WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

For ACC Teams, Scheduling "Road" Games An Exercise In Strategy

Jan 9, 2008

Over the last ten years, Duke has built its schedule around March. Mike Krzyzewski wants to play tournament type teams in tournament type buildings.

"Some of the top mid-major programs - teams that are supposed to win their conference championships - almost all the time you play these teams, you play them at home," Coach Mike Krzyzewski says, "that's an advantage for you."

When it comes to away games, Krzyzewski prefers large neutral arenas. For example, Duke played Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden this season.

Duke won't say how much it gets paid, but playing in large arenas may have something to do with money.

"We've had five straight years of playing games in Madison Square Garden or the Meadowlands, Krzyzewski says. We've sold all of them out, in buildings that are not normally sold out."

NC State played a true road game at ECU this year, but games on an opponent's court are not Coach Sidney Lowe's first choice.

"I'd like to play neutral all of the time," Lowe admits. "I think everyone, if you want to know the truth, would rather not play on another team's court. On the other hand, you need to give your team a challenge."

North Carolina received $25,000 to play at Kentucky earlier this year, one of four games the Tar Heels played on an opponent's home court in a stretch of six consecutive away contests.

"It's part of the learning process," coach Roy WIlliams says. "I really think it's good for a team to play on somebody else's true home court."

It is common for schools to pay other institutions to visit their home arena. Carolina paid UNC-Asheville $65,000 for their game on January 9th, while N.C. State gave N.C. Central $50,000 to visit the RBC Center the same night. Duke, a private school, would not comment on how much they pay teams to play in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Mike Krzyzewski wants Duke to play a home and home series with a traditional power like Michigan, but the overwhelming majority of the Devils' non-conference away games are in venues where Duke fans can get tickets. Still, the coach believes Duke sees enough hostile arenas each year, especially in the ACC.

"We've had more people storm the court after beating us, particularly last year," Krzyzewski jokes. "I thought about starting a business 'have celebration will travel'."

Even when Duke loses on a neutral court, we usually still see a celebration.

• Reporters: Bob Holliday, Jason Jennings
• Web Editor: Ryan Craig