ACC Roundup - DeanDome Plans And Virginia’s Secret Scrimmage
The Cavaliers did not do well.
In 1986, UNC opened the Dean E. Smith Center, more popularly known as the DeanDome. It seats 21,750.
In 2024, at 38, it’s apparently obsolete.
Cameron Indoor Stadium was built in 1940, which makes it 84 years old. Duke has studied new gymnasiums but no one wants to leave Cameron. In 16 years it will be 100.
There were limitations to Carmichael Auditorium. It was kept as a way of telling UNC that basketball would not be bigger than the school after the 1960’s point shaving scandal. It was also just as ferocious as Cameron.
UNC is currently deciding whether to renovated the Dean Dome again or to build anew, which would solve a lot of problems. For one, they may downsize it, which would a) push up ticket prices, b) make it much louder and c) get past kissing the butts of the donors who funded the Dean Dome. They would surely also build in modern amenities like luxury boxes and so forth.
But what to call it?
Our guess is they almost certainly transfer the name directly over.
Meanwhile, up in old Virginny, the Cavaliers are now in the post-Bennett era and it’s not off to a smashing start: the Cavaliers got hammered by Lane Odom’s VCU in a secret scrimmage, 71-49.
In years past, Virginia might have held an opponent to, say, 45 points and won by four. Are they dispirited?
It would be hard not to be.
Virginia has appointed Ron Sanchez as interim coach. When they start their search, don’t be surprised if Odom, who reportedly has long wanted to be in the ACC like his father Dave, turns up as a candidate.