Last night, Brooklynne, Halleigh, and I ventured out to the Smith Center to ring in the new basketball season. I think the late night with Roy concept is pretty fun, but I also miss the old-school blue and white games that were more like a real practice, and which were held along side a home football game. I remember several times walking from Kenan after a good football win, straight to the Dean Dome to see a preview of what the new season had to offer.

Well, this year should offer plenty of excitement, since every poll I've read so far lists us as the number one team to beat this year. Here are some of my observances from last night.

They played a pounding music rhythm while projecting classic UNC basketball highlights onto the court during the player intros, and I thought it produced one of the coolest effects I've seen from the UNC media promo dept.

Bobby Frasor showed his acting versatility by portraying both Flavor Flav and Coach Williams in the same night.

Deon Thompson is almost unrecognizably skinny.

Alex Stepheson played with much more intensity than I had seen from him all last season.

Will Graves looked like he could contribute some good minutes.

Although Ellington, Frasor, and Lawson will get the media attention as the most probable outside options, Danny Green was the only player who made good shots from the outside last night.

Hansbrough did not shoot particularly well, but he did crash the boards (as usual) and he capitalized on a screen in the lane for a big finish.

I've put a couple more images after the cut.