Opening Night at the Dean Dome - #1 UNC vs #3 Duke - January 18, 1986
Update: 2024-03-15
Description
Today we go back to January 18, 1986 for the first game played inside the newly-constructed Dean Smith Student Activity Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina. Opening a new arena 18 games into the season seems odd but having an undefeated matchup between Duke and UNC made this a game every fan wanted to be in attendance for.
This might not be a game everyone talks about in this series but it had a lot going for it, including Dean Smith vs Coach K, Johnny Dawkins and Kenny Smith, and another tight rivalry game.
Here's some of what we will get into:
- Early ESPN College Basketball coverage with Alan Massengale anchoring in studio.
- College starts Tito Horford and Scott Skiles in the news.
- Manual scoreboards
- Johnny Dawkins living up to the hype he still gets to this day from Duke fans.
- Jay Bilas as a 6th man for the Blue Devils.
- The legend of Steve Hale and an unexpected journey post basketball.
Go back and watch the game for yourself here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnM9R3DhAWA
Comments
In Channel
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States00:00
00:00
x
