Nov. 12, 2009

CHAPEL HILL --- North Carolina opens its 2009-10 season Friday night at the Dean E. Smith Center as the Tar Heels welcome the College of Charleston for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Charleston, which finished 23-8 and advanced to the Southern Conference tournament final in 2009, is making its third trip to Chapel Hill in the last five seasons. Carolina is ranked No. 5 in both the AP poll and the coaches’ poll. CofC is unranked.

AT A GLANCE
Records: North Carolina 0-0, College of Charleston 0-0
Rankings: North Carolina is ranked No. 5 in both the AP poll and the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll. College of Charleston is unranked.
TV: None.
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network, a division of Learfield Communications. Brad Heller (play-by-play) and Jan Boxill (analyst) have the call.
On The Web: TarHeelBlue.com (UNC), CofCSports.com (College of Charleston)

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SERIES NOTES
• North Carolina is 10-1 all-time against the College of Charleston, with a 7-0 mark in Chapel Hill.
• The two teams last met during the 2007-08 season, a 102-58 Tar Heel win in Chapel Hill.
• Charleston’s lone win in the series came on Jan. 14, 1977. The Cougars triumphed in Charleston, 70-48.

CAROLINA IN SEASON OPENERS
• The Tar Heels will look to post their ninth straight win in a season opener Friday night.
• Carolina last lost its opener in 2000, when the Tar Heels fell to Buffalo, 95-89.
• That also marks the last time UNC did not play its opener in Chapel Hill.
• Carolina is 30-5 all-time in season openers, including a 19-4 mark under Sylvia Hatchell.
• UNC downed Western Carolina, 90-56, in the 2008-09 opener. That win came in the first round of the Preseason WNIT, which the Tar Heels would go on to win with an 80-79 victory at No. 2 Oklahoma.

TAR HEELS TOUGH TO BEAT AT HOME
Carolina’s overall home record since the beginning of the 2004-05 season is 84-3. The Tar Heels have won 38 of 39 in Chapel Hill, including their last 16 home conference games. In addition, UNC has won 78 of its last 79 non-conference home games.

CAROLINA IN THE SMITH CENTER
• UNC will begin its 2009-10 season in the Dean E. Smith Center while the renovations to Carmichael Auditorium are being completed.
• The Tar Heels are 36-10 all-time at the Smith Center and have won 24 of their last 25 in the building.