University of North Carolina Athletics

Roy Williams
Photo by: Robert Crawford
Four Corners: Season Around The Corner
October 29, 2018 | Men's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL—The ACC held its annual media day, ACC Operation Basketball, in Charlotte on Wednesday of last week. Roy Williams, Cameron Johnson and Kenny Williams represented the Tar Heels at the Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets, in a day filled with interviews, photo shoots and more.
This week, UNC will host an exhibition against Mount Olive on Friday before opening the regular season at Wofford next Tuesday November 6.
Carolina basketball makes news year-round. Here are some of the latest Tar Heel hoops news & notes some may have missed recently.
1. NEWS & NOTES
• Johnson urged UNC students to take part in a first-time opportunity to attend an open practice and meet-and-greet with the team this week:
• Members of the media attending ACC Operation Basketball picked Carolina to finish third in the conference behind Duke and Virginia and named senior Luke Maye both preseason first-team All-ACC and the Preseason ACC Player of the Year:
• Here's a transcript of the press conference Williams, Johnson and Williams held with the media. Here's an Operation Basketball photo gallery.
• GoHeels Productions spent the day with Johnson & Kenny Williams in Charlotte:
• The Tar Heels are ranked eighth in the preseason Associated Press national poll, starting the year in the AP top 10 for the 13th time in 16 seasons under Roy Williams. The AP also named Maye a preseason first-team All-America.
• Carolina played a controlled, private scrimmage at Villanova.
• Temple coach Fran Dumphy is the latest winner of the Dean Smith Award.
2. FEATURE STORIES
• Adam Lucas had an exclusive interview with freshman Rechon "Leaky" Black, writing that Black is enjoying the challenge of adapting to college life both on and off the basketball court.
• Meanwhile, Black's classmate, fellow guard Coby White, is soaking up knowledge as a Tar Heel, writes Lucas in another GoHeels exclusive.
• The Sporting News writes that freshman Nassir Little could be a key for the Tar Heels this winter.
• Little told Lucas he appreciates the history of Carolina basketball and relishes his opportunities in Chapel Hill saying, "I want to be a part of something bigger than myself and win at a very high level."
• Joe Boozell of the NCAA.com argues the Tar Heels could exceed their preseason projections in 2018-19.
• "No question" UNC's freshmen are special, writes Bret Friedlander of The North State Journal.
3. 2018-19 SEASON TIDBITS
• The official Carolina Basketball 2018-19 team media guide is now available online.
• Single-game tickets for 2018-19 UNC home games are available now for sale. A new basketball-football ticket combo is available as well.
• The Fayetteville Observer broke down what we learned from ACC media day, including UNC's need for a consistent low-post scoring threat.
• Carolina has questions at point guard, writes Aaron Beard of the Associated Press.
• Download your Cameron Johnson and Garrison Brooks wallpapers now:
4. TAR HEELS IN THE PROS
• The Sacramento Kings exercised their third-year team option for the 2019-20 season on Justin Jackson.
• Tyler Hansbrough is returning to China to play in 2018-19 with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls.
• Pat Sullivan is working this season as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks.
• NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made an appearance in Greensboro recently and praised former Lakers teammate and UNC player Robert McAdoo as the toughest defensive matchup he faced as a pro.
This week, UNC will host an exhibition against Mount Olive on Friday before opening the regular season at Wofford next Tuesday November 6.
Carolina basketball makes news year-round. Here are some of the latest Tar Heel hoops news & notes some may have missed recently.
1. NEWS & NOTES
• Johnson urged UNC students to take part in a first-time opportunity to attend an open practice and meet-and-greet with the team this week:
‼️ STUDENTS ‼️
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 25, 2018
Cam has a message for you 👇
Make sure you're at our Open Practice next Tuesday.
🏀🐏 pic.twitter.com/Q2FfLlel9Z
• Members of the media attending ACC Operation Basketball picked Carolina to finish third in the conference behind Duke and Virginia and named senior Luke Maye both preseason first-team All-ACC and the Preseason ACC Player of the Year:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 25, 2018
Your @theACC Preseason Player of the Year, Luke Maye. 🙌
🏀🐏
🔗 | https://t.co/Iz1yhp5PIc pic.twitter.com/X0fNn8UXJu
• Here's a transcript of the press conference Williams, Johnson and Williams held with the media. Here's an Operation Basketball photo gallery.
• GoHeels Productions spent the day with Johnson & Kenny Williams in Charlotte:
Late Night ✅#ACCMediaDay ✅
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 24, 2018
Season... Coming Soon
🏀🐏 pic.twitter.com/dSTL2bUdtT
• The Tar Heels are ranked eighth in the preseason Associated Press national poll, starting the year in the AP top 10 for the 13th time in 16 seasons under Roy Williams. The AP also named Maye a preseason first-team All-America.
• Carolina played a controlled, private scrimmage at Villanova.
• Temple coach Fran Dumphy is the latest winner of the Dean Smith Award.
2. FEATURE STORIES
• Adam Lucas had an exclusive interview with freshman Rechon "Leaky" Black, writing that Black is enjoying the challenge of adapting to college life both on and off the basketball court.
• Meanwhile, Black's classmate, fellow guard Coby White, is soaking up knowledge as a Tar Heel, writes Lucas in another GoHeels exclusive.
• The Sporting News writes that freshman Nassir Little could be a key for the Tar Heels this winter.
• Little told Lucas he appreciates the history of Carolina basketball and relishes his opportunities in Chapel Hill saying, "I want to be a part of something bigger than myself and win at a very high level."
• Joe Boozell of the NCAA.com argues the Tar Heels could exceed their preseason projections in 2018-19.
• "No question" UNC's freshmen are special, writes Bret Friedlander of The North State Journal.
3. 2018-19 SEASON TIDBITS
• The official Carolina Basketball 2018-19 team media guide is now available online.
• Single-game tickets for 2018-19 UNC home games are available now for sale. A new basketball-football ticket combo is available as well.
• The Fayetteville Observer broke down what we learned from ACC media day, including UNC's need for a consistent low-post scoring threat.
• Carolina has questions at point guard, writes Aaron Beard of the Associated Press.
• Download your Cameron Johnson and Garrison Brooks wallpapers now:
Better late than never #WallpaperWednesday pic.twitter.com/HHB45Th0Ir
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 24, 2018
4. TAR HEELS IN THE PROS
• The Sacramento Kings exercised their third-year team option for the 2019-20 season on Justin Jackson.
• Tyler Hansbrough is returning to China to play in 2018-19 with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls.
• Pat Sullivan is working this season as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks.
• NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made an appearance in Greensboro recently and praised former Lakers teammate and UNC player Robert McAdoo as the toughest defensive matchup he faced as a pro.
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