CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham is interested in renovations that would modernize the Smith Center and provide more "revenue drivers," he said during an interview on Saturday.
The UNC men's basketball team is in 28th season playing at the Smith Center, which opened in 1986. Improvements have been made over the years - a video ribbon board debuted this season, and in recent years the sound and lighting systems were replaced - but the basic interior of the building has largely remained unchanged.
Cunningham said he is interested in adding luxury suites to the Smith Center, which was built before such amenities became commonplace in indoor sports arenas.
"We have suites and club seats in football (at Kenan Stadium) that work," Cunningham said. "But we have an iconic structure here. You have to be very careful on how you do that. I think we want to make sure that the fans get the experience they expect when they come to a premier place."
Cunningham said he envisions a renovated Smith Center would include "all the stuff that you would expect." That could include luxury suites, a modernized concourse and new concession stands and bathrooms.
"We want a place that's competitive for the team, number one," Cunningham said. "And then a place that accommodates the interest and the needs of the fans."
Cunningham said there have been "no serious discussions" about when the renovations might begin or what they might include. Those discussions would begin after the basketball season ends, he said. He acknowledged the need to modernize a building that lacks some of the amenities that have become standard in newer arenas.
UNC over the years has revamped Kenan Stadium, with the most recent changes coming in 2011. That's when the university opened the Blue Zone, which features club seating and 20 luxury suites.
Among all of UNC's facilities Cunningham said the one in the direst need of improvement is Fetzer Field, which is home to the men's and women's soccer, lacrosse and track teams.
"The one that needs the most help right now is Fetzer," Cunningham said. "And I think after that it'd be the Smith Center."
- Andrew Carter
Cal head coach Mike Montgomery was caught shoving guard Allen Crabbe in the second half of Sunday's game vs. USC.
Coach Roy Williams says freshman Joel James will miss his third straight game with a concussion when the Tar Heels travel to Georgia Tech on Tuesday.
James apparently took a blow to the head during a Feb. 5 win against Wake Forest and began experiencing headaches afterward, but he didn’t notify the team’s medical staff and played in a lopsided loss at Miami that weekend.
James, a 6-foot-10, 260-pound center, didn’t play in the loss at Duke nor the weekend home win against Virginia.
- Observer news services
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina leads Wake Forest 47-27 at halftime here at the Smith Center. The Tar Heels closed the half on a 15-1 run, and blew open a game they led 32-26.
The Demon Deacons didn't make a field goal during the last five minutes and 54 seconds of the half, and they committed 13 first-half turnovers. The Heels turned those into 18 points.
UNC also outscored Wake Forest 22-12 in the paint, and 6-0 off of fast break points.
Reggie Bullock led UNC with 12 points during the first half. James Michael McAdoo had nine, and Marcus Paige added five points and six rebounds, which represent a career high.
After suffering a concussion last week, P.J. Hairston returned and scored four points during the first half. He sat out UNC’s victory against Virginia Tech on Saturday.
Arnaud Adala Moto, a freshman, led Wake Forest with eight points during the first half. The Demon Deacons, who statistically have one of the worst defenses in the ACC, shot just 39.1 percent during the first half.
- Andrew Carter
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