Carson-Newman was a scrappy bunch. They played hard and were not shy about shooting. Just which is usual for these games, overmatched on the court. Still they hung around well in the first half and I imagine they will have a good season this year.
It was kind of tight for us making the transition from the day to the evening because this game as does the other exhibition game had a 6:00pm start and I had a couple of errands to go along with picking two children up at two different schools; but, after stopping to say hello to the security guys at the door, we were standing on the concourse ready to enter as the Star Spangle Banner began. When that plays you stop where you are. Funny side note. I guess you've been to a lot of games when the security guys mention how much your children have grown.
Exhibition games for Women's Basketball are free admission and seating is what's available. We took three end seats in section 109 and enjoyed the player introductions and the first few minutes of the game. One thing about that tight schedule. It didn't allow a pregame stop for dinner. Concessions are pretty standard. My son was happy with a couple of hot dogs.
Took a bit for the scoring to get going and they missed some shots they'd normally make; but when they really got going, wow! My daughter says it's like they have fire in their feet. That's North Carolina fast honey.
Might have been faster; but, this game had more foul calls than a few. But as a fan I very much appreciation the aggressive nature the Tar Heels showed on the defensive end. My favorite thing other than when they take the ball away is when they smother the opposing team for the full 30 seconds and the shot clock goes off. I appreciate the discipline it takes to make that happen and they did it multiple times tonight.
On the offensive end, they are trying a lot of things. Speed was the word of the day. There's the Energizer Bunny Danielle Butts. The athleticism she displays continues to amaze me. I wonder if anyone has measured her vertical leap. In this her 4th and (sniff) final season, I can see how she has progressed every year. I'm not going to think about losing her right now. Just going to see how many times this season I get to hear my daughter say, "Wooosh! There she goes again. Steal and the basket, Danielle Butts!" My son is of much fewer words. Whoever it is, he just says, "She hit the hoop."
Danielle was one of four players in double figures. She also had double figure rebounds, which lead the team tonight. Remember I said it....crazy vertical leap. (photo from 2014 ACC tournament, courtesy of espn)
There's never a dull moment though big or small. There was a stretch where Stephanie Mavunga played 30 seconds I think with one shoe. In that time she played defense, got a partial block, ran the floor and got a rebound. You have to love her, but I don't think I took a breath until she got her shoe back. My daughter AC tried to call timeout for her more than once. Had to remind her that was not going to work. She loves our girls. The rest of Stephanie's (Mavunga) 21 minutes on the floor just make you grateful she's on our side. She and frontcourt partner Xylina McDaniel.
I love the versatility in Xylina's game. She's going to be hard to deal with because her ability to play inside out, drive to the basket, post up inside or hit the jump shot. 15 points in the opener and was actually rather quiet about it. If you can call shooting 70% from the field quiet. All-ACC in each of the previous two years and likely on her way to a third of the same type performance. She's really fun to watch.
Who else was fun to watch? Ramses. He made his way around Carmichael donning a Nike t-shirt and basketball shorts. He snuck in behind us during the game. My son is still a little nervous around anything other than Disney characters; but every year he gets closer and closer to Ramses, but a big play caught his attention at the last second. My daughter loves the story of how Ramses got his new look. I do prefer this face to the one from when I was in school.
I looked at my game notes to see what I wrote next to Allisha Gray. There was one word. ON! This young woman filled the stat sheet tonight in every way you want a player to do so. Last year I called her the quiet assassin. I don't think she's going to be so quiet this season. She also shot 70% from the field. Like Xylina she shows a lot of versatility on the court. Players like that are really hard to defend.
Our lone freshman made her debut tonight, though it was delayed slightly by a wardrobe malfunction. Jamie (Cherry) was so excited she didn't have her jersey on when called to enter the game. Bless her heart. The thoughts that must have been flying through her head today after all the time that has passed between giving her verbal commitment, signing her letter of intent and getting to UNC all the way to this night. I love that she was that excited about her first game. Double figures in her first game and showed some true aggression on the defensive end. Stayed low and was just generally a real pest to whomever Carson-Newman had bring the ball up. I'm willing to bet her teammates won't let her forget that one for a while.
Some players didn't have as many numbers on the stat sheet tonight; but I'm so looking forward to watching them develop over the course of the season. There's just something about Hilary Fuller. She's battled foot issues pretty much since she arrived; but, every time I get the chance to see her play I just think she can be really good. I feel the same way about N'dea Bryant. I think there's a basketball giant in there. I'm sure they both give the starters all they can handle in practice.
If you check out the goheels.com write up on the game, you'll see UNC scored 50 points in the 2nd half. Definitely a 2nd half team tonight; but first game and all. Jitters can account for a lot of what went on in the 1st twenty minutes, along with the fact that it's just early. Our three ball isn't falling right now like I know it will later. Might have helped to have the two Brittany Rountree hit that were waved off due to other stuff that happened away from the ball. Some passes went the wrong direction so the assist to turnover ratio will improve. I went away pleased with the effort. They're going to be a great group to watch this season.
The transition home was easy. We park in the visitor's lot on 54 so for all of the flack UNC gets for parking issues, for Women's Basketball games, it is really an easy in and out for us. No turns once I'm off of I-40 and the walk from the parking lot to Carmichael is a straight shot we do in about five minutes. I do still use my son's stroller in case he falls asleep during the game. He's only done that at the ACC tournament though. The ride home is a different story. His basketball wardrobe is going to have to consist of soft items he can sleep in like I did when my daughter was his age.
All in all a great night and we're looking forward to Monday. Now this is a fan blog so I won't repeat all of the numbers and such. It will be more about how the team looked in person and our game experience. Stats, photos and interview text can be found on www.goheels.com.
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