University of North Carolina Athletics
Late Night: The Stage is Set
October 14, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 14, 2011
Late Night with Roy Photo Gallery
By Helen Buchanan, Tar Heel Monthly
We've all got our reasons to come to Late Night with Roy - see the inter-squad scrimmage, scope out the freshmen's skill set for the first time, awe at the changes the upper classmen made over the summer, laugh and yuck it up over some hilarity when center court transforms into a dance floor.
Whatever it is that draws you to the Smith Center tonight, the 2011-12 men's basketball team has their own opinions of why they want to see you in the stands. Even though it marks the first official night of practice, a week of rehearsals have the players excited for more than their first shots and blocks as a team.
"To be honest, I haven't really thought about the scrimmage too much," says Harrison Barnes, "I'm just trying to work on my dance moves."
In all seriousness, however, Barnes is excited to let the fans see the work each of them have put in over the summer in their Pro-Am tournaments or pick-up games with the likes of former NCAA national champions from 2005 and 2009. Even more so he's excited for fans to get a glimpse at the five newcomers to the team and for them to show what they bring to the collegiate level.
But let's be honest, tonight is a celebration and a time for what happens because of hard work in practice and excitement in the stands. These guys have built a kind of camaraderie that could become special in the history books. The jokes between each other and the prompted questions about tonight made media day on Thursday like any other day in the player's lounge.
"[Late Night] brings back a lot of memories of bettering fellowship with my teammates and having fun with the fans in the stands," says Leslie McDonald, who added that the team started meeting a week ago to get their moves ready and to prep their skits. "It's funny to see us mess up, but it's even funnier to actually see us know these dance steps and have some fun out there...we really put some effort in for everyone to have a good time."
Seeing the friendship and laughter on the court tonight gives a glimpse into what kind of family atmosphere Carolina basketball prospers year after year, and events like Late Night act like a kickoff to a season of family reunions and accomplishments through each game and practice. Beyond that, the players and coaches get to show that they're real people who like to have fun and aren't all business.
"You know at the end of the day we're still human, we're still people who enjoy having a good time," says Kendall Marshall, "I think that's the biggest thing we want people to get out of tonight is to realize that we're not just Carolina basketball players. We're student-athletes, we go to classes every day with you, we eat at the same places as you and we like to have fun just like you."
We'll find out for certain tonight, but Barnes has already crowned McDonald as the best dancer despite his rehab from knee surgery over the summer. McDonald assures that he is taking all the right steps in getting healthy so he can look to contribute but that he is in full form to dance. More so, McDonald says to keep an eye out for Marshall's acting skills.
"You can't explain Kendall," he says, "He has so many characteristics and is so funny, genuinely funny. He doesn't have to try either, he's just Kendall."
Marshall was pleased to hear he could make his teammates laugh, but as far as dancing...well, he had no comment.
Helen Buchanan is the director of marketing for Tar Heel Monthly. Follow the THM staff on Twitter.
