HIGH POINT – Soon after leaving Wake Forest to become athletics director at High Point University in 2008, Craig Keilitz began efforts to convince his old boss Ron Wellman that the Panthers should host the Demon Deacons in men’s basketball.
Teams from major conferences rarely play at small schools. But, Wellman agreed to make one trip to the Millis Center in exchange for the Panthers playing three times at the Joel Coliseum.
HPU formally announced Tuesday the Deacons will visit Dec. 7, 2011. When they do so, they will be the first Atlantic Coast Conference team to come into the Panthers’ house.
“There are so just so many great things about this, bringing an ACC team into our gym so our season ticket holders and students can see a quality opponent, and give our student-athletes the best experience possible,” Keilitz said. “It also helps us set the bar that we want to reach, what we are working toward.”
Keilitz said he and Wellman reached agreement on the three-for-one series last summer, but that the date for the Millis Center game was determined recently.
“The big thing is that teams from major conferences like the ACC rarely go on the road unless it is to play another major school,” Keilitz said.
“Most of the time it comes down to relationships, because you rarely get something like this done cold calling. Ron’s been like a second father to me. He’s my mentor. I think he saw what’s happening at HPU, both with the school and the team. Being local, I think also helped.”
Wellman said his relationship with Keilitz played a factor in the decision. Keilitz worked under Wellman at Wake for 12 years.
Wellman named other reasons for consenting to play in a arena with a seating capacity listed at 3,500 – far below the size of arenas where ACC teams typically play.
“It’s a road game that’s local and can be attended by a number of our fans,” Wellman said. “But, it is a gym that has great atmosphere and vocal fans, the type of atmosphere that will help prepare us for playing on the road in the ACC.
“We’ve played at other places – such as Army and Bucknell – that don’t have the size arenas that we have in the ACC. But, it is not the size of the arena. It is the atmosphere and they have great atmosphere.”
The four-game agreement began with HPU’s trip to the Joel Coliseum last December in which the Panthers led most of the first half before falling 80-63. HPU will also visit Wake this coming season and during the 2012-13 season.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity,” HPU coach Scott Cherry said of hosting the Deacons. “It’s not often that you can get an ACC team to come to your arena and play. To allow our fans and students to see that caliber of program on our floor is tremendous.”
Prior to last season, HPU had played Wake just once – a 79-35 loss during the 1999-2000 season – the Panthers first as a Division I school. HPU has played a total of eight game against ACC schools – seven on the road and one at a neutral site.
gsmith@hpe.com | 888-3556
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