By R.L. Bynum

If you can’t make it to New Orleans for the Final Four, you can still show your support for the Tar Heels team by being part of a sendoff on Wednesday and joining a watch party at the Smith Center.

When Carolina leaves for RDU Airport at about 4:45 Wednesday afternoon, fans are invited to line up on either side of Lettermen’s Lane, which is between the Smith Center and the Woody Durham Media and Communications Center.

Fans will be able to cheer and greet the players and coaches as they head to the buses that will be parked on Skipper Bowles Drive.

Free parking after 5 p.m. will be available in the Williamson, Bowles and Manning lots.

On Saturday, UNC will host a watch party at the Smith Center, which will feature a large projection screen in addition to the four video boards at the corners of the arena. Carolina’s game against Duke starts about 40 minutes after the conclusion of the 6:09 p.m. Villanova-Kansas semifinal.

Entry A at the Smith Center will open for students, faculty and staff with a UNC One Card at 5:30 p.m. The general public is invited to enter at Entry A beginning at 5:45 p.m.

Concessions and merchandise will be available. General fan parking is available for $5 in the Manning, Bowles and Craige parking lots beginning at 4 p.m. Payments are cashless (credit cards only) and can be made at the entrance to the lot. ADA parking is available in the Williamson lot for $5 and is also cashless.

The Carolina Basketball Museum, located in the Ernie Williamson Athletic Center, will be open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Final Four

At Superdome, New Orleans
Saturday’s national semifinals
No. 2 Villanova (30–7) vs. No. 1 Kansas (32–6), 6:09, TBS
No. 2 Duke (32–6) vs. No. 8 North Carolina (28–9), 40 minutes after first semifinal, TBS
Monday’s final
Semifinal winners, 9:20, TBS