Four Corners: Media Day

CHAPEL HILL—The Tar Heels held their annual media day in the Smith Center on Tuesday afternoon. Head coach Roy Williams held his preseason press conference before a packed audience in the arena's media room, then moved to the adjacent practice gym for posed photos with the 2017-18 team.

Eight newcomers appeared in Carolina uniforms for the first time before the media: graduate student guard Cameron Johnson, sophomore K.J. Smith (who will sit out the season after transferring from Pacific) and freshmen Garrison Brooks, Jalek Felton, Brandon Huffman, Sterling Manley, Walker Miller and Andrew Platek.

Later in the afternoon, the media was invited to attend practice, making for an unusual workout session that nonetheless had the typical intensity of a Carolina early-season practice, especially one with a team with eight new players.

Williams and senior teammates Joel Berry II and Theo Pinson will represent the defending NCAA champions next week at the Atlantic Coast Conference's Operation Basketball, the annual tipoff to the season in Charlotte. The assembled media will interview players and coaches from all the conference's teams extensively before voting for the preseason ACC poll, All-ACC teams and conference individual awards.

It's been a full week of Tar Heel news with more on the horizon. Catch up here with this week's edition of Four Corners.

1. NEWS & NOTES
• Single-game tickets for the 2017-18 season are on sale now, and five-game mini-packs and the Tar Heel Package of tickets are still available.

• Here are highlights from the scrimmage at Late Night With Roy last week:

In addition to the sweet dance moves, we played a little basketball at Late Night with Roy#LNWR pic.twitter.com/lPnmY7jBeu
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 16, 2017

• The Tar Heels unveiled their 2017 NCAA championship banner at Late Night:

??????????????#CarolinaSZN pic.twitter.com/G8WHI8KnJd
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 14, 2017

• A few players got a little emotional during the ceremoney:

We're not crying... you're crying!#CarolinaSZN pic.twitter.com/pwvUPOS0Pi
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 14, 2017

• Berry is on the watch list for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the best point guard in the nation.

• ESPN revisited the Jason Ray story, 10 years later in a touching feature.

• David Noel, a 2005 NCAA champion Tar Heel, is coaching his high school alma mater, Southern Durham. WRAL TV in Raleigh caught up with Noel.

• Hubert Davis will hold tryouts for the UNC junior varsity team next week:

Wanting to try out for JV but missed our meeting? No worries, it's not too late! Tryouts are October 23-24 at 7pm in the Smith Center!
— UNC JV Basketball (@UNCJVBBall) October 7, 2017

2. MEDIA DAY COVERAGE
• Former GoHeels.com columnist Turner Walston had a fun look at the open practice: "Off and Running."

• GoHeels.com's Pat James asked several teammates about how graduate transfer Cameron Johnson is fitting in with the Tar Heels.

• Berry had a memorable answer to a question about the recent NCAA ruling during media day:

Here's Joel Berry on his "7-time National Champs" tweet and hearing from opposing fans every day since he's been here pic.twitter.com/2NNPGlh11E
— Mark Armstrong (@ArmstrongABC11) October 17, 2017

• Here's Roy Williams on Berry's return to the Tar Heels this season:

RW on @JoelBerry2 returning, complete with a ?? drop.#CarolinaSZN pic.twitter.com/sUmpJlGPJT
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 17, 2017

• Williams also discussed the addition of Cameron Johnson to the squad:

"I remember him hanging 26 on us last year" - RW on Cam Johnson#CarolinaSZN pic.twitter.com/oyB2gOTEl2
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 17, 2017

• Watch Williams' full media day press conference:

• Bob Sutton of the Burlington Times-News on how the dialogue has changed for Williams and the Tar Heels in 2017-18.

3. 2017-18 SEASON TIDBITS
• CBS rates Seventh Woods as a possible breakout candidate for the 2017-18 season, citing the sophomore's athleticism.

• The Tar Heels took their 2017-18 team photo at media day:

Oh, we talking teams? #CarolinaSZN pic.twitter.com/iGmssWLTVj
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 17, 2017

4. TAR HEELS IN THE PROS
• The NBA season got off to a start this week for 16 Tar Heels:

Good Luck to our #ProHeels as the @NBA kicks off tonight!#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/SyRqPPvBUe
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 17, 2017

• Harrison Barnes is comfortable with his role in Dallas and ready to lead a Mavs' rebirth, writes the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

• Tony Bradley was a talented but quiet freshman last year for the national champion Tar Heels, and he's already working with little fanfare in Utah to realize his potential with the Jazz.

• Here's a look at Jerry Stackouse's journey from Tar Heel to NBA star to rising coaching star.

• The Sacramento Kings had a rookie dance contest before a recent preseason game, and the video includes both Justin Jackson and Vince Carter:

Kings Rookie Dance Contest included a @FrankMason0 backflip... @Swipathefox Soulja Boy and @mrvincecarter literally ROFLing ?????? pic.twitter.com/QW30ydayDa
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) October 15, 2017

Players Mentioned

Joel Berry II

Tony Bradley

Garrison Brooks

Jalek Felton

Brandon Huffman

Justin Jackson

Cameron Johnson

Sterling Manley

Walker Miller

Theo Pinson

Andrew Platek

K.J. Smith

Seventh Woods

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