Under the Radar Game of the Day – Monday, January 26, 2015: Maryland-Eastern Shore at Florida A&M

Maryland-Eastern Shore at Florida A&M, 7:30 PM Eastern, No TV

The UTR Game of the Day is escaping Winter Storm Juno by heading down to Tallahassee, Florida tonight as the Florida A&M Rattlers host the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks in MEAC play.  For those of you following our video podcasts, you are well aware that FAMU is the current odds-on favorite to take home the coveted “Centenary Award” this season.  This award is given by the staff here at HOOPS HD annually to the worst team in Division I.  It is not meant to demean these teams in any way — in fact it is with great pride that we have watched former Centenary Award winner Towson turn its program around.  In a few years, we hope to be saying the same about this year’s winner.  However, for now, FAMU is 0-19 on the season and will be a huge underdog in all remaining games this season, including tonight’s home contest against UMES.

Speaking of incredible turnarounds, that is exactly what has happened so far this season for the Hawks.  UMES enters tonight’s game at 11-10 on the season overall and 4-2 in conference play.  They have notably won games at Fordham, at Duquesne and at St. Bonaventure already this season.  A 12th victory on the season tonight would be their most since 2001.  The Hawks have not finished with a winning record on the season since 1994, and doing so this year is a very realistic goal.  The job that Bobby Collins has done in his first year at the helm for the Hawks has been absolutely amazing.  Then again, Collins did have a good deal of success in his prior stint in the MEAC, leading Hampton to four straight upper division finishes including an NCAA tournament berth in 2006.  He notably was the assistant that took over for Steve Merfeld after Hampton memorably beat Iowa State as a 15 seed in the 2001 tournament.  A win tonight by the Hawks will help continue their resurgence.  While a MEAC championship would be a stretch this season, especially given how well North Carolina Central is playing, it is clear that UMES is on the road to becoming a serious contender in the years to come.