Norfolk State's men's basketball team has lined up a 2008-09 schedule that includes its typical long December road trip to help fill the athletic department's coffers with guarantee money.
But fans willing to do a little traveling can catch the Spartans in-state to begin the season. NSU kicks off the slate with games at Longwood (Nov. 16) and William and Mary (Nov. 19).
The Spartans are also going to take advantage of the NCAA's allotment of an overseas trip once every four years and will travel to the Bahamas in a few weeks for a two-game set against club teams in the Nassau area. NCAA rules allow for 10 days of practice before such trips.
"The Bahamas trip should serve a couple purposes for us," coach Anthony Evans said. "Being able to practice that early in the year will give our players a chance to come together as a unit on and off the court."
While the Spartans have played Longwood the past two seasons, losing both times, they haven't met William and Mary since the 1982-83 season.
Games at Michigan and Air Force and tournaments at Missouri State and Montana State highlight a long November-December stretch in which the squad's only home game will be against Jacksonville State on Dec. 2.
"We look at it as a way to improve and see where our team is as we go into conference play," Evans said. "We're not putting a number on how many we want to win during that stretch."
NSU's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schedule is back-loaded, with the Spartans playing their last five games of the regular season at home. They begin their MEAC campaign at North Carolina A&T on Dec. 6.
"Last year, we finished with five on the road," Evans said. "So, hopefully, this plays to our advantage."
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