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ACC team-by-team previews: Notre Dame, Duke battle for the top

By Arielle Chambers

TALLAHASSEE, FL - JANUARY 12: Asia Durr (25) guard Louisville Cardinals stumbles with the basketball against Brittany Brown (12) guard Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match-up on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU wins 65-72. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - JANUARY 12: Asia Durr (25) guard Louisville Cardinals stumbles with the basketball against Brittany Brown (12) guard Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match-up on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU wins 65-72. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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North Carolina

Projected finish: 10th

Last year’s record: 15-16, 3-13

Key Returners (last season’s stats)

G- Jamie Cherry, 5’8, (Cove City, NC), SR- 14.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 34.6 MPG;  only roster member with NCAA tournament experience (2015).

G- Paris Kea, 5’9, (Tarboro, NC), R-JR- 17.2 PP, 5.2 RPG, 36.2 MPG; led team in points and assists per game.

G- Destinee Walker, 5’10, (Orlando, FL), JR- 12.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 32.6 MPG.

G- Stephanie Watts, 5’11, (Wesley Chapel, NC), JR- 16.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 34.2 MPG.

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)

F- Hillary Fuller, 6’2, (Fernandina Beach, FL),- 5.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 19.5 MPG.

02 November 2016: North Carolina’s Stephanie Watts
02 November 2016: North Carolina’s Stephanie Watts /

Newcomers

F- Janelle Bailey, 6’4, (Matthews, NC), FR- Newcomer watch list for ACC, McDonald’s All-American, WBCA High School All-America honorable mention, five-star espnW HoopGurlz recruit ranked 39th overall.

F- Jaelynn Murray, 6’2, (Columbia, SC), FR- all-state (SC) and 4-AAA All-Region.

G- Leah Church, 5’8, (Purlear, NC), FR- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for winning National Hoop Shoot free throw contest; broke world record with 32 three-pointers made in one minute.

Head Coach

Sylvia Hatchell, 32nd season

“I don’t talk about [last season] because that ain’t us.” Hatchell said. “I’m looking toward the future because the future is going to be great. Things have changed a lot. we’ve come a long way from this time last year. i’m looking forward to the future because we’ve got some amazing things going on in our program.”

27 March 2015: UNC head coach Sylvia Hatchell
27 March 2015: UNC head coach Sylvia Hatchell /

Key non-conference games

Nov. 29-Minnesota

Outlook

Can Carolina basketball be revived? Coach Sylvia Hatchell spoke with a sense of confidence that the past two years have been a fluke and that there is, indeed, a promising future for her program.  

With only one player lost from last year, ten freshman and sophomores return.  The Tar Heels have nowhere to go but up with only three wins in the ACC the previous year.

North Carolina’s incoming freshmen are comprised of a McDonald’s All-American, a world record holder for free throws and three point shooting, and a South Carolina all-state honoree.

If Destinee Walker and Stephanie Watts can return healthy from their previous knee injuries, a return to form for UNC is even likelier.

Paris Key is also a not-so-secret weapon, and is increasing her versatility. She is now rapidly improving her mid-range game, so much so that Coach Hatchell compared it favorably to anyone’s in the country.  Key is being pushed now to play some point, and that should be exciting to watch.

Jamie Cherry is the lone player that got to experience the NCAA. Her responsibility on the team is to follow Coach Hatchell’s vision of a fresh start.

The non-conference schedule was strategically put together so this young team can take advantage of home games and hopefully will experience “good wins,” which will ultimately lead to increased confidence.

Carolina could be the ACC’s dark horse.

Best case scenario:

Consistent scoring and a fresh start, UNC is able to have a complete turnaround, especially in ACC play. Coach Hatchell utilizes her consistent roster and implements the highly acclaimed freshman to get what she wants. They have a winning season and go onto the NCAA for the first time in three years.

Worst case scenario:

Destinee Walker and Stephanie Watts struggle to get back in the swing of things. This hurts the team in ACC play. 

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