COLUMBUS, Ohio — At this point in the season, Courtney Banghart isn’t worried about how her team can be better. She’s just focused on the next matchup.
“When you get to March, you focus on literally the team,” the UNC women’s basketball head coach said. “So, it's very little about me teaching them how to grow our offense and defense. It's literally completely obsessed with what Ohio State does.”
On Monday at 4 p.m., the No. 6 seed Tar Heels will take on the No. 3 seed Buckeyes on their home court in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State exploded out of the gates this season for a 19-0 start, but the team has gone 7-7 since then.
Here are three things to watch for in Columbus as North Carolina looks to advance to the Sweet 16.
Taylor Mikesell’s 3-point shooting
The First Team All-Big Ten selection is tied for fourth in the country in 3-point field goals made as of Saturday, shooting at an impressive 40.6 percent clip. Mikesell has the green light to let it fly from outside, accounting for 36.5 percent of Ohio State’s 3-point attempts this year.
Expect junior guard Kennedy Todd-Williams, UNC’s best perimeter defender, to try to contain Mikesell, who has hit five or more 3-point shots six times this season.
“If I’m guarding them, I want to be able to hold them down to their numbers and not let them see daylight,” Todd-Williams said. “That definitely is my role on this team, to lock down their best offensive player and just to get them out of rhythm.”