When Iowa State finishes its final practice before heading to Des Moines to take on in-state rival Drake on Sunday, Nov. 24, much of the student body will be gone.

But the No. 22 Cyclones have work to do. With school work winding down for a week, the competition and road tests ramp up with three road games ranging from the neighboring Knapp Center in Des Moines to the South Point Shootout in Las Vegas.

“The negative of being a Division I athlete, which I think is a small negative, is you don’t get a normal Thanksgiving break and you get a shortened Christmas break,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly. “But the trade-off I think is worth it.”

The trade-off includes some of the first genuine team bonding of the season and an opportunity to travel across the country playing basketball. Fennelly said the time the team spends around each other during the week off of classes can bring them closer together.

“You learn a lot about your team when you go on the road,” Fennelly said. “Sometimes [at home] they see each other at practice and that’s it. And now you’re traveling together; you room together; you eat together; you spend a lot of time together. … The great teams develop a great amount of trust, and part of that trust is built by living together and hanging out together.”

With four freshmen on the roster, two of which are in the starting lineup, developing relationships and team unity early in the season is key. Last season, only Nicole “Kidd” Blaskowsky and Madison Baier had to adapt to an already cohesive unit that featured two future WNBA players and experienced players like Nikki Moody and Hallie Christofferson.

The opportunity for growth is exciting to both players and coaches, but not without a bit of caution. When asked if he was worried about starting two freshmen on the road for the first time this season, Fennelly’s answer was quick.

“Oh, yeah. A lot of worries,” Fennelly said with a laugh. “These kids have traveled a lot; they’ve played AAU basketball, but still, the first four times they put an Iowa State uniform on, they [have] to walk out in front of family and a lot of friends. There is a comfort level there.”

The Cyclones will be eased into the tough road stretch when they take on Drake on Sunday in Des Moines. Fennelly said he is looking forward to the opportunity to play in front of ISU fans despite being on the road in Des Moines.

As for the players, they are preparing for a nontraditional Fall Break themselves. On the road for the first time, some freshmen are just looking forward to getting on the court.

“I’m pretty excited,” said freshman Jadda Buckley. “The girls are very helpful in what to do and what to expect. … Obviously, nerves will always play a big role, but I’m excited to see how it goes.”