University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Open Season vs. Santa Clara at Pete Newell Challenge
November 19, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2004
The University of North Carolina will debut its 2004-05 men's basketball team vs. Santa Clara on Friday Nov. 19 at the Pete Newell Challenge in Oakland, Calif.
Carolina will try to improve to 84-11 in season- openers in the contest, to be played at The Arena in Oakland.
UNC will be without starting point guard Raymond Felton on Friday, as Felton has been declared ineligible for one regular-season game by the NCAA for his participation in a non-certified summer league basketball game in Raleigh. Felton had started every game of his 65-game Tar Heel career entering this season.
The game will be a homecoming for Tar Heel freshman Quentin Thomas, who is a 2004 graduate of Oakland Technical Senior High School. Carolina will be playing its season-opener vs. Santa Clara. The Broncos are 2-1 on the season after defeating North Carolina A & T and Duquesne and losing to New Mexico at the NABC Classic in Albuquerque, N.M.
Former Tar Heel player and head coach Matt Doherty will serve as the television analyst for the CSTV broadcast of the game.
CAROLINA IN SEASON-OPENERS
The Tar Heels are 83-11 all-time in season
openers. UNC has won 68 of its last 73 season
openers.
Since 1930, The Tar Heels have dropped season opening games in 1965-66 (at Clemson), 1982-83 (vs. St. Johns's), 1996-97 (vs. Arizona) and 2001-02 (Hampton).
CAROLINA VS. SANTA CLARA
Carolina and Santa Clara have met on the
hardwood twice, with the Tar Heels winning
matchups in the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons.
On Dec. 29, 1981, Carolina won at Santa Clara, 76-57, en route to the 1982 NCAA championship. Michael Jordan had 21 points to lead the Tar Heels, while James Worthy had 19.
On Dec. 11, 1982, the Tar Heels defeated the roncos, 79-56, in Greensboro. Jordan (22 points) and Brad Daugherty (17) led UNC to the win.
