As much as the fans and writers want to relive and talk about the NCAA tournament game in 2001 when Penn State upset North Carolina to reach the Sweet 16, Penn State men's basketball coach Jerry Dunn refers to it as "history."
The two programs will match up for the first time since that March afternoon, tonight at 7 at the Dean E. Smith Center as part of the Pre-Season NIT.
"It certainly was a great win, but that's history and not something we're pointing to," Dunn said. "This is a different team as is the same with North Carolina. We have to prepare for the present and not dwell on the past."
The Tar Heels team is filled with youth as it has only two seniors and no juniors. Seniors Jonathan Holmes and Will Johnson were both suspended last week by the NCAA for participating in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament that raised money for cancer research.
The NCAA prohibits men's basketball from participating in outside competition. North Carolina appealed the NCAA ruling and the decision was overturned and Holmes and Johnson will play.
Six Tar Heels are making their debut, including Sean May and Raymond Felton, who are projected starters. In the two exhibition games, Felton scored 38 points and had 14 assists. Felton led Latta H.S. in Latta, S.C., to back-to-back state titles. He was named Mr. Basketball in South Carolina his junior and senior years.
May, who is from a rich basketball family (his brother was a member of the Indiana team last year and his father was National Player of the Year in 1976), was named Mr. Basketball in Indiana and a Parade All-American. May netted 45 points and 15 rebounds in the two exhibitions game.
May played AAU with Lions freshman Brandon Cameron on Bloomington Red. Dunn saw May more than any of the other Tar Heels freshmen.
"Sean is very skilled with his back to the basket," Dunn said. "He has nice range on jump shot and is a good passer. He is a big-body kid who understands the game."
Dunn knows that it is difficult to establish a game plan for North Carolina because there are so many new players in its lineup. Dunn said adjustments during the game would be very important.
"It's awfully tough because we don't have the tendencies personal wise that you normally would have," Dunn said. "But we need to make changes as the game progresses."
Sophomore Jackie Manuel and freshman Rashad McCants sat out the final preseason game with injuries to rest for the opener.
North Carolina men's basketball coach Matt Doherty said that he wants to win every game but that begins with the start of the regular season.
"A couple of months from now, no one's going to care about this game," said Doherty after the exhibition loss to Team Nike, 76-72. "They are going to care about whether we beat Penn State or not."
