It took more than two years and cost $3.4 million to build, but the new Carolina Basketball Museum should really be a treat for fans.

The museum actually opens Monday, but media members (like me) got a sneak peek three days early.

The obvious items are there -- jerseys and game balls galore, plus all five of Carolina's NCAA championship trophies (Although there was no NCAA tournament then, UNC counts its undefeated 1924 team. The Helms Foundation awarded titles retroactively for the seasons from 1901 to 1935 -- crowning Carolina for 1924).

But for me, the most interesting items were the ones I didn't expect. It amazes me that Dean Smith's recruiting index card for "Mike" Jordan still exists. Does anybody remember when "Air" Jordan was known as "Magic" Jordan? He was when Carolina began recruiting him.

And, believe it or not ... Carolina's 1957 national championship team actually wore RED! Frank McGuire thought red trim around the collar would "jazz up" the uniforms. It's hard to believe now, but the jerseys are there as proof.

Carolina took ideas from a number of similar sports museums, and during the planning stages a group took an ultimate road trip -- visiting museums at Churchill Downs, the University of Kentucky (basketball, obviously), the Green Bay Packers and the University of Oklahoma (football) ALL IN ONE DAY!

The price is right -- admission is free -- and the museum is located in the Ernie Williamson Athletics Center (the new building adjacent to the Smith Center and the Koury Natatorium). The hours of operation are set for Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the museum staying open untilan hour before tipoff on game days. For weekend games, the museum will open 3.5 hours before game time.

Now it's time for Duke and N.C. State to follow suit. We need three of these museums - there's certainly enough history around here to fill them.