News-Record.com

BUIES CREEK _ It couldn’t have taken Florida Atlantic coach Matt Doherty long to realize that Campbell’s Carter Gym is a long, long way from Chapel Hill. Actually, it’s only about an hour down the road – the closest Doherty has come to UNC as a coach since he was forced out three years ago – but this old barn is a throwback to basketball 50 years ago.

It’s definitely more Cameron Indoor than Dean Dome. And the Camel Crazies – not to be confused with Duke’s students fan section – did their best to make Doherty feel unwelcome. Division I’s smallest arena was filled to capacity (947 strong) and derided Doh at every turn, at least until FAU blew the game open midway through the first half.

For example: “Sit down, Matt!” … to which Doherty, already sitting, replied with a smile: “Make me sit down!” There were also a lot of “Where’s your ring?” barbs. A 1982 national championship ring was on his right hand, but we’re pretty sure that’s not the ring to which they were alluding.

There were surprisingly few obvious Tar Heel fans in the stands to see Doherty’s Atlantic Sun-leading team, though he greeted some old UNC pals – including Woody Durham – before tipoff. For those Tar Heel partisans who ridiculed Doherty on his way out of Chapel Hill but couldn’t make it down to Buies Creek, the Campbell undergrads fired off some zingers on their behalf. Pretty lame ones, mostly. But I did enjoy the pep band’s P-Funk rendition.

Read more about Doherty’s first season at Florida Atlantic in the News & Record in the coming weeks. Or watch it on ESPN’s “The Season.” A camera and boom mic followed Doherty’s every move here.