Overshadowed for years in its own crowded area code, North Carolina Central is ready for its debut on college basketball’s biggest stage.
In just their third season as a full Division I member, the Eagles have joined Triangle neighbors Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State in the NCAA tournament.
Coach LeVelle Moton says that “hopefully it means that we belong.”
No. 14 seed N.C. Central (28-5) brings a 20-game winning streak into its NCAA opener Friday night against third-seeded Iowa State in San Antonio in the second round of the East Regional.
Senior point guard Emanuel Chapman calls it “surreal to be mentioned in the same breath” as those programs because, “We get lost in the shuffle playing in the same area of these great schools.”
