NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- The Central Connecticut State University men's basketball team embarked upon an historic road trip on Tuesday.

The CCSU Blue Devils (22-11) boarded buses before noon to make their way to the NCAA college basketball tournament in Kentucky. The Blue Devils will play No. 1-ranked Ohio State (30-3) on Thursday night. The game will broadcast on Channel 3 at 7 p.m., following the March Magic special, which airs at 6:15 p.m. on Channel 3.

Video: CCSU Pumped Up For NCAA Tourney Video: Central Celebrates NEC Title Win Photos: Blue Devils Pitted Against No. 1 Ohio State Special Section: March Madness On Channel 3 LIVE Brackets From CBS

While the University of Connecticut men's team missed the postseason this year for the first time since 1987, this will be Central's third trip to the tournament in the last seven years. The Lady Huskies made it to the NCAA tournament, ranked fourth.

The Blue Devils also held its final practice on Tuesday before their trip. The 16th-ranked Blue Devils are the underdogs, but the team received plenty of encouragement and advice before they left.

"When you get out there, just ignore them and just remember that all of us back home are rooting for you in the biggest way possible. I want to see a championship," Gov. M. Jodi Rell told the team.

CCSU President Jack Miller handed each player a pebble to keep in their pockets for good luck, reminding them of the story of David vs. Goliath.

Campus Bleeds Blue

"The safety school is going to the NCAA tournament. All the private schools, and the much more expensive schools, they can sit back and have a fun spring break." - Javier Mojica CCSU's senior captain

Students around campus were bleeding blue with excitement.

"I couldn't be happier for them. They deserve it this year," said Caitlin Iannucci, a CCSU freshman.

"Ohio's No. 1, but we know they're going to try to their hardest. So, it could happen," said Brandi Houle, of New Britain.

The team loaded on buses to Bradley International Airport with cheers from the dance team and fans.

Head Coach Howie Dickenman explained what the team faces: "Eighty-eight times the 16 has played the 1 -- and 16 is 0-and-88."

"The safety school is going to the NCAA tournament," said Javier Mojica, the team's senior captain. "All the private schools, and the much more expensive schools, they can sit back and have a fun spring break."

Only one of CCSU's players was recruited by another Division I program.

Calhoun: CCSU's Heart As Big As Any Division I Team

Players said much of their success has a lot to do with Dickenman, a former UConn assistant and a CCSU alum who has been the Blue Devils coach for 11 years.

He is one of four former UConn assistants in the NCAA tournament, along with Virginia's Dave Leitao, George Washington's Karl Hobbs and Penn's Glen Miller.

"I saw his team this year," Calhoun said. "You would have thought they were a Division II team height-wise, but their heart was a big as any team in Division I basketball, and that comes from Howie."

Dickenman requires his players to wear ties to games. No cell phones are allowed in the basketball facilities. Detrick Gym, he says, is a workplace. He asks his recruits what they think of their high school coaches. If they say something disrespectful, the recruiting process is over.

"Coach works us to maximum of our abilities, and prepares us for life," Blackwood said. "He works us like we're in last place, and that pays off. We work for each other, and it's paying off."

Click here to e-mail news tips to Eyewitness News, or dial toll-free: 866-289-0333. Be sure to stay with WFSB.com and Channel 3 Eyewitness News for the latest March Madness updates.