In the wake of Hurricane Florence, which flooded a great deal of the North Carolina coast, the UNC-Wilmington men’s and women’s basketball teams announced Saturday that they will travel to Chapel Hill this week to begin practice for the upcoming season.

The Seahawk men are in their second season under head coach C.B. McGrath, who spent 13 years as an assistant at UNC under Roy Williams.

Following a workout on Monday (Sept. 24), McGrath’s team will start practicing at the Dean E. Smith Center on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

Carmichael Arena will host the UNC-Wilmington women’s team, which will open practice on the same day as the men.

“Our men’s and women’s basketball teams and the staffs at the Smith Center and Carmichael Arena were quick to say yes,” UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham said. “The storms had such a devastating impact and the relief efforts are rightly focused on financial assistance and necessary supplies, but we all know their seasons are important to them, too, and the rest of the country gets started next week. We’re just glad we can help the UNCW student-athletes and coaches begin their practice schedules on time.”

 Both teams will return to Wilmington as soon as the campus re-opens to students.

“We’re very grateful to the North Carolina staff for their generosity and hospitality in allowing us to conduct practice in Chapel Hill,” Jimmy Bass, UNCW’s athletic director, said. “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.”

 

 

 

Photo via Grant Halverson (Getty Images)