How UNC Tar Heels honored Eric Montross in their first basketball game since his death

Four days after North Carolina basketball great Eric Montross died, the Tar Heels paid tribute to him at Wednesday’s game — and fans took notice.

The No. 11 Tar Heels wore Montross’ jersey number — 00 — on their warmup jerseys in Charlotte before they played No. 7 Oklahoma at the Jumpman Invitational. It was the first game for the Tar Heels since Montross’ death was announced Monday.

Montross died Sunday night at his home in Chapel Hill, less than a year after he was diagnosed with cancer. He was 52.

Montross, also a radio analyst and former NBA player, wore the number when he played for coach Dean Smith and the Tar Heels from 1990 to ’94. As a junior, he was the starting center in the 1992-’93 season when North Carolina won the NCAA national championship.

His jersey hangs in the rafters of the Dean Smith Center on the Chapel Hill campus.

Wednesday night, UNC basketball’s social media accounts posted a simple photo of the jersey, saying “Shooting shirts tonight, #CarolinaFamily.”

Others near the team posted photos of the warmup with all members of the team wearing the shirts, taking note of the subtle tribute.

Broadcaster Debbie Antonelli, with North Carolina ties, posted a photo of R.J. Davis wearing the tribute shirt: “@UNC_Basketball ⁩ program and RJ Davis wearing Eric Montross shooting shirts prior to Oklahoma game to honor his UNC legacy. Eric passed earlier this week after a 9 month battle with cancer. Gone too soon #RIP.”

Writer Neil Blackmon wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Tar Heels wearing Montross 00 in warmups tonight. Going to be some wet eyes in the building for lineups.”

“Crowd went crazy for this,” wrote one fan.

Another fan posted on X, seeming to sum up the collective opinion on social media: “We’re gonna win for Eric Montross tonight.”

There also was a moment of silence for Montross at the start of the game.

“Eric was a great player and accomplished student, but the impacts he made on our community went way beyond the basketball court,” the university said in a statement Monday. “He was a man of faith, a tremendous father, husband and son, and one of the most recognizable ambassadors of the university and Chapel Hill.”