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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Scoring droughts that had been too common all season and the inability to hit the defensive boards down the stretch meant a sudden end to North Carolina’s season and a frustrating, painful finish to senior center Maria Gakdeng’s career.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Here is video and a complete transcript from North Carolina’s postgame press conference at Legacy Arena, with Coach Courtney Banghart, Lexi Donarski and Alyssa Ustby, after the Tar Heels’ 47-38 loss to Duke on Friday in the Sweet 16. In addition, there’s a video of intereviews in the dressing room with Maria Gakdeng, Indya Nivar and Reniya Kelly.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Playing during the second weekend of the NCAA tournament means double duty for coaches who must navigate the transfer portal while still preparing their teams for the Sweet 16. The women’s basketball transfer portal opened Tuesday, and with 90 players having entered in the first three days, there’s plenty of talent out there to recruit. Florida State star Ta’Niya Latson is reportedly about to add her name.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Reniya Kelly has a lot of championship memories of playing at Legacy Arena, which is only 20 minutes away from her home in Hoover.
The most emotional was her last high school championship game two years ago when she led Hoover High School to a state Class 7-A championship.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Here is video and a full transcript as No. 3-seed North Carolina met with the media on Thursday ahead of its Friday Sweet 16 clash with No. 2-seed Duke. For the Tar Heels, it was Coach Courtney Banghart, Alyssa Ustby and Reniya Kelly at the press conference. In addition, there’s video of dressing room interviews with Lexi Donarski, Indya Nivar, Maria Gakdeng, Lanie Grant & Grace Townsend.
Caleb Love smiled when asked Wednesday what he remembers about the 3-point shot over Mark Williams to give North Carolina a win over Duke in a national semifinal game in 2022. “I made the shot,” said Love, who is 4–3 against the Blue Devils after his Arizona team lost at home to the Blue Devils a 69–55 on Nov. 22.
CHAPEL HILL — Here is a video and a complete transcript of North Carolina’s postgame press conference, with Coach Courtney Banghart, Alyssa Ustby and Indya Nivar, after defeating West Virginia 48-47 to earn the program’s 19th Sweet 16 berth
CHAPEL HILL — Alyssa Ustby stood on top of the scorer’s table, celebrating with the fans after she made her last home game — 1,580 days after her first — one to remember. It wasn’t always pretty, but it sure was sweet for No. 3-seed North Carolina, thanks to suffocating defense in the fourth quarter.
CHAPEL HILL — If there was ever any chance that Oregon State could pull the upset, graduate UNC guard Lexi Donarski shot them down — repeatedly — on a day that Alyssa Ustby became the program’s all-time leading rebounder. Donarski was the catalyst in delivering a third-quarter knockout with five 3-pointers as the No. 3-seed Tar Heels turned a two-point halftime lead into a thumping and coasted to a 70–49 victory over the No. 14-seed Beavers in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Carmichael Arena.
MILWAUKEE — Carolina nearly made up for one of its worst halves of the season, refusing to exit the NCAA tournament without a fight. It just wasn’t enough.
MILWAUKEE — Here is a video and a full transcript of North Carolina’s press conference, with Coach Hubert Davis, RJ Davis and Seth Davis, after the Tar Heels’ 71–64 first-round loss Friday afternoon to Ole Miss.
CHAPEL HILL — When Alyssa Ustby didn’t hear her name called on senior day against Virginia in Carmichael Arena, she was heartbroken. The graduate forward had waited five years for the moment. But an injury against N.C. State on Feb. 16 derailed that opportunity. Ustby had to have surgery on her left knee, forcing her to miss the last four games of the season.
MILWAUKEE — Here is a video and a full transcript of North Carolina’s press conference Thursday at the Fiserv Forum, with Coach Hubert Davis, Seth Trimble and RJ Davis, ahead of the Tar Heels’ first round game on Friday against Ole Miss.
DAYTON, Ohio — It’s hard to stop this North Carolina team when it’s locked in, even against a highly touted defense. The Tar Heels rolled in and out of the First Four with a dominating effort, dispatching San Diego State 95–68 in a battle of No. 11 seeds Tuesday at the UD Arena, with peak-level RJ Davis and another impressive game from point guard Elliot Cadeau.
LOS ANGELES — I’ve seen some craziness while covering NCAA tournament games over the years, but nothing like what I saw and heard on Thursday night. Carolina fans undoubtedly heard about the sign-stealing shenanigans involving a Michigan football staffer last season. Alabama coach Nate Oats employs his brand of that, and it’s not against the rules.
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