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University of North Carolina Athletics
Alumni Game Live Blog
September 4, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Sept. 4, 2009
5:20 p.m.: Welcome to what will hopefully be an evening Carolina fans remember for a long time. We're courtside at the Smith Center just a scant two and a half hours before tipoff. This page will be updated throughout the evening with behind-the-scenes and on-court details. If you have any questions, let me know and we'll try to answer a few as the night progresses.
Two cool things have already happened:
1. People have been lined up outside since at least 4 p.m. Mind you, that's for a ticketed event--not general admission--and the gates don't open until 6:30.
2. Upstairs in the basketball office, they're sorting the championship rings for tomorrow night's ring presentation at halftime of the football game. That's a tough task, because the players and coaches aren't supposed to see them until they get them at midfield of Kenan Stadium.
6:23 p.m.: Some of the alumni coaches, including Larry Brown and Dave Hanners, have started to trickle into the Smith Center. A group of 2005 players, including Jawad Williams, Marvin Williams, Sean May, Raymond Felton and Rashad McCants, is reliving old memories in the lockerroom. More reports to follow soon.
7:45 p.m.: Whew, back at courtside. The tunnel was a whirlwind--Larry Brown, Julius Peppers, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter and others had lots of great things to say about the weekend and the reason why it was important to be here this weekend. Coach Smith just entered the arena to a big hand. Other non-players on hand: George Lynch, Hubert Davis, Eric Montross, Donald Williams and many others.
7:50 p.m.: Teams just took the floor, led by Raymond Felton and Antawn Jamison for the white team and Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington for the blue team. Everybody in the arena is standing...feels like a Kentucky or Duke game.
7:51 p.m.: Michael Jordan just walked in completely unnoticed for the first 20 seconds because everyone was waiting to see what kind of dunks Carter might do in the layup line.
7:55 p.m.: Antawn Jamison just did a live interview with Jones Angell on the video board and got teary-eyed trying to talk about Dean Smith. He also said, "Goosebumps, that's all I can say, coming through that tunnel."
7:57 p.m.: Michael Jordan, Larry Brown, George Karl, Roy Williams and Dean Smith are chatting over behind the scorer's table. Most of the crowd just noticed Jordan. He seems pretty popular.
7:59 p.m.: Tyler Hansbrough--who is in street clothes because of a shin injury--just got a huge ovation. Seven minutes until pregame introductions begin.
8:01 p.m.: Sean May joined Jones during warmups: "We were playing pickup yesterday and the first thing Rashad (McCants) said was that he couldn't believe we got to play another game here."
8:06 p.m.: National anthem on the way. The only player who isn't here who we were expecting is Rasheed Wallace, and knowing him he could show up at any second.
8:10 p.m.: Lights just went dark in the Smith Center for the first time ever. Not sure which is cooler: watching the video or watching the former players watch the video. This video will be online later next week. Danny Green's dunk that you might remember got a huge ovation...but it was surpassed by the hand for the footage of Dean Smith becoming the winningest coach of all time. It is loud in here. Not Marvin in '05 loud...yet. But it is getting there.
Rashad McCants and Sean May just wiped away tears. That's how good the video is.
8:15 p.m.: Ray Clay is doing the team introductions. Rameses is sitting over my left shoulder. As they are introduced, the players go to midcourt and stand in a spotlight. Arena still totally dark, except for all the flashbulbs going off.
8:16 p.m.: Sean May wins the politics award for being the first player to go over and shake the hands of Coach Smith, Coach Williams and Michael Jordan.
8:17 p.m.: Last player introduced from the Blue team is Vince Carter, who is sporting a bit of a gash over his eye courtesy of Tyler Zeller.
8:18 p.m.: Now we're into the White team. Bobby Frasor is first, followed by Danny Green, Jackie Manuel and Raymond Felton. Going to be tough to beat the White team with both Felton and Antawn Jamison, two of the toughest competitors in the last decade.
8:25 p.m.: Jerry Stackhouse is the last player introduced for the White team, followed by the players in attendance who aren't playing in the game (Peppers, Okulaja, Hansbrough) and now it's time for one of tonight's headliners...
The introduction of Dean Smith. All the coaches were introduced first, and then Ray Clay gave a stirring intro that included "one of the finest men and greatest coaches in the history of college athletics." Coach Smith walked out, with the arena still dark, to an ovation that included all the players standing across the court waving their arms for more noise. It got louder...and they wanted more noise. It got louder...and they wanted more noise. Now we're closer to Marvin-in-'05 levels.
8:27 p.m.: Everyone is seated on folding chairs at midcourt for a giant family picture. Coach Smith, Coach Williams, Jordan, Brown and Guthridge are in the middle. When they finish this, they'll turn the other way and be joined by the 2009-10 Tar Heels for an even bigger family photo.
8:38 p.m.: The now-traditional Jump Around includes Danny Green dancing, then Shammond Williams jumping in and doing some sort of Michael Jackson tribute. Blue starters: Jawad Williams, Carter, May, Calabria, Cota. White: Jamison, Marvin Williams, Haywood, Stackhouse, Felton. Jamison starts it off with an early bucket in the paint.
8:40 p.m.: Answer to Spencer--Matt Doherty was here for the coaching clinic yesterday but had to get a flight back to Dallas late last night. Nice to see him get a warm reception from all the guys during pickup last night. First dunk of the night: Carter on the baseline. Probably not the last.
8:42 p.m.: Answer to Jim: TarHeelBlue.com will have game video highlights early tomorrow morning. Around the middle of next week, we'll post all of tonight's videos, which include the 100 years video and the '09 tribute video.
Jamison just posted up Carter, who gave a big yell as he tried to play "defense."
8:45 p.m.: First subs in at 15-minute mark with White team up 16-10. Carter now guarding McInnis and providing running commentary.
Carter just threw the ball to himself off the backboard for a dunk. Yes, this time he made it. More on the famous off-the-backboard dunk attempt in Monday's Tar Heels Today.
First timeout: White team up 24-14 with 13:47 remaining.
Whew, catch your breath. Best of the pregame interviews: Larry Brown talking about what being here means to him and Carter talking about how his Carolina experience taught him to give back to the community. More from those interviews in the days to come on the site and in the 100 years of Carolina Basketball book that will be a comprehensive look at the first century of Tar Heel hoops.
8:50 p.m.: Phil Ford is coaching for blood over there on the White bench. "Box out!" is a frequent refrain.
8:53 p.m.: The Ford/Kuester/Hanners braintrust is taking this a little more seriously than Karl/Sullivan. Pat just tried to get Rasheed Wallace's mom to take a seat on the Blue bench.
8:55 p.m.: 32-16 White at the 9:55 timeout. This timeout features recognition of Bill Guthridge, who gets a big hand at center court.
8:56 p.m.: After Haywood sank a free throw, Jamison grabbed the PA mic to announce the basket.
Blue team just went to the four corners, which got a big roar.
8:58 p.m.: You have to give Shammond credit for wearing the old school blue-and-white Jordans that actually feature a photo of Jordan making the shot in '82.
The White team is actually running plays. They may have had a secret practice. The 3-game results in a made Green three-pointer.
9:03 p.m.: White up 42-26 after two Ellington free throws. Think we're caught up, ready for more questions and/or comments.
Kuester is coaching up McInnis during a Jamison free throw. Phil Ford just wanted his team to take a charge on a McCants dunk attempt...no one stepped in. Sprints in practice tomorrow.
9:05 p.m.: Almost forgot the current team. They're seated near the home tunnel where the risers would be if there were risers here. Every time Ellington and/or Green get the ball they're begging them to shoot.
9:06 p.m.: Blue team making a push, draws within 48-38 on a killer Lawson crossover that even gets a hand from Ford. Timeout with 3:27 left, 50-40 White.
Jones interviews Ademola Okulaja during the break. Okulaja says he signed a non-disclosure agreement that prevents him from telling Jamison/Carter stories. By the way, during the break Kuester is diagramming stuff for the White team while the Blue team watches the Okulaja interview. Watch out, though. Blue is keeping it just close enough.
9:12 p.m.: Halftime, White up 55-46. More screens set in one half than any all-star game you've ever seen. Blue caps halftime with Shammond throwing a pass off the backboard to Carter, who does a windmill one-handed dunk that sends Okulaja sprinting off the bench and headed for the tunnel.
9:20 p.m.: 2009 team was honored at center court, where they watched a tribute video. That video will be on THB.com next week. Now all the players' eyes turn to the rafters, where the 2009 banner was dropped. Getting pretty crowded up there, what with all the championship banners. The arena was dark as the banner was dropped while in a spotlight. Huge smiles on the faces of the players as they watch the banner drop. This was something everyone on the team had been looking forward to.
Woody Durham introduces the team individually, with Hansbrough and Roy Williams the last to be introduced. The entire arena is standing, including all the alums.
9:25 p.m.: Cleaning up some questions rapid-fire: Haven't seen Rasheed yet. At a break, if that ever happens, we'll try to figure out what happened. Happy anniversary to Joe Bevins from Brandy. Can't talk about recruits on the official site. No DVD of the game because the NBA has broadcast rights. Good to hear from Mell Perling in Brooklyn.
9:35 p.m.: Game back on. Everybody is kind of in a daze, which should be solved by the upcoming in-game interviews with Hansbrough and the dropping of the HOF banner that now features Jordan. White up 62-48 with 17:13 left.
Answer to Virginia: Ademola isn't playing because he's battling back from cancer. He went through chemo in the late winter and told Jones he's doing very well.
9:37 p.m.: Quick halftime stats: Ellington led Blue with 10, Green led White with 15 (wow, didn't seem like that many). Jamison added 11 for White. White stretching it out again now, up 69-49 with 14:47 left in the game.
9:40 p.m.: Roy Williams just had a lengthy conversation with Donald Williams. Might be some news on Donald in the next few months. Jordan ceremony coming up at next timeout. White leads it 71-49 with 14 minutes to play.
9:45 p.m.: Vince and Antawn going head-to-head in the paint again and this time Carter draws a foul by boxing out Jamison. Both have big smiles. On the other end, Carter tries to post Jamison and then hits a 19-foot fallaway, but Jamison beats him downcourt for a layup. White up 75-55 with 12:30 to go.
Lawson to Carter on the break for a two-hand dunk. Wow.
Nice to hear from Sherricka Stanley, the sister of David Noel. David really wanted to play tonight but he had overseas obligations.
9:50 p.m.: Here comes Jordan. He walks to midcourt in a green shirt and jeans. Sounds odd but it works for him. Both teams pause and people stand up like they're sitting on nails. Here is what makes Jordan great: he knows he's the best. We know he's the best. But when he's standing at midcourt and 21,000 people are going crazy, he looks like he's truly humbled by the whole thing. It's hard to be great and humble at the same time, but he pulls it off. And yes, Ray Clay gave it the whole, "From NORTH Carrooolina." Definite chills.
Oh yeah, the game. White up 84-61 with 9:35 left.
9:55 p.m.: Serge Zwikker just yelled, "We want Dante!" loud enough for the whole arena to hear. Except Calabria, who is playing it cool--as usual--on the bench. Now Serge yells, "Hey Pat, put Dante in!"
Answer to Jessica--not sure yet which game will be Hansbrough's jersey retirement. Have to work within the confines of the Pacers' schedule. Do mark Feb. 13 on your calendar, though. That will be the giant 100 years reunion with all former players coming back to Chapel Hill.
10 p.m.: Serge gets his wish, Dante--who now largely spends his time surfing--is in. White up 95-74 with 5:30 left.
10:01 p.m.: Jones interviews Tyler Hansbrough. These in-game interviews have been pretty cool. "A lot of hard work went into that, so it was great to be up there with everyone else," Hansbrough said of the 2009 banner dropping.
White's going to win it, giving "GM" Phil Ford bragging rights. "We want Peppers" cheers are rocking the arena, he's just throwing up his hands. Pretty sure the collective Panthers' blood pressure would triple if he came into the game.
Well, here he comes. He gives a hug to Roy Williams, who sends him back to the bench.
10:06 p.m.: White wins it, 110-92.
Now Roy Williams takes the microphone at center court and addresses the crowd. "The reason we have this game tonight is that this is the first part of a yearlong celebration of the 100 years of Carolina Basketball. We're going to do several things, we'll have an old-timers game. We did this because when we have the reunion during the season the NBA players and coaches can't attend. We love the fact that you guys came. This is the best place in the world for college basketball because of these guys right here and you guys up there."
Headed to the locker room, thanks for hanging out with us tonight. There will be a postgame column posted in the next couple of hours.
