WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

N.C. Central finally takes a short trip - to Raleigh

By Ken Medlin

Feb 3, 2009

For the second year in a row, the Eagles of North Carolina Central are college basketball’s road warriors. Central plays 31 men’s games this season, all but 10 of them away from home.

"We went through it last year, so we had some idea how it would be this year,” said Eagles coach Henry Dickerson, whose 2-22 team plays at N.C. State tonight at 7 p.m. “But you just don't get used to it."

This is year two of Central’s four-year transition to Division I, and since the Eagles are not yet in a conference, they’re not guaranteed many home games. Instead, they find games whenever and wherever they can. N.C. Central is hoping to land in the MEAC eventually.

This season alone, North Carolina Central’s travels include road games in 14 different states, a long and grueling schedule that can take its toll.

"Airports, buses, the fast food - it's just a different comfort zone," Dickerson said.
"Being gone almost every week the first semester was kind of tough,” said freshman guard Jamal Briscoe. “With me being a freshman getting used to schoolwork, the transition was pretty tough."

And with Central spending all this time on the road, that cuts down the available practice time

"That really bothers your chemistry because with the constant games and travelling, you're not really getting the chemistry in practice,” said senior guard Brian Ayala.

Tuesday’s game against N.C. State will be the shortest of Central’s many road trips…
"You know we almost didn’t take the bus,” Dickerson quipped. “We almost decided to walk just to get relaxed and enjoy yourselves."

Between this season and last, the Eagles will have played 44 games on the road compared to only 17 at home.

So when it comes to travel, this team has been there – and done that.