UNC women’s basketball returns ‘home’ to face top-seeded South Carolina in Sweet 16
The border battle between the Tar Heels and Gamecocks will be played on North Carolina’s turf in the Sweet 16.
No. 5-seeded UNC defeated Arizona, 63-45, in the Wildcats’ backyard Monday night to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015. Next up for the Tar Heels: A showdown with No. 1 overall seed, South Carolina.
The Gamecocks are the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and the favorites to cut down the nets in April. UNC has been one of the hottest teams through the first weekend of March Madness.
“To say I’m really proud to be bringing a team to the Sweet 16 would be an understatement,” UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. “And it’s so hard to win in March and this group has not won not one, but two on the road. We sort of felt like we should be hosting and only one thing to do is prove it. These guys deserved it, not only today but how you handled yourself all year long.”
Rematch, sort of?
UNC and South Carolina have played this season, unofficially.
The Heels and Gamecocks had a scrimmage against each other before the season started.
“South Carolina is one of the very best teams in the country and they have some of the very best players in the country,” Banghart said. “They are incredibly dominant inside. You’re playing the No. 1 seed overall, them and Stanford are fighting for that right now. That challenge will be formidable. We take one week at a time. I know it’s a very quick turnaround because we are on the other side of the earth right now and we have to get back home. But we have played them. We’ve recruited those players so we know them well. Familiarity obviously is clear.”
Home sweet home
UNC should have the home court advantage. The Tar Heels will be playing at Greensboro Coliseum, 52 miles away from their campus in Chapel Hill.
Banghart touched on the environment she expects on Friday for the game, which is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN.
“I think going into this game, I had I think 181 unread text messages so I can’t even keep up, people saying come on, one more so you can come home,” Banghart said. “I think we will draw well. The environment will be great. South Carolina travels as well. Women’s basketball is in the best spot it has ever been in. The game is the healthiest it’s ever been, and the crowds will show out for it.”
This story was originally published March 22, 2022 at 1:18 PM with the headline "UNC women’s basketball returns ‘home’ to face top-seeded South Carolina in Sweet 16."
