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Dean Smith Center
Carolina basketball plays its home games at the Smith Center, one of the most recognized athletic venues in America. The Smith Center became the home of the Tar Heels in 1986 and has since become a cherished traditional symbol of Carolina basketball.
The Tar Heels have played over 200 games in the Smith Center in front of a combined audience of more than 4 million fans. Carolina has a 176-27 record in the Smith Center, a dominant winning percentage of .867. That includes a 99-22 record against the ACC and a 77-5 record against non-conference foes. During the 2000-01 season, UNC went 12-2 in the Smith Center and averaged 20,836 fans per home contest. The Smith Center is currently undergoing an extensive facelift that will improve the behind-the-scenes training areas.
In the fall of 2001, the UNC locker room and weight room were completely renovated. A new media center was built and the Bowles Room and Educational Foundation offices were retrofitted to include a practice gym that will allow added scheduling flexibility.
Dedicated in September 1986 as the Dean Edwards Smith Center, the 300,000-square-foot structure stands on seven and one-half acres on the University's south campus. Over 20,000 cubic yards of rock were removed to make room for the 340-foot-wide, 380-foot-long and 140-foot-high building. The first game featured No. 1 Carolina beating No. 3 Duke, 95-92, in a battle of unbeatens on Jan. 18, 1986. The first basket was scored by Carolina center Warren Martin off a pass from Kenny Smith. Since that first game, the Smith Center has been the site of many memorable moments in Tar Heel history.
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