First, apologies for not posting an SCGD yesterday. However, we are back in the swing of things tonight with a few good games. The rematch between Bucknell and Lehigh in the Patriot League (7:00 PM Eastern, CBS-Sports Network) is clearly the top game on the calendar tonight for small conference teams. However, as we had the first matchup of these two teams as the SCGD earlier this season, I am going to instead go with a battle in the MEAC as today’s pick.
At 7:00 PM Eastern tonight (ESPNU coverage), Norfolk State is on the road to take on Hampton. The Spartans are one of six remaining teams that are undefeated in their conference (joining Miami, Memphis, Akron, Gonzaga and Louisiana Tech). The Spartans were picked seventh in the conference pre-season, making their 11-0 record in league play to date even more impressive. They hold a one game lead over North Carolina Central, who lost their first game over the weekend. Due to a scheduling quirk in the 13 team MEAC, Norfolk and NCCU do not meet during the regular season.
As for their opponent tonight, the Hampton Pirates sit at 7-3 in the MEAC, solidly in fourth place. Hampton features the defending MEAC player of the week in Du’Vaughn Maxwell, who scored 29 points and 10 rebounds against Delaware State last week. Tonight may be the best chance for anyone to hand Norfolk State a regular season loss. The Spartans only have one road game left after tonight, this weekend’s contest at fifth place Delaware State. They will then end the regular season with three straight home games against the bottom of the league.
One final note about tonight’s game: Hampton is having a Blue-Out…so if you don’t want to see all that blue in the stands, you may be better off watching Bucknell-Lehigh after all.