Oh man, if you’re a Wolfpack diehard, you remember this one like it was yesterday—even though it’s been four years now in 2026. UNC’s head coach Courtney Banghart decided to poke the bear right before a massive Tobacco Road showdown in January 2022, calling our beloved Reynolds Coliseum a “small gym.” Spoiler: It backfired spectacularly. The Pack not only sold out the joint but turned it into a deafening fortress, handing the Tar Heels a brutal 72-45 beatdown on January 6, 2022.
Let’s dive into the drama, the quote that lit the fuse, and how our fans and team made Banghart eat her words in epic fashion.
The Infamous Quote: Banghart’s Pre-Game Jab
It all started during a media availability on January 5, 2022, when Banghart was asked about facing No. 5 NC State in front of a sold-out crowd at Reynolds, which seats about 5,500 for women’s hoops.
Instead of hyping up the rivalry or respecting the atmosphere, she went full shade mode: “It’s a small gym, so it doesn’t take a lot to sell it out. We’ll play in front of more fans at other places. It says sold out because it’s a small gym.”
Oof. She basically dismissed the hype, implying Reynolds’ sellouts aren’t a big deal because of its size—compared to UNC’s Carmichael Arena, which holds around 6,822.
Wolfpack Nation didn’t take that lying down. The comment spread like wildfire on social media, firing up fans who were already amped for the game.
It was classic rivalry fuel—Banghart trying to downplay the intimidation factor, but it just motivated everyone in red and white to prove her wrong. And boy, did they.
Reynolds Shows Up: The Crowd Turns It Into a Cauldron
Fast forward to game night: January 6, 2022. Reynolds was packed to the rafters with 5,500 screaming fans, creating an electric, hostile environment that Banghart clearly underestimated.
The place was a sea of red, with banners waving and the noise level cranked to 11. It wasn’t just “small”—it was intimate, intense, and absolutely overwhelming for the visitors. Fans chanted, stomped, and made sure every Tar Heel felt the heat.
Our Wolfpack faithful turned out in force, turning what Banghart called a “small gym” into a massive home-court advantage. Reports from the game described the atmosphere as one of the rowdiest in recent memory, with the crowd feeding off every big play and forcing UNC into mistakes.
If she thought size mattered, she forgot about heart—Reynolds might not be the biggest, but it’s got soul, history, and a fanbase that shows up when it counts.
The Beatdown: Pack Dominates UNC 72-45
On the court, it was all NC State from the jump. The No. 5 Wolfpack, led by Coach Wes Moore, came out swinging against the No. 19 Tar Heels, who were undefeated at 13-0 heading in.
We started with a 10-0 run and never looked back, building a 24-7 lead after the first quarter and cruising to a 72-45 victory.
Standouts like Elissa Cunane (20 points, 12 rebounds) and Jakia Brown-Turner (15 points) dominated, while UNC shot a dismal 29% from the field.
The margin? A whopping 27 points—UNC’s first loss of the season, and it wasn’t even close.
Banghart’s squad looked shell-shocked, turning the ball over 17 times amid the chaos.
Post-game, the vibe was pure triumph: Moore and the Pack had not only won but made a statement. As one report put it, the focused Wolfpack handed UNC a reality check in front of that “small” but mighty crowd.
Legacy of the Jab: Fuel for the Fire
Banghart’s comment didn’t just sting in the moment—it became legendary Pack lore. She later caught more heat for calling our fans “classless” after another loss, but that 2022 shade set the tone.
Since she took over at UNC in 2019, Moore has owned the series against her, holding a commanding record that’s only grown.
Reynolds? It’s still our fortress, hosting sellouts and big wins, proving size isn’t everything—it’s the passion inside that counts.
This moment encapsulated the rivalry: UNC talking smack, NC State backing it up on the court. Go Pack—keep making ’em regret underestimating Reynolds!
Get yours here!
Leave a Reply