University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Ready for Rutgers Tonight
November 20, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2002
The Tar Heels return to action at home at 7 p.m. against Rutgers in the quarterfinal round of the Owens Corning Preseason NIT. Carolina defeated Penn State, 85-55, in the first round on Monday. That same evening, the Scarlet Knights routed Columbia, 60-36.
This is Carolina's fourth appearance in the Preseason NIT and fourth time the Tar Heels have reached the second round. In fact, UNC has won its first two games in each of its previous three Preseason NITs. The winner of tonight's game advances to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York City next Wednesday, November 27.
"This is a dominating team with a great deal of athleticism," said Rutgers coach Gary Waters of the Tar Heels. "They have great quickness. They seem to play well together for being together for such as short time and they are very free in what they do."
The 85-55 win over Penn State improved Carolina's record to 82-11 in season opening games and 86-7 in home openers. UNC has won 70 of its last 72 home openers and 67 of its last 72 season openers. The Preseason NIT is Carolina's first in a regular-season tournament since splitting two games last December in Charlotte in the Raycom-sponsored Tournament of Champions. The Tar Heels lost, 66-60, to the College of Charleston in the opening round, but rebounded to beat 15th-ranked Saint Joseph's, 92-76, in the consolation game.
Freshman center Damion Grant is questionable for the game. Grant was not cleared to play in Monday's opener due to a medical condition that warranted tests. Results of those tests were expected back prior to the game against Rutgers.
BROADCAST INFO
Tonight's game is being televised nationally by ESPN. This is the second of at least 17 regular-season games this year in which the Tar Heels will be seen on national network or cable television. Mark Jones and former Tar Heel All-America Brad Daugherty have the call for ESPN.
Woody Durham and Mick Mixon are in their 14th year together calling the action for Carolina Basketball on the Tar Heel Sports Network. Durham is in his 32nd year broadcasting UNC games. Former UNC National Player of the Year and assistant coach Phil Ford joins Durham and Mixon for all home games and select other contests. WTRG (100.7) is the flagship station on the Tar Heel Sports Network, which features more than 50 affiliates.
All Carolina men's basketball games may be heard on the Internet at TarHeelBlue.com. Live stats are available for all home games.
SERIES VS. RUTGERS
This is the eighth meeting between the Tar Heels and the Scarlet Knights. Carolina leads the series, 6-1, with wins in each of the last six encounters. Rutgers won the first game in 1920-21. The teams did not face each other again until Feb. 11, 1978.
The teams played six times in a nine-year span and Carolina was 6-0 in those games. None of the seven previous games were played in Chapel Hill. The 1921 game was played in New Jersey, the teams met at Madison Square Garden in New York three times, in Charlotte once and Greensboro twice.
Carolina was 3-0 in Matt Doherty's playing career against the Scarlet Knights, although he missed the first of those encounters due to injury. He scored 15 points and had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 35 minutes of the 59-36 win in December 1981 and had 14 points, four rebounds and four assists in the January 1983 win. Doherty was 1-1 as head coach at Notre Dame against Rutgers in 1999-2000. The Irish lost, 76-51, at Rutgers in the regular season, but defeated the Scralet Knights 74-62 in the Big East Tournament in Madison Square Garden.
This is Carolina's first game against a Big East opponent since beating Miami (Fla.), 67-45, in Chapel Hill on Dec. 4, 2000.
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
