With its campus in Wilmington, N.C. still closed due to extensive Hurricane Florence damage, the UNC-Wilmington men's and women's basketball teams will open practice for the 2018-19 season at UNC.
In a joint announcement between the two schools on Saturday, UNC has agreed to share its practice facilities at the Smith Center and Carmichael Arena starting next week. The move will provide some normalcy for the Seahawk basketball programs while they are away from home for another week.
“We’re very grateful to the North Carolina staff for their generosity and hospitality in allowing us to conduct practice in Chapel Hill,” UNC-W athletic director Jimmy Bass said in a statement. “It’s been a difficult two weeks for all of our coaches and student athletes. This will give them an opportunity to be together again and prepare adequately for the upcoming season.”
UNC-W basketball players could be on campus holding practice for up to a week. On Friday, officials at the Wilmington campus announced classes wouldn't resume until Oct. 1. Most buildings on campus — including residence halls — will continue to be closed to students and the public until Sept. 29, locking out the Seahawk athletic programs from home facilities.
Instead of missing out on lost time, the basketball programs will remain in Chapel Hill until campus is officially reopened.
