Battle | UNC becomes 2nd school to open basketball museum

By: Kevin Ware

Posted: 2/26/08

The Dean E. Smith Center, where North Carolina plays its home games, is plastered with the traditional Carolina baby blue, ranging from the seats to the decal of the state painted across center court and the legendary jerseys in the rafters.

But now North Carolina fans have a new blue heaven.

The UNC basketball museum, which opened to the public on Jan. 28, features more than 450 artifacts from the celebrated basketball program. The museum cost $3.4 million to complete and covers a massive 8,000 square feet.

The new museum is an upgrade from the much smaller memorabilia room in the Smith Center, which was used for other sports as well. The only other school with a basketball-only museum at a university is Kentucky.

"When this building was built, the museum was planned immediately and that the museum would go on the bottom floor because so much basketball stuff could not go in that little memorabilia room in the Smith Center," said Rick Brewer, a former UNC sports information director, who has been working for the school since 1967.

The idea was formed roughly five years ago when Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith decided to donate his extensive collection of memorabilia to North Carolina.

"I think that Carolina fans are a pretty passionate group about the basketball team," said Steve Kirschner, UNC's associate athletic director for communications and a member of the museum committee. "We've been blessed with a great deal of success, both great teams, great players, great coaches. We've never had one place where we've been able to bring all that together in terms of the memorabilia and the trophies. We have that now with this museum."

The museum is part of the brand new Ernie Williamson Athletics Center, which is located next to the Dean E. Smith Center.

After entering the front doors, a museum guide greets the visitors, and they are escorted into a dark room with an IMAX-like screen.

A movie comes on the screen, which gives the visitors a brief overview of the prestigious North Carolina basketball program and an insider's perspective on what game day is like in Chapel Hill.

The camera follows junior center Tyler Hansbrough as he makes his way from the Tar Heel locker room, down the blue tunnels lined with photographs of past Carolina greats and climaxes when he bursts out onto the Smith Center court to the roars of 21,000-plus fans.

After the six-minute video, visitors pass through the doors on the other side of the room and enter the main part of the museum. The floor of the main room is a replica of the playing court the Tar Heels play on in the Smith Center, filled to the brim with a wide range of memorabilia.

"My favorite part of the museum I'd say is the kiosk that you can punch up 30 of the greatest games and plays and see not only video, but also (hear) the audio from either the network television or our radio broadcast game," Kirschner said. "Most of them are individual moments, individual plays, but some of them like the 1982 national championship game and the 2005 national championship game are a series of plays."

One of the key attractions of the museum is the section devoted to Michael Jordan, the 1984 NCAA player of the year.

Included in the Jordan memorabilia are handwritten notes from Smith to his assistants mentioning Jordan when he was a relatively unknown high school player from Laney High School in Wilmington, N.C. and workout routines given to him from Smith for the summertime.

But the note UNC fans might find most interesting is a type-written letter to him from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski dated Oct. 29, 1980.

"I am sorry to hear that you no longer have an interest in learning more about Duke University," Krzyzewski writes, "however I do want you to know that my staff and I wish you the very best in your college career. You are a fine young man, and you should make an immediate impact on whatever you choose."

"I think (UNC fans) get a chuckle out of it," Kirschner said. "It's not meant as a sign of disrespect to Coach Krzyzewski or Duke. Michael Jordan got a lot of letters when he told people he wasn't going to go to school there. … It turned out OK for Michael, didn't it?"

A venture out of the main room and into the trophy rooms brings a look of the four national championship trophies the Tar Heels have won. If that isn't enough, room was left for another four national title trophies in the room, according to Kirschner.

"As far as the interest in (the museum), I don't think that will stop, because so many kids grow up in this state as Carolina fans," Brewer said. "And once they become fans, they'll want to come here and see it because it's so well-known. Parents and families will take them here to see it, so I think it will continue to do well."

Ware's picks

No. 19 Michigan State at No. 10 Wisconsin (-3.5)

Thursday, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Michigan State is 2-4 on the road in conference play, which makes Wisconsin the logical pick in this game. The Badgers are led by Brian Butch's 12.3 ppg and 6.8 rpg. Michigan State is always a tough team to beat, but playing at home in Madison helps the Badgers get the win.

Wisconsin 72, Michigan State 64

No. 3 North Carolina (-10) at Boston College

Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Tyler Hansbrough is improving his case for player of the year with every game. He's averaging 29 points over the last five games and has the ability to put the Tar Heels on his back whenever he needs to.

North Carolina 91, Boston College 80

No. 5 Texas at Texas Tech (+6.5)

Saturday, 4 p.m., CBS

A good portion of the talk surrounding the Texas Tech program this season has focused on Bobby Knight stepping down with son Pat filling in. But one other Red Raider name you should know is Martin Zeno. He leads Texas Tech in scoring at 16.3 ppg.

Texas Tech 75, Texas 73

Kentucky at No. 1 Tennessee (-7.5)

Sunday, Noon, CBS

Tennessee is rocky-top high after beating Memphis on Saturday. The lowdown on this game is Kentucky beat the Volunteers at home earlier this season, 72-66. But it's too hard to see Bruce Pearl letting his squad have a letdown after vaulting to No. 1 in the country.

Tennessee 80, Kentucky 69

Pittsburgh at Syracuse (+4)

Saturday, Noon, ESPN

It would drastically help Syracuse's chances making the NCAA tournament if it wins out over the next three games. The quest for three starts by hosting the Panthers at the Carrier Dome, and Donte Greene will overcome his recent struggles and pick up the Orange when it needs it the most.

Syracuse 87, Pittsburgh 82

kjware@syr.edu