A look at some of the new aspects of Late Night With Roy this year.
Believe it or not, basketball season is right around the corner, which means UNC’s annual celebration of the start of the season is almost here. This Friday, October 14th is the annual Late Night With Roy. There are a few changes to the event this year, so let’s take a look at them.
When- Friday, October 14. Doors open at 6:00. The Women’s basketball team introductions start at 6:45, while the Men’s team introductions start at 7:30.
Where- Dean E. Smith Center.
Price- Free. Plus the first 1,000 fans get a rally towel replicating the Smith Center court. Food donations will also be accepted to help feed the hungry in North Carolina.
So what’s different this year? There are a few changes to this year’s Late Night With Roy event. First or all, there’s a new host. Former Tar Heels basketball and football player Jesse Holley will take the reigns from Kenny Smith. Holley from 2003-2005, helping Carolina win their first title under coach Roy Williams. Holley also played wide receiver for the Heels from 2003-2006.
Aside from a new host, the biggest addition comes in the form of competition. Essentially everything will be scored, as the Blue and White teams take on each other in different events all night long. The events that will factor into the scoring will include the team dances, a shooting contest, and a three-point shootout. These scores combined with the winner of the Blue/White scrimmage will help determine an overall winning team.
What to Watch for
When it comes to inter-squad exhibition games like this, it is truly difficult to come away with much. We won’t learn how UNC looks without Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige. That just won’t happen from an event that is essentially just a form of entertainment for the fans. However, there are a few things to look forward to.
1. It will be a good chance to see how the new class of Freshman look in Carolina Blue. It will also be interesting to see how the new No. 5 (Tony Bradley) looks on the floor. How will he fare against UNC’s bigs? The freshman that will dazzle us all Friday night? Seventh Woods. The high-flying Woods should provide an entertaining dunk or two for the fans. Why isn’t there a dunk contest in this thing? Also watch how Brandon Robinson looks in the three-point competition. Is he the favorite to win it given UNC’s lack of three-point shooting ability?
2. This isn’t going to be the starting five vs. the bench so we won’t see how they all mesh together but perhaps we will see a glimpse as to how Theo Pinson and Isaiah Hicks look in potential starting roles.
3. Is Joel Berry II going to continue to play how he did in the last month of the regular season and into the NCAA tournament? Of course this isn’t live competition, but we should be able to gather some information on Berry’s improvements.
4. Will we see improved three-point shooting overall? We have to, right? It would be extremely reassuring to see Jackson and Pinson shoot the three ball with some consistency.
5. Will Kennedy Meeks sing again?
