UNC Women’s Basketball: Don’t forget about Poole!
Our UNC women’s basketball player previews continue with senior Anya Poole, a player who shouldn’t be forgotten among all the roster changes.
Heading into the 2023-2024 season, the UNC women’s basketball program has plenty of new faces in the mix.
Although the newcomers (8) outnumber the returners (7), Courtney Banghart’s squad is returning some very important pieces. Most of the talk revolves around the likes of Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby, but don’t forget about fellow senior Anya Poole, another player who should play a big role on this year’s squad.
Poole is part of the current senior class that has helped Banghart make the UNC women’s basketball program a legitimate contender. It’s safe to say that this group will be remembered for a long time, especially if they can close out their collegiate careers by doing something special as a team.
2022-2023 Season In Review
In her second season as a starter, Poole continued to be a consistent presence in the post.
As a junior, Poole’s numbers took a slight dip from her sophomore season, but she still went on to average five points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Her best performance came on February 2, as her 11 points and eight rebounds helped lead the UNC women’s basketball program to a 73-63 victory over Virginia. Poole’s best rebounding effort came early in the season, as she hauled in 12 boards against James Madison on November 20.
What to Expect in 2023-2024
Poole is expected to remain in the starting lineup, but her role will look different than it did during her first three seasons with the UNC women’s basketball program.
The addition of Maria Gakdeng, who is expected to be the “five” for the Tar Heels, will shift Poole to play the “four” while fellow senior Alyssa Ustby is expected to see more time at the “three.”
What does this mean?
Well, the Tar Heels will have a much bigger lineup to work with, but Gakdeng’s addition will help free up space for Poole and Ustby to work with, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Poole should see playing time at both the “four” and the “five,” but she won’t be tasked with being the primary rim protector, as she could have plenty of opportunities to block or alter shots while being a help defender at times.
Bold Prediction
Poole is the “glue piece” for this year’s UNC women’s basketball program. She isn’t going to lead the team in scoring on most nights, but she does a little bit of everything to help the team succeed.
In fact, expect Poole’s numbers to look similar to what she did as a sophomore. If she can produce those numbers on a consistent basis, this team really has the potential to be a very tough squad to match up with regularly.
Next. Deja Kelly ready for stellar senior season. dark
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