Schedule/Results | Roster | News | Archives

Nov. 13, 2008

The North Carolina Central University men's basketball team enters the 2008-09 season, its second as a Division I program, with greater expectations and a better understanding of the road that lies ahead.

NCCU's seven returning letterwinners have experienced the school's inaugural Division I campaign, so they stand to be more prepared for the two biggest challenges facing an independent, reclassifying NCAA institution - the improved level of competition and the burden of playing a majority of the schedule on the road. Now armed with this knowledge, the veterans can pass along their wisdom to the team's seven newcomers, something that the young Eagles of a year ago did not have the benefit of.

As fledglings to the Division I landscape in 2007-08, the Eagles travelled roughly 22,280 miles to 23 road games in 13 different states, all while competing against one of the toughest schedules in the country. The result was an overall record of 4-26. Among the squad's victories was a road win over the eventual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Champions and a defeat of long-time rival Winston-Salem State during the MEAC Tournament, leaving the Eagles with a brighter outlook on the season to come.

"We laid the groundwork last year... the pioneers," said NCCU head coach Henry Dickerson, entering his fifth season with the Eagles and 10th season overall as a head coach. "Our expectations are higher this year because last year we did not know what to expect."

The 2008-09 Eagles return three starters, including senior guards Bryan Ayala (6-3, 190, Norfolk, Va.) and J'Mell Walters (5-10, 175, Kinston, N.C.) and junior forward Joshua Worthy (6-5, 205, Lewisville, Texas). Ayala was the team's No. 1 playmaker with 119 assists and second-leading scorer with 13.0 points per game. Walters placed second on the squad with 79 assists in 22 starts, while Worthy injected the Eagles with energy as a steady contributor of 4.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per outing.

Three of NCCU's other four veterans also started at least seven contests. Senior shooting guard Philip Branch (6-0, 190, Fort Worth, Texas) connected on 42 three-pointers in 22 games, averaging 7.7 points each trip to the hardwood. Fellow senior guard Ashton Sauls (6-0, 170, Des Moines, Iowa) averaged 7.0 points per game, while shooting 38 percent from long range. Junior forward Tremain Holloway (6-5, 205, Rocky Mount, N.C.) muscled his way to 2.5 rebounds and 3.1 points per contest as a 46 percent shooter from the field. The youngest returner, sophomore point guard Michael Glasker (5-7, 155, Newport News, Va.), came off the bench to contribute 35 assists and 1.9 points per game.

This solid group of experienced Eagles will be infused with seven newcomers, including transfers Lamar Pittman (Jr., F, 6-8, 230, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Dutchess C.C.), Stevy Worah-Ozimo (Jr., C, 6-9, 220, Gabon, West Africa, TCI College), Vincent Davis (So., G, 6-2, 170, Nashville, Tenn., Motlow State C.C.) and Norbert Randall (So., F, 6-6, 246, Jacksonville, Fla., Liberty Univ.), along with rookies Jamar Briscoe (G, 5-10, 155, Baltimore, Md.), Dami Sapara (F, 6-6, 195, Staten Island, N.Y.) and Nick Chasten (F, 6-7, 216, Raleigh, N.C.).

"Our new guys bring size and athletic ability," Dickerson said. "We have a whole package that is made up of what everybody brings to the table. The challenge early on will be finding the right chemistry - trying to put the best five on the floor that play together."

With the inaugural Division I season a thing of the past, the NCCU head mentor now focuses his keen Eagle eye on the 2008-09 season.

"Our No. 1 goal remains the same, to make sure everyone graduates and to compete against the other NCCU sports teams for having the highest grade point average," Dickerson said. "Our second goal is to be better and more competitive than what we were last year, and to win all of our home games."

On The Road Again

The 2008-09 NCCU schedule will be quite familiar to the returning Eagles. The travel itinerary includes 21 road games, covering approximately 25,344 miles, in 14 states (Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia), including eight states the Eagles did not compete in during last season's 13-state tour.

NCCU will spend its first six games of the season on the road, covering about 8,166 miles during the month of November.

NCCU opens the season at Wake Forest on Nov. 14 in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Eagles will then travel to Kent State (Nov. 17), Florida Gulf Coast (Nov. 20) and Tulsa (Nov. 25), before heading to the South Padre Island Invitational in Texas during Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 28-29). Kent State finished with a 28-7 record last season and received votes in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll, while Tulsa posted a 25-14 mark and received votes in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.

NCCU's first home contest inside McLendon-McDougald Gym is Dec. 3 against High Point. The Panthers, members of the Big South Conference, finished with a 17-14 record a year ago.

The Eagles then make a return trip to Drake University's Iowa Realty Tournament on Dec. 5-6. NCCU plays tournament host Drake on Dec. 5, and will match up with either Furman or Texas-Pan American on Dec. 6. Drake completed the 2007-08 campaign with a 28-5 record and a final ranking of No. 23 in the coaches' poll.

The Eagles visit Arkansas (Dec. 10), which finished last season with a 23-12 record and received votes in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, followed by trips to Old Dominion (Dec. 14) and South Carolina (Dec. 16) before returning home to play rival Winston-Salem State on Dec. 18. NCCU defeated the Rams in a MEAC Tournament exhibition game to end the 2007-08 season.

NCCU closes out the year with road contests at Duquesne (Dec. 22) in Pittsburgh, Pa., and at Michigan (Dec. 29) in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Eagles open the New Year with a trip to Coral Gables, Fla., to play Miami (Jan. 3). The ACC Hurricanes finished last season with a 23-11 record and earned votes in the final coaches' poll.

NCCU will then have an unusual stretch of six consecutive home games. The Eagles will host Colgate on Jan. 6, Chicago State on Jan. 10, Texas-Pan American on Jan. 14, the annual BC Powder Classic on Jan. 16-17, and Maryland Eastern Shore on Jan. 21.

This season's edition of the BC Powder Classic features visiting teams from Chowan, Central State and Saint Augustine's.

"It will be good to be at home," Dickerson said. "We play well at home, and it means so much to these kids to be at home and play in front of our fans."

After visiting Chicago State (Jan. 24), the Eagles return to the friendly confines of McLendon-McDougald Gym on Jan. 31 to play Savannah State.

The road trips continue with a short jaunt to nearby North Carolina State (Feb. 3), the Eagles first visit to Kansas State (Feb. 17), and a rematch with Texas-Pan American (Feb. 21). Kansas State posted a 21-12 record out of the Big 12 Conference and claimed points in the final coaches' poll.

NCCU then plays a home-and-home series with Longwood on Feb. 25 in Longwood, Va., and Feb. 28 in Durham, N.C.

The Eagles take part in their 30th game of the season on March 2 at Savannah State.

"When you play as many road games as we do, it makes it tough," Dickerson said. "We are going to take one game at a time."

(Written by Kyle Serba, Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations)