:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67999425/usa_today_13719953.0.jpg)
The iconic sun over the Pacific, the warm sand, the volcanos in the distance, and coaches wearing horrid shirts in a small, cramped high school gym stuffed with people.
You’re going to see none of that this season.
Of all the things ripped away from us in the year of COVID-19, not seeing those iconic scenes out of Hawaii ranks pretty low on the list. That said, it’s going to jarring to look at a court that says “Maui Invitational” played in a relatively empty arena with the scenery being the relatively bare Appalachian Mountains instead of that glorious paradise. It’s also going to be odd seeing the game played in an arena named after a casino when said casino is an hour away, but maybe Roy Cooper will allow Harrah’s to roll in a craps table for Roy to use during the off time just so he can salvage something out of this trip.
No matter how it looks, though, basketball will be played, and for that we really should be thankful. Tonight, the Tar Heels open up the 2020 Maui Invitational in Asheville against UNLV, and here’s how you can catch the action:
Tipoff: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Arena, Asheville, NC
TV: ESPN2, Roy Philpott and Cory Alexander on the call
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network, affiliates here OR listen on the internet through GoHeels.comor TuneIn. Satellite Radio broadcast on Sirius/XM 193, or Internet 955.
Streaming: ESPN.com/watch for all with TV logins, or the ESPN App.
Betting: At time of writing, the line is UNC - 12 with the O/U at 151.