really needed her to take. Thank you. Of course, Erin. All right, it's time to get down to the

real news here. You have two Nylas, two new seem like they're going to play a lot. Have you worked out the nickname or

shorthand you're going to do when you're having to yell out their names at practice? Well, it's funny because they sort of ask the team to take care of it,

right? And then it's like, well, let's call them Brooks and Harris. The problem is neither of them answer to Brooks or Harris, right? So, I'm doing that. I'm

doing what I was told. So, I yell Harris, Harris, Harris. Nothing. Dead. Nyla. They both look at me. Um, so no,

nothing has stuck yet. Um, I just I say Brooks or or Harris all the time. No one

answers. And I just yell Nyla and they both look. Well, I was going to say because we went through this last year with Hubert with

Jaylen Withers and Jaylen Washington and he would say, "Which Jaylen are you talking about?" So, I'm just preparing for a whole season of this.

Literally. Yeah. And they're both, like you said, we were going to rely on both of them. So, they're going to have to figure it out. I hear Nye. I hear, you

know, all the things. So, good good God. Who knows? I wish one of them would just answer to the other, Brooks or or Harris

or something else. Um Jeremiah.

Yeah, Courtney, you talked about Tissa. I actually was gonna ask you about her as well. So, she was around last year.

You know, obviously didn't play in game. I know she joined uh you know, the Brazilian national team as well.

Yeah. Do you feel that those elements will kind of help her going into her first collegiate season? Like, you know, being

able to kind of see what you guys do, what you guys are about, and then also, you know, the international. How do you think that will kind of help her going

into this year? Yeah. God, the coming in January, I know football does it all the time. It makes such a difference. Um, she was a totally

different player in, you know, in June when we started than she would have been

or than quite honestly than Nyla and Tia were just from an understanding and strength and speed and all the things

perspective. Um, so it was huge. I mean, the other day she kind of had this ri

kind of spin and did went under and did this reverse and missed it. It was such a nice move. She stayed after practice

and made about 20 of them. You know, that's just to that's just Tissa. She she is so committed um and has learned

so much. I mean, the kid learned taught herself English during COVID by changing her phone to English and watching movies

and you know, so she's just that she finds a way. So, she's going to play on that team that's going to travel in

August internationally. Um can't remember what it's called. Maline can get you that information, but she'll be

um also playing with the national team internationally in when they're home now here. Um so, Yeah, she's just when you

go play overseas, I mean, you're playing against pros all the time, right? Like that's like that's like Elena. She came

and she's played against pros for four years before coming to coming to college, right? So, you tell her, you

know, the lingo and the and the decision- making like you don't have to like teach her. She's like, I got it,

right? Um and Tissa's really the international experience has helped there. It's also helped with her confidence, you I think she knows she

can contribute and um she knows the language better quite honestly as well. Um so yeah, I think she's a she's really

versatile. She can help us with the wing or she can help us in the forward spot kind of either one because of how physical she is and she kind of beats

you down that way. Anybody else?

Almost beginning, guys. It's almost beginning. Well, I appreciate everybody signing on. It's Oh, Jeremiah. Go ahead.

Oh, yes. One last quick question. What expect What do you expect out of Laney Grant in her second year at the Tarheel?

Lane's got to be 2.0. I mean, to come in, she's still the youngest on our team, by the way. So, she's still the

youngest, right? But for her to miss her senior year in high school and from a physical standpoint and from a mental

standpoint and from a, you know, a um just an overall the concepts and and

retaining scouts and the things that are thrown at you young, she showed she had a really big step, right? and she showed

a lot of promise, a lot of potential, right? And um you know, she has to take another step, so she's got to shoot the

ball better from a higher percentage. She has to finish better, right? Because she knows she can get to her spots. She

needed the added strength and physicality. Our sport performance team, you'll see these bodies, they've done a really good job with them. Um and so

that has to show itself, right? And then from a, you know, from an 18-year-old perspective, even though now she's still

the youngest, she's got a lot of experience. So she has to ensure that she uses that to her advantage, right?

she knows the the es and flows and rhythms and things like that. Um, and so, you know, that's a kid that you the

minute you relax on, she's not going to like it. You got to stay on her and you gota got to keep pushing her because

she's kind of wired like that. And so, I just I have a very serious approach with Laney and that is I it needs to be a

2.0. Um, and it needs to be noticeable to everybody that you are you are a whole year better um than you were and

um she eats that stuff up and and responds to it quite well. Thank you, coach. Of course.

Okay, this is totally unserious, but um I love it. Let's go. I can do that with the list of

the No, the real question is how are we differentiating between the two Jeremiah's on this call.

Yeah. I mean, why is there no Courtney? We got to bring the name back, guys. We got to bring it back.

I have twins. I'm pretty good at at coordinating different identities, but not not different names, clearly.

You guys, let's have some fun this year. The triangle's on fire in terms of basketball's on fire. Um, in terms of

um, Duke and NC State and us, I mean, I hope people are really still tracking on the fact that these are, someone was

telling me that these are three of the teams that that the world has picked to be three of the better teams in the ACC

this year. And there again, we're right here. I mean, it's it's really, really, really cool and not a lot of no other

region can say that. Um, and so you all's part in that and telling our stories and showing up for stuff like

this, it matters. So, um, let's make sure that the that the triangle stays as as well represented as it's been.

Appreciate your part in that. Thanks for doing this. Thanks for taking

the time. All right. Always. Thanks again. Thanks, Gordon. All right.