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#UNC women's basketball ACC Tipoff PC with Courtney Banghart, Reniya Kelly and India Nivar
Oct 6, 2025
#UNC women's basketball ACC Tipoff PC with Courtney Banghart, Reniya Kelly and India Nivar
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0:00
NCAA tournaments had two sweet 16 teams
0:02
in the last four years. Courtney, you
0:04
returned eight players and six
0:06
newcomers. Um, with the eight returning
0:09
players, what how different might this
0:11
team look this year? What are some of
0:12
the similarities you might see?
0:14
Yeah, you know, we do expect to have a
0:16
different look. You don't lose two of
0:19
the best post players that we have seen
0:21
in a long time um and and try to replace
0:23
them immediately in the same way. Um, so
0:25
we have some um some posts that need to
0:28
that need to step in to that opportunity
0:31
and they'll play the game a little bit
0:32
differently. They can extend the floor a
0:34
little bit more. They can allow us to
0:35
play a little more spacing. Um and then
0:38
we bring back a lot of experienced
0:40
guards, talented guard play as well as
0:42
what we brought in both through the
0:44
portal and and um freshman recruiting.
0:47
So have a have a good guard group that
0:49
has a lot of game pressure. Um whereas
0:51
our inside game, we've got to use our
0:53
non-conference, which you see we
0:54
schedule to put them to the test early
0:57
so that we can get as much game pressure
0:58
on our youth as we can as we prepare for
1:00
the development of the ACC.
1:01
Well, speaking of your schedule,
1:02
non-conference consists of seven NCAA
1:05
tournament teams from a year ago. And
1:07
why not? Let's just start off with South
1:08
Carolina. So from what I looked at, you
1:10
got three of last year's three of the
1:12
four final four teams.
1:14
All on their own.
1:16
Why make it easy? Was there a strategic
1:19
plan with this schedule knowing what you
1:21
had or it's just hey play you know?
1:23
No, I mean it was pretty strategic. You
1:25
know, we knew that we have um you know
1:27
that the ACC is so hard every year,
1:29
right? And and we we knew that this was
1:31
going to be a year where we're losing
1:32
60% or more of of our productivity. And
1:35
so we'd rather find out instead of
1:37
finding out late, I want to find out
1:38
early kind of what what the the
1:41
traditional sort of the last year what
1:43
the best UCLA brought back a lot of
1:45
their players. South Carolina brought
1:47
back a lot of their players. Um, and
1:48
Texas brought back a lot of their
1:50
players. So, we also we kind of are
1:51
going to go against, you know, people
1:53
that are really experienced and had a
1:55
great year last year. Um, and I think
1:57
that will bode well as we continue to
1:59
persistently prepare for what's going to
2:01
be the ACC.
2:04
Yeah, this for the players. Uh, several
2:07
of the teams that have been interviewed
2:09
today have mentioned they want North
2:11
Carolina this year and I just wanted to
2:14
get your thoughts on that.
2:16
Um, that's good. We want everyone as
2:19
well. So, we're not running from any
2:21
competition. We're trying to beat every
2:23
team that comes in our way to get to a
2:24
national championship. So, that's always
2:26
the goal every year.
2:31
Uh, hey Courtney. I think anyone who's
2:33
followed this program I think anyone
2:34
who's followed this program for the past
2:36
few years can see that you've been
2:37
trying to build depth with your roster
2:39
building and it has been a problem in
2:40
the past. Do you feel like this group is
2:43
the group that say you're in a sweet 16
2:45
game and could go 10 deep?
2:47
Yeah, I mean you in the past we've had
2:50
incredible consistency, right? We've had
2:52
reliability in that kind of top six or
2:55
six or so when you're healthy top seven
2:57
or eight. Um this group has a little bit
2:59
people that had come in that are coming
3:01
in that have available. We have more
3:02
availability. Um and what we're building
3:04
now is reliability from those available
3:06
players, right? the more reliable our
3:09
available guys are, the deeper you are.
3:10
Otherwise, we just have a less talent,
3:12
right? And the only way we're going to
3:14
do that is like you said with our with
3:15
our non-conference schedule, multiple
3:17
mid majors have won a tournament game in
3:19
the NCA tournament. So, they're not just
3:21
tournament teams, they're advancing in
3:22
tournament teams. Um, and you know,
3:25
these two have a lot of reliability.
3:26
They're surrounded by a lot of talent,
3:28
but um we've got to gain that
3:29
reliability, which the only thing you
3:31
can do that is with game pressure.
3:33
You guys went against um Duke in the
3:36
Sweet 16 last year. What are some
3:37
challenges that they presented to you
3:39
guys this year? And then how do you guys
3:41
plan to overcome them?
3:44
Duke is in February, right? Um so I'll
3:47
know a lot more about our team, a lot
3:49
more about their team in February, but
3:51
um we have great respect for for what
3:53
Duke is doing, what they've done, who
3:55
they've been over their duration of
3:57
their program. Um elite defensively,
3:59
they've got great length and speed. Um
4:01
well coached. um you know, you know, and
4:04
it's it's that rivalry that that matters
4:06
so much internationally, quite frankly.
4:09
Um like NC State, you know, these are
4:11
three teams that have um are three great
4:13
examples, all three hosted in the NCA
4:15
tournament, and they're great examples
4:16
for women's basketball and the support
4:18
that their support that their give them.
4:20
Um and so I'll know more of the nuance
4:22
once we see who they have and you know,
4:25
who we have and and who how reliable our
4:27
piece has become. But um truthfully, I
4:30
don't know enough about that yet.
4:33
Steve with Primal Sports Media. Coach,
4:34
this question for you. You've lost a
4:36
couple of key seniors last year. Who's
4:38
who's stepped up this year to those
4:40
leadership roles?
4:41
Well, we just finished our second week
4:43
of kind of the 20 hours, right? And and
4:46
although we've had we we've been we've
4:48
been on campus in the summer, we were
4:49
training. Um we take our development
4:52
inside our roster really seriously. So,
4:53
we use a lot of time to develop the
4:55
pieces so that they're better. Um, and
4:57
we kind of the 20 hours starts the the
5:00
build towards competitive play. Um, and
5:02
so we there's a lot I still don't know.
5:05
You know, there's a lot we're still
5:07
getting better at. But what I'll tell
5:08
you is from what we had from week one to
5:10
where we are in week two, not sure I've
5:12
seen more improvement week to week, that
5:14
also means, you know, a long way to go,
5:15
right? But, um, so this group has really
5:17
been shown that they can concentrate,
5:19
they have competitive character, um, and
5:22
that they're connected. Um, and these
5:24
two have been part of winning, right?
5:25
And so they have a standard um that they
5:28
are bringing people to. Um but it's yeah
5:31
it's been it's a really fun team to
5:33
coach because I just have more options
5:34
to Michael's point than I've had before.
5:36
Um and it will be even more fun when
5:39
when five really step out and say that
5:41
they were first group.
5:44
Hey Courtney, obviously big loss with
5:46
Maria. What were the areas of PLA and
5:50
Sierra's games that prevented them from
5:52
getting more playing time last season
5:54
other than Maria being there? Yeah.
5:56
And what growth have you seen where they
5:59
might be able to step into that role?
6:01
Yeah. Sometimes it's less what the other
6:04
group what they're what they are or
6:05
aren't doing as much as it is who's in
6:07
that spot and what they are doing,
6:08
right? And so you liken it to was it
6:11
what Laney Grant last year wasn't doing
6:13
or was it was what Grana and India were
6:15
doing, right? And so I think when you
6:17
really come down to it, um Alyssa and
6:19
Maria were two of the unique post
6:21
players in our league and so there's
6:22
only so many minutes to be had, right?
6:24
Um and then and then there's also
6:26
there's injuries, there's consistencies,
6:29
there's there's concentration, there's
6:30
all different things that freshmen are
6:32
trying to navigate at an elite level and
6:34
an elite pace. Um and so depending on
6:36
what week we're talking about, I don't
6:38
know where we were in that progression.
6:39
Um, but you know, they they'll have a
6:42
lot more opportunity and they're more
6:43
ready now than they were a year ago.
6:45
That's our job.
6:47
India, I I know it's October
6:50
and I'm looking well into February,
6:53
but last week when it was announced, and
6:55
it speaks to the rivalry with Duke, you
6:57
guys were going to be on ABC.
6:59
What did it mean to you and your
7:01
teammates that we're going to be all
7:04
eyes of America's going to be on this
7:06
game because of what this rivalry is?
7:08
Yeah, that rivalry means so much to us
7:10
for it to be on national television. It
7:11
doesn't make it even bigger. Like it's
7:13
already really big for us to play that
7:15
game. Every time we play them, it's such
7:17
a great competition and sometimes it's
7:20
not fun, but you know, the competition
7:22
is what we love and we always love to
7:23
come out on top. So, that's what we want
7:25
to do.
7:27
Much has been made about what you lost
7:30
from last year. However, you do bring in
7:32
six highly talented newcomers.
7:35
Who's made the biggest impression on you
7:37
so far?
7:38
Wow.
7:40
Okay. Um,
7:44
Tia Henderson. She's a sleeper. She goes
7:48
extremely hard. Um, every possession,
7:51
every practice, whatever it is, she's
7:53
giving 110% every time. And I think
7:56
because she's a hard worker. I love
7:58
players who just work hard every time.
8:00
And I just, she's a sleeper. And so she
8:02
the first impression was to pray and so
8:05
I'm really excited to put on her court.
8:07
What about you?
8:11
I know they all bring something
8:13
different.
8:15
Um
8:18
yeah, I'll say Nyla Harris just because
8:20
the leadership that she brings in, her
8:22
vocal leadership um I really look up to.
8:25
Um and I think she just has a lot to
8:27
contribute, a lot to show through this
8:29
coming year and I'm glad she's here.
8:31
Courtney, we talked about this be year
8:33
seven for you. You've obviously been
8:34
around a lot of these coaches in this
8:36
league.
8:36
What makes the coaches in this league so
8:39
special?
8:41
It's a great question, Christie. I think
8:43
one of the things is is their
8:44
consistency. You know, when I look at
8:48
across the kind of powerful, I look at
8:50
our conference and there's just no one
8:52
I'm like, "Oh, thank God it's that week
8:54
where I get to play so and so. I need a
8:55
break or I get our guys together."
8:58
there's just no weak link, right? Every
9:01
team is going to have you every week's
9:02
going to have unique teams, right? That
9:04
that are that are talked about and
9:06
showcased and and um are carrying in
9:09
some way. Um but we just don't have a
9:12
weak link, right? And I think that
9:14
that's pretty remarkable in an AT&T
9:15
conference. Um and so I love that part.
9:18
I think we all are kind of authentically
9:20
ourselves and it fits the university in
9:22
some unique way, right? Like it's I sort
9:24
of belong at the University of North
9:26
Carolina. That's just how it is, right?
9:27
And I think that's been across the
9:29
board. I think when we think about the
9:30
personalities and the schools and fan
9:32
bases and teams, they reflect they
9:34
reflected in their coaches in a really
9:36
cool way. Ladies, for both of you,
9:38
there's a lot of tradition in this
9:40
conference. A lot of great players have
9:43
passed through these gymnasiums. Is
9:44
there someone that you look up to when
9:46
you were young
9:48
or maybe someone that you maybe try to
9:50
emulate their game now?
9:54
For me, I look up towards um Young,
9:56
especially how she's playing right now
9:58
in the playoffs, just playing on both
10:00
sides of the ball, how versatile she is,
10:02
how she cuts with pace, um, and yeah,
10:05
how she's able to affect the game on
10:07
multiple levels. Yeah. And is just a
10:09
great playmaker as well.
10:11
I think for me, I would say Scott
10:12
Diggins. I love how passive she is about
10:15
the game and her ability to score and to
10:16
just get a net on defense. Like, I love
10:18
that. So, good for her.
10:20
Um, Courtney, women's basketball has
10:23
grown so much in the last three or four
10:25
years. So, we have a lot of new fans.
10:26
Yeah.
10:28
What's that message to him beyond what
10:31
took you so long?
10:34
Oh, man. I think one of them is like
10:36
bring a friend.
10:37
Um because I I say this when I was
10:40
building the fan base at Carolina, just
10:42
come once. Just do that and then the
10:44
rest will take care of itself. And you
10:46
see, you call a handful of our games.
10:47
It's like the place is on fire. It's
10:49
hard to get a ticket. It's hard to get a
10:50
seat. Um and I think that's true for
10:52
women's basketball as a whole, right?
10:53
Just give it a chance. Go to just see
10:56
see if you like it. All right. Bring a
10:57
friend. Um and uh that's been I think
11:00
the people pleased. This was a really
11:02
high level. These guys are playing at a
11:04
really high level.
11:06
Ladies, you've played in your facility
11:08
now. What is I mean one of the loudest
11:10
environments I've seen. I couldn't hear
11:12
my headset.
11:14
What makes your facility so unique on
11:17
game day?
11:20
Wow. Oh, okay. Um, I would say the fans
11:24
actually. I think it's so many different
11:26
people who come to watch us play and
11:27
they all use their voice in a unique way
11:30
and I love our fans. Like we'll just be
11:32
walking on Franklin and hey guys for the
11:35
basketball team. Like we're so such an
11:37
engaged community and I love it about
11:39
comfortable.
11:41
Yeah, I would have to piggy back off of
11:42
Raya. The the support that they give us
11:44
is on and off of work from our donors to
11:47
our students to the people that we just
11:50
meet from seeing them so often in the
11:51
crowds. They just make the
11:55
the environment something that like I
11:57
love to play in.
11:58
I'll tell a story about that. There was
12:00
a guy who came in as a donor, new donor
12:02
to our program, and he circled up at
12:04
practice and he said, you know, my my
12:06
wife and I got season tickets and then
12:08
she sort of fell fell ill. um with some
12:10
Alzheimer's and started to not know who
12:13
he was, right? And he said it very um
12:17
genuinely. He says, "But she knew who
12:19
Ria Kelly was,"
12:20
right? And I think that that sort of
12:23
categorizes the fans like they actually
12:25
they are rooting not just for Carolina,
12:27
they are rooting for the success of the
12:29
people that are wearing the jersey,
12:31
right? And I think that that passion is
12:32
is felt.
12:34
I had other questions. I can't follow
12:36
that. So
12:38
um I'm going to ask all three of you
12:40
this question and you will start with
12:42
you. When I ask this question, just the
12:45
one word answer.
12:48
ACC women's basketball means what
12:56
legacy
12:59
takes.
13:02
You're not going to believe me either.
13:04
They took both of mine.
13:07
That's how I know. That's team mom. That
13:09
is Oh my gosh. That means we're doing
13:10
something right. Um ACC gospel a lot of
13:13
I would say we said ACC basketball is
13:17
a
13:18
Yeah, there you go. Um, ACC basketball
13:21
is unmatched.
13:25
North Carolina, good luck this season
13:27
and thank you.
13:28
Thank you. Go Hills.