Ofc a loss is frustrating and has people questioning CB- however this is probably her best team talent wise. CT, Indya, Laila, Lanie are all better. Nyla H was a huge pickup, Nyla B is going to be a superstar but she’s also a freshman. We’re young isn’t much of an excuse but more a fact. Come Feb/March madness time, this team will click and perform a lot better than we did in game #3 vs UCLA or @ Texas less than a month into the season. An win against either would have been a huge upset given our personnel against their. Both of those teams are filled with McDonald’s AA, Juniors, Seniors and have final four/deep tournament run experience. I had high hopes for both games but wasn’t expecting us to win… cb will always say these early games against tough teams are litmus tests to see what they need to tweak before ACC play. There’s so much upside especially getting good early starts in both games- we just need a full 40 minutes. I hope everyone on this board realizes how much production we actually lost. Lexi, Maria and Lys usually played what 35-40 minutes a game? We truly have a new new look team and all mostly underclassmen. Nyla H is a senior but new to the team. Indya is really the only returning player that gave us significant production last year- and has upped it this year. Yes we returned Reniya too but she hasn’t looked to form and most of our Fr/So look better and more ready. I’m all bought into this program and Coach Banghart’s vision. If you take a look around the country and good teams and how long those coaches have been coaching in college but also with spec teams, their trajectory is right where it should be:
Vic Shaefer- 65 years old, Miss State & Texas
Kim Mulkey- 63 years old, Baylor & LSU
Geno- enough said
Dawn- Temple & SC - didn’t get SC to FF until year 7(?)
Cori Close- didn’t get UCLA to FF until year 14 there
It just takes time people. CB is 47 years old and is at her first P5 job in year 7 with a program that had ZERO national attention before she got here. Two sweet 16’s and I feel us just knocking on that door to the EE/FF. I’m happy with what she’s done, even just getting the fans engaged more. So be upset at a loss and ask for her credibility, but don’t discount the process it takes because every coach that has an elite program also had growing pains (maybe minus Geno lol) GO HEELS