UNC Women’s Basketball season opener preview vs. Gardner-Webb
Here’s everything you need to know about the UNC women’s basketball program’s season opener against non-conference foe Gardner-Webb.
Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program are set to kick off the 2023-2024 season as they’ll host in-state non-conference foe Gardner-Webb on Wednesday night in Chapel Hill.
Expectations are sky-high for the Tar Heels as they embark on this new season, as the return of some key players, along with the addition of some high-quality transfers and incoming freshmen, have Courtney Banghart’s squad considered among the top-20 teams in the country.
The first test of the 2023-2024 season comes from the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, a team that went 29-5 (including 18-0 in conference play) during the 2022-2023 season.
However, the Bulldogs’ roster looks much different, as the majority of the team’s key players have departed. Although this is a new-look squad, it will still be an early season test for the Tar Heels, as Gardner-Webb hopes to play spoilers on Wednesday night at Carmichael Arena.
Key to Victory for North Carolina
The key in this one will be to set the tone early, especially against an opponent that doesn’t feature much experience, especially together as a unit.
In front of the home crowd, the Tar Heels need to set the tone early.
It starts with Deja Kelly, the Tar Heels’ leading scorer from a season ago. Look for Kelly, along with Alyssa Ustby, to get some early shot attempts, as their success could open up opportunities for those around them.
Unlike the last time Gardner-Webb visited Carmichael Arena, it’s going to be important to not let them hang around. In the current landscape of college basketball, you can’t take anyone lightly, as any given program can win (or lose) on any given night (just ask No. 1 LSU who lost on opening night.)
Something to Watch For
With so much talent at their disposal, how will the UNC women’s basketball program’s rotation look, especially early on in the season?
It’s very possible that Banghart will go deep into the bench throughout the early part of the non-conference schedule to find the right recipe in terms of the team’s main rotation as the season moves along.
We figure that transfers such as Lexi Donarski and Maria Gakdeng will see significant minutes, but how does the incoming freshmen class, one that is very talented and regarded as one of the best in the country, factor in?
Will the likes of returning sophomores Kayla McPherson and Paulina Paris carve out even bigger roles this year?
How does a healthy Teonni Key factor into the rotation?
We won’t get definitive answers from one game, but we’ll get a good glimpse of what we might see moving forward.
Last Meeting
North Carolina and Gardner-Webb have played four times prior to this contest, as the Tar Heels owned each of the first three meetings.
However, it was the Bulldogs that won the latest matchup, as they defeated North Carolina 66-65 on November 13, 2015.
The then-ranked No. 22 Tar Heels took the lead with seven seconds remaining, courtesy of a Jamie Cherry three-pointer. However, there was too much time left on the clock, as Candace Brown knocked in a layup with 1.7 seconds remaining to secure the upset victory.
North Carolina was up by 13 in the third quarter, but Gardner-Webb controlled the fourth quarter by outscoring the home team 30-14.
Projected Starters
No. 1 Alyssa Ustby (Sr. 6-1)
No. 5 Maria Gakdeng (Jr. 6-3)
No. 20 Lexi Donarski (Gr. 6-0)
No. 25 Deja Kelly (Sr. 5-8)
No. 31 Anya Poole (Sr. 6-2)