Tar Heels Excited For Return Of Fans At Late Night

CHAPEL HILL – Carolina fans are known for taking their basketball seriously, and the 2021-22 season should be no exception. But in this case, the people ON the court might be even more excited to get the season going.

After a pandemic year off, Carolina Basketball Late Night is back, tipping off Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Dean E. Smith Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and all seating is general admission.

ACC Network Extra will stream Late Night live (watch here).

The event will mark the first large home crowd for UNC in more than a year, and the players cannot wait. "The support system we have is something unmatched – it's like our fans are a whole second family," said Malu Tshitenge, a junior on the Carolina women's team. "I'm so excited to have the fans back in the stands."

Tshitenge is in a unique position to know what playing in front of crowds is like. On her team, 12 of 14 players have never participated in Late Night and 11 have not been at Carolina for a game without crowd restrictions.

The men's team is similar, with 11 of 15 new to the team since the last time Late Night was held, in October of 2019 when it was Late Night with Roy. With Williams' retirement and the elevation of Hubert Davis to head coach, the men's portion of the 2021 event is subtitled "Late Night N' HD" while the women's is "Late Night #InPursuit."

"For me it's gonna be like a blast from the past," said Armando Bacot, a junior on the men's team. "But for a lot of the newer guys who have not gotten a chance to play in the Smith Center with fans, I told them this will be the most people you have ever gotten to play in front of in your whole life, so soak it in. I'm glad to have gotten a feeling of it earlier versus getting throwing out there in games and playing in front of all those people. It's going to be fun."

The event is free to all students and fans. For more on the event click here and for parking information, click here.

Masks must be worn at all indoor events. For details on UNC's guidelines for winter sports athletic events, click here.

Actor, comedian and radio host Brian "B-Daht" McLaughlin will serve as the evening's emcee. Fans will be introduced to the men's and women's teams, both of which open the season at home on Nov. 9. The men's roster includes five new faces this fall and the women's team has six.

Even for those who have a year at Carolina under their belts, Late Night will be a new experience. "I'm honestly a little nervous but also really excited, just to see all those faces in the stands," said Deja Kelly, a sophomore guard on the women's team who attended the 2019 Late Night festivities as a recruit and will go in a Tar Heel uniform for the first time.

Her mix of excitement and apprehension is certainly shared, and the veterans like Bacot and Tshitenge have stepped up to make sure their teammates are prepared. "We've told them the atmosphere is unbelievable – everybody comes," Tshitenge said. "I just want them to have fun – have a great time, don't be nervous. People are here to support you and the atmosphere is just unmatched."

Know Before You Go

The GoHeelsGameDay Fan Text Service will be available, allowing staff and fans to share concerns and questions and can expect to receive a timely response (919-238-9894).

Follow @GoHeelsGameDay on Twitter for key gameday information, promotions and features.

TAR HEEL EXPRESS SHUTTLES
Chapel Hill Transit provides the Tar Heel Express shuttle service from the Friday Center Park and Ride beginning 6 p.m. (event starts at 7:30 p.m.)

No parking fee is charged for any Tar Heel Express pick-up lot.
Tar Heel Express is $5 round-trip or $3 one-way.
All buses drop-off and pick up in front of the Smith Center

GENERAL PUBLIC PARKING
General Public parking on campus is $10 per vehicle in designated public parking locations. Public parking payment is by debit/credit card (VISA, Mastercard, Discover). Cash not accepted.
Public Parking Lots(opens new window) open at 5 p.m. Permit regulations are in effect until 5 p.m.

Bell Tower Deck available at no cost ($0) – South Road, Chapel Hill, NC(opens new window)
$10 Bowles Lot – Skipper Bowles, Chapel Hill, NC(opens new window)
$10 Craige Deck – Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC(opens new window)
$10 Manning Lot – Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC(opens new window)
$10 Jackson Deck – New East Drive, Chapel Hill, NC(opens new window)
$10 Rams Head Deck – Ridge Road, Chapel Hill, NC(opens new window)

ACCESSIBILITY PARKING AND SHUTTLES
Accessibility Parking is reserved in the Williamson Lot(opens new window) located off of Bowles Drive.

$10 per vehicle.
Patrons with a state (any state) disability permit or license plate may park in this location.
Patrons with a temporary mobility issue that do not have a state issued accessibility permit or plate, may arrange for a event date disability parking permit by contacting Transportation and Parking Services at 919-962-3951 or submit requests by completing the Basketball Request Form.

Golf cart shuttles provides service from the Williamson Lot(opens new window) to the front of the Smith Center. The Golf Cart Shuttles are provided on a first-come, first-served basis and only pick-up and drop-off at doors "A" and "B" of the Smith Center.

More Parking Information available here.

CLEAR BAG POLICY
The Smith Center's clear bag policy will be in effect at Late Night. More details available here.

Carolina Athletics encourages fans to leave all bags at home, but the following items will be allowed into the Dean E. Smith Center:

• Any clear plastic or vinyl bag no larger than 12" x 12" x 20", including gallon freezer bags
• Small clutch purses no larger than 4.5" x 6.5"
• Necessary medical items following inspection at entry gates
• All prohibited items must be returned to your vehicles or discarded at the gates.
• No weapons of any kind are allowed to enter Dean E. Smith Center

Know Before You Go

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Armando Bacot

Deja Kelly

Malu Tshitenge