WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina

UNC's Baddour is confident of breaking attendance record tonight

By Tim Hall

Jan 19, 2009

It isn't everyday No. 1 meets No. 2.  It is happening tonight when 17-0 UConn meets 17-0 North Carolina at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.  The Tar Heels can potentially take over the top ranking next week with a win over the Huskies.

Athletics Director Dick Baddour thinks this game tonight is big, so big he told 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio he is confident more people will attend this one than any other women's game in school history.

"I'm going to guess we'll be from 10,000 to 12,000 tonight; we can accommodate anybody," Baddour said.

The attendance record for a women's game in Chapel Hill is 10,278, when Carolina played Duke in February 2004.

This year, the Tar Heels are not playing in their normal home, Carmichael Auditorium.  The venue is receiving numerous renovations, and Baddour is hopeful it will re-open in the fall or by this time next year.

The improvements include a new face, wings on each side that include basketball offices and meeting rooms, and new ceiling, sound system and locker rooms. 

That doesn't mean the men's basketball team will ever get their chance to play a regular-season game there.  Baddour said it probably won't happen, but it's possible.

"It's hard to imagine not affording everybody an opportunity," Baddour said.  "But certainly Carmichael will be at the quality that we'd be able to do that, and I failed to mention it's going to be air-conditioned."