Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Notebook
Two, long months of out-of-conference play has come to an end for just about all eleven schools in the MEAC, and at least two of those teams showed they’re ready for the next three after some strong performances against the “big boys” during that early stretch.
As regular season play commences for good on Saturday, five teams (Hampton, Morgan State, Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State and Delaware State) already have 1-0 records under their belts. But one team the rest of the MEAC should keep a close eye on is Morgan.
The Bears arguably had the better showing against powerhouses such as Connecticut, Miami (FL) and Seton Hall early on. Junior guard Jamar Smith helped Morgan nearly pull off upsets against both Big East powerhouses, as they only lost by a combined 12 points. They’ll probably look back at their November 24th meeting at Miami as one of their more notable games of the campaign. Against the Hurricanes, a former Big East member now with the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Bears almost pulled off a major upset, but blew a five-point lead late and lost by just four points.
Hampton is another team that could be thrown into the mix. The Pirates had wins against the muscles of the Colonial Athletic Association in Delaware and George Mason. Add in a tough showing against Maryland in the first week of the campaign, and one could fathom why these two could end up battling it out for the MEAC Championship in March.
Several players have also caught the attention of opposing coaches during out-of-conference play, and perhaps some NBA scouts. In addition to Smith, Delaware State’s Roy Bright has been touted as one that boasts some pro-like skills. The senior forward is currently fifth among the scoring leaders in the MEAC, averaging 18.2 a game. During the Hornets’ visit to the Prudential Center on New Years Eve in Newark, NJ, Seton Hall head coach Bobby Gonzalez spoke highly of Bright during the postgame news conference.
“He’s a great player with great ability,” said Gonzalez. “He’s big, he can shoot and can defend well. I wish he were playing with us this season.”
Hampton’s Rashard West continues to shine for the Pirates. An All-MEAC First Team Selection, West’s efforts will be heavily relied on as Hampton looks to uphold their preseason overall pick to represent the conference in the field of 65.
Now, a look at the rest of the MEAC.
Bethune-Cookman (6-7 overall, 1-0 MEAC)
Notable Victories:
12/1 – won at Florida A&M, 62-46
12/29 – won at Georgia State, 60-56
Guards Jimmy Hudson and John Holmes helped the Wildcats pick up some wins against smaller schools that are even skill-wise and matchup-wise. But they’ll have their work cut out for them if they plan to stay within the heart of the conference. Road games against Hampton and Morgan State will be good tests for Clifford Reed’s squad.
Norfolk State (4-8, 1-0)
Notable Victories:
11/10 – won at Richmond, 72-69
12/1 – won at North Carolina A&T, 82-76
The Spartans struggled through most of their non-conference schedule, but picked up a big season-opening win at Richmond. The senior leadership of guard Tony Murphy, who is among the leading scorers in the MEAC, has been and will continue to be the reason Norfolk State will stay in contention the remainder of the year.
Delaware State (3-9, 1-0)
Notable Victory:
12/1 – won at UMES, 59-47
Bright has been just that for the Hornets. After battling through a tough non-MEAC calendar, Roy looks to get Delaware State on the track towards the top spot in the league. Many have said that he has the potential to play in the NBA, and given his size and skill level, he could be looking at a “Bright” future in the big time.
North Carolina A&T (5-8, 1-0)
Notable Victory:
11/24 – won at DePaul, 96-93
Steven Rush’s career-high 40 points led the Aggies to one of the biggest wins in program history back in November. Their upset of Big East member DePaul highlighted an early season full of surprising wins for the MEAC. He continues to be the sparkplug the Aggies will need in order for them to stay in the thick of the conference race.
Florida A&M (4-9, 0-1)
Notable Victory:
11/24 – won at Kennesaw State, 86-79
It’s been a tough start for the Rattlers in the post-Mike Gillespie era. FAMU has only been able to play with schools on the Division II level. Leslie Robinson has done well in leading the Rattler attack, but it appears coach Eugene Harris still has a ton of work ahead in order to help his team defend their MEAC crown.
Howard (3-11, 0-1)
Notable Victories:
11/17 – won at Pennsylvania, 80-65
11/20 – won vs. LaSalle, 69-63
11/27 – won vs. Navy, 75-65
The three victories above show that the Bison started their season strong, but the “injury bug” bit Gil Jackson’s crew as they closed their non-conference schedule. On some nights, Howard had only eight players dressed in uniform, and that proved to be the difference as they struggled against the likes of Illinois-Chicago and Northwestern. Eugene Myatt has been a solid offensive player for the Bison, but unless they can stay healthy, thinks look bleak for Howard in MEAC play.
Coppin State (3-11, 0-1)
Notable Victories:
11/23 – won at Southeast Missouri State, 102-99
Coppin State played an extremely tough out-of-conference schedule and enter the MEAC schedule on a nine-game skid. The Eagles will continue to rely on Tywain McKee to right the ship, but perhaps early season contests against the likes of Missouri, Marquette and Indiana will toughen them for league play.
South Carolina State (4-10)
Notable Victory:
12/4 – won at VMI, 89-88
The Bulldogs are another team that has struggled with a new general on the sidelines. Tim Carter sees great things ahead for South Carolina State, lead by JuCo transfer Jason Johnson. He’s fit in nicely with Carter’s scheme. Not only is he a scorer, he’s also a good defender and rebounder, as he leads the Bulldogs in just about every statistical category. He’ll still need a good supporting cast if South Carolina State has any hopes of making a late-season run at the conference championship.
Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-12, 0-1)
Notable Victories:
11/15 – won vs. Stony Brook, 53-52
12/11 – won vs. Kennesaw State, 77-72
Yes, these two wins are all the Hawks have mustered up so far. Ed Tyson is pretty much the only offensive weapon interim coach Meredith Smith has. They struggled during out-of-conference play, and, unless they can pull off a major turnaround in league play, UMES will once again finish among the cellar dwellers in the MEAC.
Notable Games To Watch
- 1/28 – Morgan State vs. Hampton: Could this be an early preview of the MEAC Tournament Championship game?
- 2/9 – Hampton vs. Delaware State: ESPN2 will showcase to a good chunk of the nation two of the top players in the league against each other in Rashard West and Roy Bright.
- 2/18 – Delaware State vs. North Carolina A&T: Can a “Bright” spot be enough to keep the Aggies from “Rushing” away with a victory on ESPNU?
