Roy Williams and Tyler Hansbrough don't need an introduction when it comes to the history of the University of North Carolina.
Both men have made a significant impact on the UNC basketball program. While neither is part of the program anymore, their presence is always felt, as evident by the recent push to keep the Dean E. Smith Center where it belongs.
Renovate, Not Relocate
With all the chatter regarding potentially building a new basketball area for the Tar Heels, two of the program's biggest icons have spoken out against this concept.
First, Roy Williams released a heartfelt video, discussing how he wants to honor Dean Smith's legacy and wishes by keeping the Dean Dome on campus.
Read: Roy Williams is leading the charge to keep the Smith Center right where it belongs
A day later, Hansbrough followed up with a video of his own, citing his experiences at North Carolina, something he doesn't want to take away from future Tar Heels who call Chapel Hill their home.
Read: Tyler Hansbrough passionately backs Roy Williams' message about the Smith Center
Since the social media campaign has started rolling, plenty of people (including former program members) have spoken out against moving the Tar Heels' home to the soon-to-be-developed area called Carolina North. With the start of this project, aimed for the summer of 2027, UNC spoke about the controversy surrounding the future of the Dean E. Smith Center, noting that the opinions of these two gentlemen carry a lot of weight in this decision.
"Everybody loves and respects Coach Williams and Tyler Hansbrough. They're two of the biggest names in the history of our program. One has his name on the court, the other has his jersey in the rafters and his name in the record books. So their views deserve a lot of weight, perhaps more than most."
Most fans hope the Dean Smith Center is renovated, not relocated. While the financial aspects seem to be driving this controversy, the sentimental value of the Smith Center rings as a driving force for those in favor of it sticking right in the forefront of the campus, something Dean Smith himself envisioned to help bring the student population closer to the program.