Princeton University Athletics
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Women's Basketball Head Coach Courtney Banghart's Season Preview Q&A
October 29, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Princeton head women's basketball coach Courtney Banghart answers 10 questions on the upcoming season, which begins Nov. 9 in the Preseason WNIT at Maryland:
What made Princeton an attractive place for your head coaching debut?
Princeton is a school that strives for excellence in all that it does. It is steeped in tradition and remains one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Also, I firmly believe in the ideals of the Ivy League, where players are truly student-athletes in every sense of the word. Can you think of a better place to land? I'm honored to be a part of this institution and I'm thrilled at the opportunity to take this program to new heights.
What are your plans for the offense in your first season?
Basketball is a team game and therefore our offensive productivity will depend upon how we play together. Our focus will be on improving our fundamentals, which will allow us to better create scoring opportunities for ourselves and others. Our mobility should also allow us to attack in transition. Clearly, having the Ivy League's leading scorer in Meagan Cowher also means that we have a real threat on the interior at all times.
Will Meagan Cowher score the kind of points in her senior year that she did as a junior?
Meagan Cowher has had a brilliant three years. She has cemented herself as one of the premier players in the league. Great players like Meg have a special skill at putting points on the board in any number of ways, and I have every reason to believe she will do that again this year. She is mobile, talented and versatile and with the arrival of Coach (Melanie) Halker, I believe Meg will quickly develop an effective low-post arsenal to go with her already varied offensive talents.
With the success Princeton enjoyed two years ago with a strong center like Becky Brown '06, what role will the post position play this season?
The game of basketball is played from the inside-out, so post play is obviously very important to a team's success. All great teams have a dominant inside game as was the case with Becky Brown. Our inside game will anchor us both defensively and offensively and will get numerous looks in each possession. We have experience in the post, with all three seniors looking to share significant time there. I am very pleased with the versatility we have in Ali Prichard and Katy Digovich, who can step out and be a threat from longer range. We will look for our post players to provide consistency, toughness, and productivity this season.
Who are the candidates to hold the important point guard position?
We are inexperienced at the point position with the loss of Jessica Berry. We do have experienced wing players and they will have to be prepared to assume point responsibilities. We also have some promising young players who will have a great opportunity to make an early impact on Princeton basketball.
Having been a talented perimeter shooter as a player and having coached strong three-point shooters in recent years, will Princeton be firing from distance often this year?
There is no doubt that the three point line has revolutionized the game of basketball. Meagan Cowher will clearly demand significant attention on the interior, which will open up the game for our perimeter players. We have talented shooters; the key will be ensuring that there is enough time allotted both in practice and in personal skill development sessions for shooters to take many shots. The difference between mediocre shooters and great shooters is that great shooters shoot more than anyone else. I will continue to encourage our perimeter players to work tirelessly on the repetition necessary to be great.
What players do you see making the biggest growth in their contributions this year?
This year is a new beginning for all of us, so there is significant room for growth across the board. My hope is that we all make great strides. I am pleased with the level of commitment and conditioning our players are in upon their return to campus. And I feel confident that with the help of Coach Halker in the paint and Coach (Milena) Flores on the perimeter, everyone will have a great opportunity to improve throughout the course of the season.
What role will Princeton's trio of freshmen play in its first season?
I am very pleased with the trio of freshmen in our program. Addie Micir brings versatility, a solid game from beyond the arc, an ability to score on the block and sound fundamentals that should put her in a position to contribute immediately. Shelbie Pool is a tall, strong and fundamentally sound wing player with good range. She will allow us to space out our offense, opening up the interior for our post players and she will attack from many spots on the floor. Krystal Hill is a pure point guard and thus will have an immediate opportunity to make her mark. She brings quickness, a great love for the game, and a willingness to improve. I look forward to the contributions of all three of our freshmen.
What are your thoughts on a schedule that includes at least five major-conference teams?
We are competitors and competitors love to compete so I am pleased with the caliber of teams we have on our schedule. There will be no “off” nights. This talented group of opponents will allow us to continually see what we are made of. In addition to the nationally ranked powerhouses, we also play a very respectable regional schedule. The schedule then closes with the Ivy League gauntlet, the 14-game home-and-away war that sends the toughest, most consistent and battle-tested team to the NCAA tournament.
What is your forecast for the Ivy League this year?
Here at Princeton, we are focused on getting better everyday. The Ivy League is a true test of consistency and physical and mental toughness. I am humbled by the caliber of coaching in this league, which makes game planning and preparation a weekly obsession. There is no doubt that every weekend will be a battle, as all teams are in it to win it. Cornell returns all five starters from a solid team last year and Harvard and Dartmouth remain the duo to beat as they finished the year No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. The Ivy League has proven to be a league for seniors, so my only prediction is that the program whose seniors carry them to the title is the program that will be the Ivy representative in the NCAA tournament. Let the games begin.