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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 10:24 a.m., Sunday, January 27, 2008

CBKB: North Carolina set to open basketball museum

Advertiser Staff

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Fans of the North Carolina men's basketball program can get a little closer to the Tar Heels' storied past beginning tomorrow.

The school is scheduled to open a museum to the public containing 450 artifacts and nearly 40 cases of memorabilia. Much was donated by former players or came from the school, including the program's five national championship trophies.

There is also a six-minute gameday theater presentation, and interactive displays that allow visitors to look up past players or view videos of big moments in the program's history.

Athletics officials toured other museums and displays around the country for ideas, including one for the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field and one for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

"We have the history and we have the story to tell," said Steve Kirschner, associate athletics director for communications. "It was just a matter of telling it the right way."

There are items from every era, including past uniforms, the floor from the 2005 NCAA title game, Mitch Kupchak's socks bearing the No. 21 and the protective mask current All-American Tyler Hansbrough wore to protect a broken nose last season.

Among the more unique items: a letter from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski to Michael Jordan wishing him well after Jordan had decided to play for the Tar Heels; and a watch Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith gave to a student manager after winning the 1982 NCAA title after learning the NCAA had not provided enough for everyone on the team.

The museum is located in the new Williamson Athletics Center, which is one building over from the Smith Center. It is free and open on weekdays, though it is also scheduled to be open for about three hours before weekend games.