Tag: 2023-2024 UNC women’s basketball season

UNC drops three spots in latest AP Women’s Poll

After splitting games against Florida State and UVA last week, the UNC women’s basketball team dropped slightly in the latest AP Poll.

After having its second 5-game win streak of the campaign snapped by Florida State last week, the UNC women’s basketball team responded with a dominant home victory over UVA on Sunday.

Carolina celebrated its 1994 National Championship team, which including former longtime head coach Sylvia Hatchell. The Tar Heels then put on a show for just over 4,500 fans, blowing out the visiting Cavaliers by 13 points.

Even with its recent hot streak, UNC finds itself clinging on to a low ranking in the latest AP Poll. Carolina dropped three spots to 23rd, a spot behind Marquette and just ahead of Iowa State.

The Tar Heels could find themselves climbing this poll with strong results in their upcoming games. They travel to 12-5 Georgia Tech for a 6 p.m. ET tip Thursday, then host #13 Louisville next Sunday at 2 p.m.

Being ranked in the AP Poll is always something teams like to see, but it’s not a requirement to make the NCAA Tournament, particularly if you’re in a Power 5 conference like UNC. Carolina ended last year ranked 20th in the AP Poll – will they be higher at the conclusion of the current season?

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UNC a Top 10 basketball program according to Andy Katz

The UNC men’s basketball program catches most of the hoops headlines in Chapel Hill, but the women have played amazing in recent years.

Every good sports program has a bad year, even if it never seems the case.

Last year was a bad year for the UNC men’s basketball team.

The Tar Heels garnered a tremendous amount of preseason hype, largely due to the fact they nearly beat Kansas in the 2022 National Championship game. They returned four of five starters from their title game run, with the lone starting lineup newcomer in Pete Nance.

Preseason Number One? Fitting. Being the first Preseason Number one to miss the Big Dance? Not so fitting.

Carolina’s women fared much better, making their fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels nearly upset Ohio State in the second round, but lost on a late Jacy Sheldon make. UNC returns its two best players – guard Deja Kelly and forward Alyssa Utsby.

Carolina won the Women’s NCAA Tourney back in 1994. Could it win a second title this year?

The men have six titles under their belt. Is number seven in store?

With how successful both teams are, college basketball correspondent Andy Katz ranked UNC seventh on his list of Top 10 programs.

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The Tar Heel men kick off their season on Monday, Nov. 6, as they welcome Big South power Radford to the Dean Dome for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off. The women start two days later, hosting the 2023 Big South Champions in Gardner-Webb at the same time.

How will UNC add to its long-standing basketball legacy this year?

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Three UNC Women’s Basketball players earn ACC Preseason Honors

Deja Kelly, Alyssa Utsby and Lexi Donarski are going to be integral to the UNC women’s basketball team’s success this year.

There’s a lot of hype in Chapel Hill right now – it mainly has to do with the upcoming start of basketball season.

A lot of that basketball attention should be focused on the UNC women’s basketball program, who has not one or two – but three players with preseason honors.

Deja Kelly and Alyssa Utsby, both of Carolina’s team captains, were named Preseason All-ACC. Lexi Donarski, the Iowa State transfer, was named to the ACC Newcomer Watch List.

Kelly and Utsby, both seniors, will unfortunately be playing their final year in Chapel Hill. Kelly is the Tar Heels’ leading returning scorer (16.5 points per game), while Utsby returns 13.2 points per game (second-most) and a team-high 233 rebounds from last year (8.3 RPG).

Kelly and Utsby will almost surely give UNC that 1-2 punch that so many teams covet. Kelly’s going to be the primary ball-handler and scorer, whether she decides to spot up from deep or drive the lane, like so many players do nowadays. Utsby will likely be spotting up down low, looking to either clean up a rare Kelly miss or back opponents down for an easy two.

Donarski was ranked as one of the transfer portal’s top players. Not only is she bringing 13.2 points per game with her, but she is also the Big 12’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year. She’ll replace the production of Kennedy Todd-Williams, who transferred to Ole Miss in the offseason.

Fans will get to see the Tar Heels in action shortly, as they host Gardner-Webb in their season-opener on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. ET.

UNC women’s basketball schedule now complete

The UNC women’s basketball team can begin making final preparations for its season, as its ACC schedule was announced on Tuesday.

It was a tough ending last year for the UNC women’s basketball team, which came seconds away from an upset of Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament.

The Tar Heels were one of seven ACC schools to reach double-digits in conference wins, along with Miami, Louisville, Florida State, Duke, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. UNC was one of eight to make the Big Dance.

Deja Kelly and Alyssa Utsby headline this year’s roster, which has a young look with seven underclassmen.

Carolina can now officially begin make game preparations, as its ACC schedule was released on Tuesday.

UNC opens up its season against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Carmichael Arena. The Tar Heels stay at home through Thanksgiving Break, when they head to Florida for the Gulf Coast Showcase.

After concluding its non-conference schedule with a neutral-site matchup against Oklahoma in the Tuesday, Dec. 19 Jumpman Invitational, Carolina hosts Clemson at noon on New Years’ Eve to open up ACC play. The Tar Heels play an even nine conference games at home and on the road, concluding with a visit from archrival Duke on Sunday, March 3.

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UNC women’s basketball team reveals non-conference slate

The UNC women’s basketball team’s non-conference schedule includes a slew of powerful opponents, most notably South Carolina and UConn.

Though it’s still a couple months away, college basketball season will be here before everyone knows it.

Teams are starting to find out some of their opponents and game dates. UNC’s women’s basketball squad happens to be one of those teams. Days after finding out they’d be playing in the Clean Simple Eats Gulf Coast Showcase over Thanksgiving weekend, the Heels now have the entire list of their non-conference opponents.

Carolina starts off by hosting reigning Big South champion Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, Nov. 8. They’ll host Davidson four days later, Hampton University on Nov. 15 and Elon on Saturday, Nov. 18.

After the Thanksgiving weekend tournament, the Heels return to Chapel Hill on Thursday, Nov. 30 and host South Carolina, arguably the best current program in women’s college basketball.

Rounding out UNC’s non-conference schedule are a home contest against UNC-Greensboro on Wednesday, Dec. 6, a road clash with national power UConn in the Hall of Fame Women’s showcase four days later, Western Carolina at home on Dec. 15 and Oklahoma in Charlotte’s (city, not the school) Jumpman Classic on Dec. 19.

By the time ACC play rolls around, UNC will certainly be battle-tested. They face the 2022 national champions in South Carolina and 11-time champions in UConn.

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Women’s basketball prepared to face tough competition in Thanksgiving tourney

The UNC women’s basketball team, coming off its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, will play in a Thanksgiving tournament this year.

The University of North Carolina women’s basketball team came within a couple points of upsetting Ohio State and moving onto the Sweet 16 in last year’s NCAA tournament.

Carolina clawed back from a double-digit deficit to take a late lead, only for Ohio State’s Jacy Shelton to sink a game-winner with seconds remaining and ending all hope for Tar Heels fans. The third-seeded Buckeyes won, 71-69.

This year, UNC is hoping to finally make a push for the Sweet 16 and possibly more. It’d be a fourth-straight NCAA appearance, something not done since a string of eight straight from 2002-2009.

The Heels will be tested early in the season, as they head to Florida’s Gulf Coast over Thanksgiving Weekend for the Clean Simple Eats Gulf Coast Showcase from Friday, Nov. 24-Sunday, Nov. 26.

Carolina’s first matchup of the 3-day Holiday tournament is against Vermont (Friday, Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m.). This is the two teams’ first time playing each other. Vermont, which won the America East Conference Tournament last year, lost to national power UConn in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Also in the field is Kansas State and Western Kentucky, Florida Gulf Coast, Delaware, Iowa and Purdue-Fort Wayne. Iowa lost in the 2023 NCAA Championship game to Angel Reese-led LSU.

Carolina, led by two All-ACC selections in Deja Kelly and Alyssa Utsby, will almost certainly be tested in this early-season tourney.

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