ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The North Carolina women’s basketball team believes its game plan to best No. 4 seed UK in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Monday is simple.
The Cats (25-8), who boast a Southeastern Conference-high +7.5 turnover margin, are known for their attacking, in-your-face defense. UNC (26-8) knows what it needs to do heading into the game.
“(UK’s pressure) will create a lot of driving and backdoor opportunities for us,” senior Italee Lucas said. “We are not going to force too much in with the amount of pressure they’re going to put on us, we’ll try to work around it and create opportunities.”
Knowing that, UK doesn’t plan on letting up to a Tar Heels press offense that is among the best in the nation.
“We practice a lot with our intensity and tempo,” said junior Keyla Snowden, who finished with a game-high 19 points Saturday. “I think that any game with a fast-paced tempo will be in our favor, because we run a lot in practice and are used to playing at a fast pace.”
Both UK and North Carolina won relatively close games in their respective first-round matchups, though UNC pulled away from No. 12 seed Fresno State late, winning 82-68.
The Cats, on the other hand, weren’t as fortunate in their late-game attempt Saturday, pulling away only in overtime, downing No. 13 seed Hampton 66-62 behind strong closing minutes from sophomore Brittany Henderson.
AP SEC Player of the Year Victoria Dunlap, who was benched for much of the first half of UK’s win over Hampton due to fouls, said it is on her shoulders to stay out of foul trouble if the Cats want to pull out the second-round victory.
“I need to be smarter, especially with fouls,” Dunlap said. “I need to be more focused and in tune with what’s going on on the court and not picking up fouls in the beginning … I need to bring energy for my teammates and make sure they can look at me as a leader.”
It wasn’t just Dunlap who started slow for UK against Hampton though. The whole team began sluggish, something the team said must change.
UK shot only 34 percent from the floor in its first-round game, despite receiving help from 10 different players. But most of those additions came late in the game and in overtime.
“It wasn’t the way we wanted to come out in the game, and it wasn’t the way that Kentucky basketball needs to be played,” Dunlap said. “(Monday), we will come out with a lot of energy and intensity.”
UK head coach Matthew Mitchell said the Tar Heels, who finished the regular season ranked higher and with a better record than the Cats, will be one of UK’s toughest opponents of the season.
“That’s what we’ve been working all year for; to try to be in the kind of shape that in the tournament we can play fast-paced if the team’s not comfortable with it,” Mitchell said. “I’m sure (UNC) is saying they are, so who knows what’s going to happen.
“Whatever it requires tomorrow, we’re going to try to be ready for.”
The winner of the UK-UNC game will play next Saturday in the Women’s Sweet 16 against the team that advances from the contest between No. 1 seed Stanford (30-2) and No. 9 seed St. John’s (22-10), which is also Monday night.
Pingback: » Ohio State, UK Hoops, DaJuan Coleman and more notes John Clay’s Sidelines
Can I simply say what a relief to search out somebody who actually is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You positively know the right way to deliver an issue to mild and make it important. More individuals must read this and perceive this side of the story. I cant consider youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
Website: wholesale