MEAC MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:
- Norfolk State
- Howard
- South Carolina State
- Morgan State
- Delaware State (tied 5th)
- NC Central (tied 5th)
- UMES
- Coppin State
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-MEAC 1ST TEAM:
-Chris Flippin – UMES
-Bryce Harris – Howard
-Khali Horton – Coppin State
-Ponce James – Delaware State
-Jayden Johnson – South Carolina State
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-MEAC 2ND TEAM:
-Zion Bethea – Delaware State
-Cam Gillus – Howard
-Dionte Johnson – NC Central
-Camian Shell – Delaware State
-Taj Thweatt – Coppin State
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-MEAC 3RD TEAM:
-Keyontae Lewis – Norfolk State
-Anthony McComb III – Norfolk State
-Walter Peggs Jr. – Morgan State
-Cedric Taylor III – Howard
-Michael Teal – UMES
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
-Simply put, this league is terrible. I believe it is the weakest conference in all D-1 this year and I would be surprised if the winner avoids the First Four this March.
-Norfolk State has been the MEAC’s frontrunner for the last several seasons and is expected to win it again this year despite losing all their starters. Anthony McComb III is the only player who averaged double-figures at the D-1 level a year ago, so part of me is wondering if the 1st-place pick has more to do with their reputation than it does with how good they will actually be this year.
-Howard is also having to replace all their starters, and similar to a lot of teams at this level it is lacking in guys with solid D-1 experience. Players will have to step into new and bigger roles in order for them to be successful.
-South Carolina State tied for 1st place last year and won 11 straight games before losing by just a point to Norfolk State in the conference championship game. They did lose some key players, but they have two starters back including Jayden Johnson who earned 1st team preseason honors. Chris Parker is a JUCO transfer who averaged over 21ppg and should give them a spark this year as well. I like this team, and think they can finish atop the standings.
-Like seemingly everyone else in the conference, Morgan State lost most of their starters. Rob Lawson is the only returning starters. Walter Peggs Jr. transfers in from a D-2 school where he averaged an incredible 26ppg, so he should be able to contribute to their success this year. They do have some pieces, and should be able to finish in the top half of the standings.
-Delaware State, like most other teams, is having to replace their starting lineup and will have to do it with guys who have limited D-1 experience. They have shown consistent improvement in recent years, and managed to finish 3rd in the league last year. They do have two guys that received preseason all-conference honors in Ponce James and Camian Shell, so they may have what it takes to finish in the top half.
-NC Central has just one starter back and will look to transfers to become contributing players this year. Like a lot of teams, they are limited in terms of overall D-1 experience, so a lot of guys will have to step into bigger roles.
-UMES was among the worst teams in all of D-1 last year, and while they may be a little better this year, it will not be by much. They finished dead last a season ago and are in danger of doing so again.
-I do not think Coppin State will be good at all, and I do not expect them to finish in the top half of the league, but I do not think they will be dead last either. They do have two starters back, and they also add a few transfers who look like they may be able to contribute.
