CHAPEL HILL — UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis was looking forward to taking the Tar Heels to western North Carolina in 2024, but Hurricane Helene brought a halt to that plan. Due to devastating flooding and damage from the storm in that part of the state, Davis and the Tar Heels chose to stay put in Chapel Hill for their preseason intrasquad scrimmage.
During ACC Tipoff in October 2024, Davis relayed his wishes to get the Tar Heels back on the track out west in 2025, saying UNC would return “when the conditions were right” following the “tragic circumstances” in areas affected by Helene.
“I’m looking forward to next year going to a number of different places,” Davis said ahead of the 2024-25 season. “I think it’s good for our guys. I think it’s good for the state, and it’s something that we’re excited about growing and seeing how it evolves over the years.”
That plan is coming to fruition this season, with UNC set to make its way to Cherokee on Oct. 17-18 for several events, the school announced Sept. 30. The Tar Heels will take part in a meet-and-greet, autograph session and intrasquad scrimmage. Hosted by Old Well Management, the meet-and-greet featuring a dinner with players, coaches and fans is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 on Friday, Oct. 17, at Harrah’s Resort in Cherokee.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, an autograph session will be hosted at Cherokee High School, starting at 10:30 a.m., at $25 per person. Following that event, the Tar Heels will scrimmage on campus inside Charles George Memorial Arena. Fans who purchase tickets to the autograph session will be able to watch the scrimmage, but no tickets for the scrimmage will be sold.
“A long time ago, when I was in school, after the season, we would do barnstorming events and we would play games all around the state. And the reason why we would do it is not everybody had an opportunity to come to the Smith Center. So why not do that in the preseason?” Davis said in 2024.
“It gives us an opportunity to travel around the state, and for North Carolina fans to be able to see us that can’t make it all the way down here in the Smith Center, and gives us an opportunity to compete and play in front of people. And I think that’s always good for us, and so, yes, it’s something that we try to do … and that’s something we will do in the future moving forward.”
UNC is scheduled to play its annual Blue-White scrimmage on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Smith Center. The Tar Heels will hit Roy Williams Court an hour after the football game against Clemson, which is set to kick off at noon inside Kenan Stadium. Admission to the basketball scrimmage is free.
