By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
The Princeton University women’s basketball program has been a model of consistency during Courtney Banghart’s nine years as heads coach.
Since going .500 in her second year at the helm, the Tigers have won at least 21 games in each of the last seven seasons, capturing five Ivy League titles along the way.
Last year, the Tigers went 23-6 and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament with a senior-led roster. This year the Tigers will be without 92 percent of their scoring offense from a year ago and return only one starter in senior guard Vanessa Smith.
“This is a totally different team,” said Banghart, who is just eight wins shy of 200 for her coaching career at Princeton. “It’s the same program and same leader in charge of it so there’s a lot of similarities. I’ve probably had more fun coaching this team than I remember even having fun playing. This has been a really fun team to coach in part because there’s so much eagerness.
“They lovingly said good-bye to the seniors. They’re totally dialed in. They’re really focused on winning the day. We’re going to play the game very differently because we’re a different team now. So everything is new so there’s really no freshmen and there’s no seniors. We’re all in it as a group and at the same spot. It’s so rare in college athletics. It’s a unique experience that we’re enjoying very much.”
The Tigers were picked to finish second behind defending champion Penn in the Ivy League’s pre-season media poll. The offense will be coming from different players as they step into larger roles.
“This is a different challenge externally for sure in terms of trying to gain experience quickly without experience,” said Banghart, whose team will open the season at home tonight against Rider. “During practice, it’s how you train. There are challenges to being a team that has some pieces that have been playing a long time. Your (coach’s) voice starts to wear off. Similarly, the younger guys start to fall into their roles. They stand behind certain players. This team is a totally different challenge. Some things are much easier and some things will be much harder.
“On game days, not knowing who’s going to be the one you can count on all the time, that’s going to be very different. Not having kids that you can count on to shoot 3’s and make more than they miss even guarded. My job is to get this particular team as good as I can on and off the court. That’s given us a lot of wins here. I think it’ll do the same again this year. I don’t know how quickly, I don’t know how soon I don’t know how often, but it will happen.”
Last year the Tigers could rely on Alex Wheatley or Michelle Miller or Annie Tarakchian in a big spot. This year new leaders will need to emerge to be the go-to player on offense.
“We’ve been thrown a couple blows,” Banghart said. “Vanessa hasn’t practiced yet. She had foot surgery. I don’t know when she’ll be cleared so we’re starting without Vanessa. Another one of our projected best players is out, we’ll find out soon for how long. That could be a significant loss for us. So we’ve been handed a few things that are external that are an added challenge.
“We’ve got some really good returners, we have some good freshmen and might start one or two of them. We have some really good players, they’re just people that you guys don’t know about yet. I have to figure out who’s playing where, but I don’t feel bad about the talent.”
Taylor Brown takes over as the Tigers’ point guard. Smith has the most experience. The freshmen class is talented with Sara Lewis, Jordan Stallworth, Taylor Baur and Bella Alarie. Meanwhile, returning players like Jordan Muhammed, Sydney Jordan, Leslie Robinson, Kalai Ishmael and Tei Wiledge will step into larger roles.
“I’m really blessed,” Banghart said. “I coach a bunch of kids that trust me and let me push them. I think they believe I’ll get them where I need to get them. I told them, all I need is for you guys to come with the mentality that you’re going to win the day. Some days we’ll be more focused on one end or one part of the ball or one part of our scheme. Some days will be harder than others. It’s all part of the design. Just win the day and it’s my job to make sure we’re progressing at the right pace.”
It’s much different than a year ago when the roster was filled with veteran players who knew the demands. This year won’t be the same, but that’s quite all right with Banghart.
“I haven’t had more fun coaching a team than I have these guys,” the PU coach said. “I hope I can say that in three months, but in terms of the hardest month for a college basketball coach it’s October. That’s when you’re defining what you’re going to emphasize and what you’re going to put up with and what you’re going to allow. This is the month I find so important. We came out of it as a team that I’ve never had more fun coaching. So far, so good.”
