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North Carolina is coming back.
The Hawaii basketball team announced Thursday that it will host the Tar Heels in a Nov. 16, 2016, game at the Stan Sheriff Center before Carolina plays in the Maui Invitational.
North Carolina last played the Rainbow Warriors in 1994 — shortly after the Sheriff Center first opened as the Special Events Arena. Top-ranked UNC won it 88-76 and went on to the Final Four that season.
In the time since, North Carolina has been to the NCAA Tournament 18 of 21 chances and won two national titles — 2005 and 2009. By comparison, UH has been to the Big Dance twice.
"When you think of basketball, you think of North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky and UCLA, right?" UH athletic director David Matlin said. "Premiere programs, and obviously it’s been a premiere program for years. We’re just excited that they’ll be playing at the Stan Sheriff Center in 2016."
UH began discussion with North Carolina early this year.
"This is a tremendous opportunity and honor to compete with one of the premier programs in all of college basketball," head coach Eran Ganot said in a UH release. "Can’t say enough about the efforts of so many to make this happen as it’s not too often you can schedule an opponent of this caliber on your home court."
The Tar Heels went 26-12 last season, including 11-7 in the ACC.
UH has periodically hosted power-conference teams on their way to play on Maui. Nearly 10 years ago, UH stunned No. 4 Michigan State 84-62 to open the 2005-06 season. Illinois escaped UH in overtime, 78-77, in 2012, but the ‘Bows claimed another pre-Maui Invitational victim last year, beating Pittsburgh, 74-70, at Wailuku’s War Memorial Gym.
"I think that’s a good sign (that teams are still coming) and hopefully something we can continue to build on," Matlin said. "When you’re looking at the Maui tournament, it’d be nice if we can get some teams on their way to Maui each year. I think it’s an opportunity to start mining."
Word of the Tar Heels’ date at the Sheriff got former UH coach Riley Wallace reminiscing. His teams played the Heels three straight years between 1992 and 1994, including twice at home. Wallace’s teams also played Indiana and Kansas in 1997 and Michigan State in 2005, winning each time.
"It’s all about basketball, right there," Wallace recalled of game atmospheres for such name opponents. "You get good fans, they’re behind you, and your players come up (big)."
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