The next play: What’s coming up this week in Triangle area sports
Is that a basketball bouncing?
Die hard basketball fans can hardly contain themselves with the thought of hoops season getting closer. Several teams kick off the year with exhibition games, while college football begins its final month of play.
On the preps side, the NCHSAA playoffs returns to November, after playing title games last spring due to COVID-19.
Basketball exhibitions
N.C. State and UNC kick off their exhibitions seasons four days apart, versus the same opponent. Division II Elizabeth City State University will do the Triangle two-step, taking on the Wolfpack on Nov. 1 at PNC Arena, then battling the Tar Heels in the Dean Dome on Nov. 5.
On Nov. 3, the No. 5 N.C. State women’s basketball team hosts UNC-Pembroke in its lone exhibition. The Duke women’s team will welcome Wingate to Cameron Indoor for exhibition play on Nov. 4.
Homecoming in Durham, rivalry in Raleigh
The North Carolina Central football team welcomes a MEAC rival to O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium, hosting Norfolk State for homecoming.
The Spartans defeated the Eagles in each of their last two trips to Durham.
The big showdown in Raleigh will take place when Shaw takes the short trip across town to battle rival Saint Augustine’s in the Raleigh Classic as both teams wrap up regular season play. The Bears have won two in a row over the Falcons, who are in their first year of action under new coach David Bowser. SAU has gone 4-6 in the last six match ups with Shaw. Kickoff time is 1 p.m. at the George Williams Athletic Complex.
Prep playoffs
After playing a condensed season and having football championships in the spring, high school football returns to cold playoff games this weekend.
The NCHSAA playoffs begin across the state. For the first time since 2002, there will only be four champions, and not eight, crowned in football. The past 19 seasons, the state of North Carolina has crowned two state champions in each classification.
This story was originally published October 31, 2021 at 5:50 AM with the headline "The next play: What’s coming up this week in Triangle area sports."
