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MEAC
Just two years ago, South Carolina State was in jeopardy of folding. Not the basketball team. Not the athletic department. The entire university was threatened with closure. Thankfully, things worked out for the school, and this year things may be working out very good for the men’s hoops team. After winning 19 games last season and earning a berth into the CIT, the Bulldogs appear, on paper at least, to be the team to beat in the MEAC. Their toughest challenge may in fact come from a team that has not be an annual contender in this league. Howard returns all five starters, despite losing 20 games last season, and may just be the top challenger. This is mostly because they feature the player that led the nation in scoring last year, James Daniel (27.1 points per game).
One team that likely will not be contending this season is the two-time defending conference tournament champion Hampton. The Pirates lost four starters off of last season’s team and are in rebuild mode this year. Norfolk State, the only other postseason participant from last season with a CIT bid, may struggle to contend as well with their top three scorers gone. Delaware State and North Carolina A&T may be the next best teams after South Carolina State and Howard, but neither team appears to have the pieces to be serious contenders. In fact, if Howard is not able to improve as predicted, South Carolina State has a chance to simply run away with this league.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. South Carolina State – The top two players return from last season led by guard Eric Eaves who averaged 17.6 points per game. All signs point to the Bulldogs being the team to beat in this year’s MEAC.
2. Howard – James Daniel led the nation in scoring last year and could do the same this season. He leads a senior dominated lineup that could challenge for the league title, assuming that he can get enough help from the rest of his teammates.
3. Delaware State – All five starters return led by MEAC Rookie of the Year Devin Morgan. The Hornets should be much better than last season, when they lost 25 games.
4. North Carolina A&T – Junior guard Sam Hunt is the only returning starter, but has a chance to be a big-time scorer for the Aggies. If enough other pieces develop around him, his team could definitely contend for the conference’s upper division.
5. Norfolk State – The top three scorers may be gone, but head coach Robert Jones has done a great job finding a way to keep the Spartans near the top of the league standings every year.
6. North Carolina Central – Dante Holmes and Patrick Cole led the team in scoring last season, though even with both of them the Eagles only went 7-9 in conference regular season play. Holmes is gone, and it may be tough for Cole to lead the team to a better mark than last year’s.
7. Bethune-Cookman – Point guard Jordan Potts may be the best player at his position in the entire conference. Unfortunately, it does not look like he has enough other pieces around him to challenge this year.
8. Coppin State – The Eagles lost 22 games last season, and then lost both their leading scorer and their starting point guard. Even if they can make up for Christian Keene’s 14.6 points per game, they don’t appear to have anyone ready to take over at the point.
9. Hampton – With four starters gone from a team that won the last two MEAC tournaments, this looks like a rebuilding year for head coach Ed Joyner.
10. Florida A&M – Head coach Byron Samuels inherited a complete mess two years ago. Although the Rattlers are certainly not contenders yet, things are slowly getting better for them, and a last place finish can definitely be avoided.
11. Maryland-Eastern Shore – Bakari Copeland is the only returning double-digit scorer as head coach Bobby Collins tries to bounce back from a disappointing second season in Princess Anne, Maryland.
12. Savannah State* – Senior guard Troyce Manassa will try to lead the way, but with only one 6-7 player and no one taller than that on the roster, this will likely be a very tough season for the Tigers.
13. Morgan State – With four starters all gone from a team that lost 22 times last year, things are not looking very good for head coach Todd Bozeman’s team.
* Savannah State is ineligible for postseason play, including the MEAC Tournament, due to their APR score.