The next play: Clock running out on football schedule and road games aplenty
There are just two weeks left to watch college football in the Triangle, and two schools will have their senior day games this week.
The biggest tests for area men’s college basketball teams will all come on the road., specifically in Connecticut.
The Carolina Hurricanes will see if their NHL Metro Division lead can withstand a long road trip before they return to PNC Arena.
And women’s soccer pushes forward into the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Here are the highlights of the week ahead in Triangle sports:
College basketball heats up
Both N.C. State and UNC men’s basketball teams will play at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut this week for a step up in competition.
The Wolfpack play in the Hall of Fame Showcase on Tuesday and Wednesday, and play Central Connecticut and Oklahoma State, respectively, before returning home to face Texas Southern on Sunday.
Carolina will face two ranked teams when it plays in the Hall of Fame Tipoff on Saturday and Sunday. The Heels face No. 7 Purdue to start it off, and will either play No. 4 Villanova or No. 18 Tennessee in either the consolation or championship game.
Duke will be in Cameron Indoor Stadium against Gardner-Webb on Tuesday and Lafayette on Friday.
N.C. State’s fifth-ranked women’s basketball team also plays at home in Reynolds Coliseum for Towson on Monday and Kansas State on Friday.
College football winds down
Duke will be the first football team to play this week, with a Thursday night game against Louisville in Wallace-Wade Stadium.
The final home game for Central and UNC takes place on Saturday.
For the Eagles against Delaware State, senior day will also mark their season finale.
The Tar Heels look to extend their season by becoming bowl eligible in a non-conference game against Football Championship Subdivision foe Wofford. The Heels will then return to ACC action on Nov. 26 at N.C. State.
The Wolfpack play host to a formidable Syracuse team in Carter-Finley Stadium. A loss would likely end their goal of an Atlantic Division title and pave the way for Wake Forest to claim it.
Can the Hurricanes survive the West Coast?
The Carolina Hurricanes start a big West Coast swing with games at Las Vegas on Tuesday, Anaheim on Thursday and Los Angeles on Saturday. In all, they’ll play six straight road games before returning home on Nov. 28.
NCAA women’s soccer tournament action
Duke is still playing games that matter in the NCAA women’s soccer tournament. The Blue Devils, who earned a No. 1 seed, beat Old Dominion and will play host to the winner of LSU and Memphis on Friday.
Should UNC, a No. 2 seed, beat South Carolina in the first round. It will face the Hofstra/Providence winner on Friday at Anson Dorrance Field.