CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina’s quest for a spot in the Sweet 16 is being heavily tested by West Virginia’s relentless, full-court defensive strategy.
As the Tar Heels seek to navigate this formidable challenge, they rely on the experiences gathered throughout a challenging regular season.
“Our players have faced various types of pressure,” North Carolina’s coach Courtney Banghart noted. “They’ve defended against a diverse range of skill sets and contended with multiple forms of attacks.”
While Banghart isn’t extensively acquainted with the Big 12, she acknowledges that West Virginia similarly draws upon its season-long achievements and experiences.
West Virginia, the sixth seed, is known for its tenacious defense that spans the entire court. Moving into their upcoming match against North Carolina, the Mountaineers (25-7) lead the Big 12 and rank third nationally in turnovers forced, averaging 23.7 per game.
Columbia encountered West Virginia’s pressure firsthand in the NCAA Tournament’s first round, turning the ball over 11 times in the opening quarter and 25 times overall in a 78-59 defeat.
“For us, it’s genuinely enjoyable,” guard JJ Quinerly remarked regarding their defensive play. “We love the fast pace, the steals, and the easy points. It’s just fun for us.”
The Tar Heels (28-7) have endured tight, physically demanding games this season, particularly in ACC matchups like their 53-46 overtime victory against Duke, where both teams shot below 33%.
Banghart draws parallels between West Virginia and Louisville, whom North Carolina defeated 79-75 last month after shooting a seasonal best of 68% in the second half. Other stylistic elements are reminiscent of Duke and Syracuse.
“We faced them recently, and it’s reminiscent of how they have Jayda Curry and Taj Roberts, capable of pressure from the ball,” Banghart observed. “Perhaps it’s similar to Louisville, with some similarities to Syracuse. When they’re on full-man, it resembles Duke a bit more. Each team brings something unique, though.”
Despite these comparisons, according to guard Reniya Kelly, no team entirely mimics West Virginia.
Having conquered 14th-seed Oregon State 70-49, North Carolina aspires for its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2022. For West Virginia, the venture has been even more elusive, with their latest and only appearance occurring before the tournament’s expansion in 1992.
Coach Mark Kellogg is clear about what’s on the line, stating, “If we reach that point, I don’t want to pause there. It’s not all-or-nothing for us, but steps need to be taken. We must conquer that first hurdle, a significant challenge given the level of competition we face here.”
West Virginia’s team may be small, with their starting lineup mostly lacking height beyond 5-foot-10. However, with towering players like 6-3 Maria Gakdeng and the 6-1 leading rebounder Alyssa Ustby, the Tar Heels seem to have an edge, having outscored Oregon State 40-16 in the paint.
Yet, Kellogg remains optimistic about countering that disadvantage, explaining, “Throughout the Big 12, we’ve consistently been the smaller team, but Columbia probably said the same about us.”