ATLANTA — Following North Carolina’s hard-fought exhibition loss to No. 2 South Carolina, Tar Heels head coach Courtney Banghart offered thoughtful insight on her young squad’s performance, leadership, and areas for growth.
Opening Thoughts
Banghart opened by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to face elite competition early in the season.
“First off, thanks to the group that put this on,” she said. “We knew we were going to have a lot of young guys out there, and to have an opportunity to see a very high-level game in November is exactly what we want.”
She acknowledged the growing pains of a young team learning new systems on both ends of the floor.
“We weren’t necessarily sharp enough yet, and that’s okay, it’s November,” Banghart continued. “We gave up 91 points — part of that is because they’ve got first-round draft picks, and part of that is we need to be better. But this is all part of the learning curve.”
Transition Play and Conditioning
Banghart praised her team’s transition offense, which caused early trouble for South Carolina, though fatigue eventually set in.
“There’s an element of game pace and concentration that you just can’t replicate in practice,” she noted. “I wish we could have kept playing — we just ran out of gas at times. But their transition gave us problems too. These are two great programs, so it was a heavyweight fight.”
Leadership and Youth Movement
Despite the loss, Banghart was encouraged by her team’s leadership and competitive energy.
“Our leadership is really strong,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of youth out there, but they’re competing. They’re putting the time in to get better, and our veterans are guiding them the right way.”
She gave particular credit to Indya Nivar and Nyla Harris, highlighting how they’ve embraced leadership roles on a team full of underclassmen.
On Missing Key Players
North Carolina was without Reniya Kelly and Blanca Thomas, two key contributors. Banghart explained their absences were precautionary.
“We don’t want to put anybody at risk that isn’t fully cleared,” she said. “They’re moving well and should be joining us soon, but tonight wasn’t the night.”
When asked for specifics, she declined to comment further: “No.”
Defending Raven Johnson
Banghart took a moment to praise South Carolina’s veteran point guard, Raven Johnson, particularly her defensive impact.
“Raven’s a difference-maker defensively,” Banghart said. “She puts so much pressure on the ball. That kind of defense gets tiring, but she’s just a menace — she disrupts everything.”
Individual Standouts
Banghart praised Nyla Harris for her immediate impact after transferring from Louisville.
“She’s a problem — and we’re glad this problem’s on our side now,” she smiled. “We’re asking her to do more with and without the ball, and she’s embraced it. Her competitive spirit and joy are a huge part of our team.”
She also applauded Ciera Toomey for her progress, noting her near double-double performance.
“She’s gone from available to reliable,” Banghart said. “Against a top-tier team like South Carolina, she showed she’s ready to contribute at a high level.”
Turnovers and Takeaways
North Carolina committed 15 turnovers — a figure Banghart wasn’t overly concerned about this early in the season.
“Fifteen turnovers in November, against the No. 2 team? I’ll take it,” she said. “We were a little loose with the ball, but it’s early. This is what these games are for — learning.”
Closing Thoughts
Banghart emphasized that the effort and resilience her team displayed late in the game were promising signs.
“There’s a lot to work with here,” she concluded. “We’re young, but they’re learning how to compete the right way. We’ll get sharper, we’ll get better — that’s what November basketball is about.”
In Summary:
Courtney Banghart and her Tar Heels may have fallen to powerhouse South Carolina, but the coach remains optimistic. With key players returning soon and a roster filled with promise, North Carolina’s early lessons in Atlanta could pay major dividends when the real games begin.
