2009 College Basketball Season Preview – The MEAC

31 Conferences in 31 Days; Day 2

Defending Champions

Regular Searson – Morgan State(13-3)

Tournament Champions – Morgan State

Tournament Bids: 1 – Morgan State

Conference Overview

Twothings are always near certainties when you talk about the MEAC and the NCAA tournament.  Only expect to see one team go dancing, and always expect them to be a 16 seed.  This season a slew of teams are in rebuilding mode, while many more have question marks.  Don’t expect much of a shake-up in the standings this season, with Morgan State and South Carolina State looking to be the contenders for the conference’s automatic bid once again.

Projected Tournament Bids 1 (Automatic – South Carolina State)

Projected POY: Jason Johnson, F, South Carolina State

Projected Standings

1 South Carolina State

2 Morgan State

3 Bethune – Cookman

4 North Carolina A&T

5 Coppin State

6 Florida A&M

7 Maryland – Eastern Shore

8 Hampton

9 Howard

10 Norfolk State

11 Deleware State

TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS

Bethune-Cookman: The Wildcats used defense to get to their 9-7 MEAC finish last season, and needed to after posting only 58ppg on offense.  Junior C.J. Reed was the team’s best offensive weapon as a freshman, leading the team with 15ppg and nearly 4 assists per game.  Also returning is senior Alexander Starling, the team’s leading rebounder.   There is plenty of experience on the roster, as 11 players averaged double-digit minutes in 08-09.  If some of that experience can equate to some offensive production, BCU should wind up towards the top of the standings once again.

Coppin State: Tywain Mckee lead the team in points and rebounds a season ago, but was lost to graduation.  So, the Eagles must look elsewhere for their main guy.  Sophomore Michael Harper shows potential after scoring nearly 10 ppg as a freshman.  Senior Center Sam Coleman must play up to his 6-10 frame and pull in more boards or else CSU will find themselves In the bottom half of the MEAC standings.

Deleware State: It’s almost a complete overhaul in Dover, where the Hornets must replace four starters and nearly the entire supporting cast who were lost to graduation.  Several things must improve for DSU to break the .500 mark, the first of which is sharing the rock.  The Hornets only averaged 9.8 assists/game, coming in 324^th (out of 330) in the NCAA.  There’s a lot of work to do in Dover, which likely translates to another season at the bottom of the MEAC standings.

Florida A&M: The Rattlers struggled last season after going to the dance in 2008.  Leading scorer Lamar Twitty was lost to graduation, but a slew of new faces look ready to fill the role.  Sophomres Yannick Crowder and Dale Hughes were impressive as freshman.  Crowder lead the team in rebounds, while Hughes was second in scoring with 10ppg.  If FAMU hopes to improve, they’ll have to improve their MEAC worst scoring defense that surrendered 71.1 ppg.

Hampton: The Pirates went 11 deep a season ago, and will likely look to use their bench often again this winter.  However, someone in that line-up will need to contribute on offense after a putrid offensive showing in 08-09.  While their 58ppg (ranked 323^rd nationally), and their embarrassingly low field goal percentage (37.1%, 327^th nationally) are troubling, their near even (.66) assist/turnover ratio is the most glaring flaw.  New Interim Head Coach Kevin Joyner Jr must seek to find answers on offense if the Pirates want to stay out of the MEAC basement.

Howard: Eugene Myatt was the only Bison to average double-digit points (15ppg) last year.  He was the only Bison to average over 30 mins/game.  Now, he’s gone, and Howard will need the supporting cast to step up and fill that void.  They’ll have many options to turn to after nearly every piece of Myatt’s supporting cast returns.  The defense must improve, ranking last in the MEAC in steals, and near the bottom in defensive field goal percentage.  Another sub .500 MEAC record seems to be in the works.

Maryland – Eastern Shore: It was a rough road in 08-09 for the Hawks, who took last place with an 7-11 MEAC showing.  Things shouldn’t be as bad this season, as leading scorer and rebounder Neal Pitt returns for his senior season, as does nearly every piece of his supporting cast.  If someone can separate themselves from a supporting cast role into a solid #2 scoring threat, the Hawks could wind up making quite a leap this year.

Morgan State: The Bears put it all together in 2008-09.  Their non-conference profile included a upset of Maryland in College Park.  They stormed through the MEAC schedule, losing only three times in conference play.  However, a conference RPI of 30 left the MSU on the 16^th seed line, and quick exit to the hands of Oklahoma.  There is reason to believe the Bears can once again contend for the league title in ’09-’10.  Leading scorer Reggie Holmes returns for his senior campaign.  Sophomore forward Kevin Thompson led the team in rebounding (7.1rpg) as a freshman while only logging 24 mins/game.

Norfolk State: The Spartans relied heavily on seniors Michael Deloach and Corey Lyons to earn their 9-7 MEAC record.  Now, they must fill the 26ppg and 9 rpg void left by their departure.  Aleek Pauline and Brondon Monroe look like the best candidates to help fill that void, though hope for another above .500 MEAC record may be a bit too much.

North Carolina A&T: Gone are Ed Jones and Nicholas Wilson, both of whom averaged double-digit points a season ago.  However, talent returns in the form of Junior Tavarus Alston (11.1ppg) and the rebound-eating duo of Robert Johnson and Thomas Coleman, as well as a supporting cast that gained plenty of experience a season ago.  Forwards Kam Shepard and Julian McClurkin will need to combine to fill to void left by Jones in order to keep the Aggies amongst the MEAC’s leaders.

South Carolina State: After finishing 2^nd a season ago, the Bulldogs look to be set to be right in contention again this winter.  Leading scorer/rebounder Jason Johnson returns after making the MEAC 2^nd team last year posting 13 ppg and 8.2 rpg.  Johnson could be a double-double guy this season, while junior Carrio Jackson and sophomore Jimmy Williams Jr. should step up in support roles after impressive campaigns as underclassmen.

2009 College Basketball Season Preview – The SWAC

31 Conferences in 31 Days; Day 1

Defending Champions

Regular Season – Alabama State (16-2)

Tournament – Alabama State

Conference Overview

It looks like much of the same from one of the countries weakest conferences.  A year ago, three teams went winless in non-conference season, much of the reason why Alabama State found themselves in the Opening Round Game despite sweeping the conference titles.  Three teams look like they can compete for the SWAC’s automatic bid, but the champion is almost certain to get a #16 seed in the dance.

Predicted Tournament Bids: 1 Automatic: #16 Seed, Arkansas Pine Bluff

Predicted Conference POY: Trant Sampson, Alabama A&M

Predicted Standings

1. Arkansas – Pine Bluff
2. Prairie View A&M
3. Jackson State
4. Alabama State
5. Alabama State
6. Grambling State
7. Alcorn State
8. Southern
9. Texas Southern
10. Mississippi Valley

Team-By-Team Previews

Alabama A&M: The Bulldogs struggled down the home stretch in 2008, losing 8 of their last 9 before limping to a 6-12 conference record and a first round exit in the conference tournament.  There is reason to believe AAMU can improve in 09-10 though.  The Bulldogs return 96% of their scoring from a season ago, including senior guard Trant Simpson, who ranked third in the SWAC a season ago with 16.4ppg.  While they won’t contend for the title, they should fight for an above .500 SWAC record.

Alabama State: The Hornets stormed through the 2009 SWAC schedule, posting a 16-2 record in the regular season before taking the post-season title as well.  Their season ended with a loss in the NCAA Opening Round Game to Morehead State.  Don’t look for a repeat of SWAC dominance in 09-10 though, as the team’s top two scorers were lost to graduation.  Seniors Roland Fitch and Wesley Jones will have to step up big if they hope to keep the Hornets in contention.

Alcorn State: The Braves do have the SWAC’s leading scorer from a season ago (Sr. Troy Jackson, 20 ppg in 08-09) coming back, but they’ll need to give him some help if they hope to improve on their 4-14 conference record, good for a last place tie.  Behind Jackson, the ASU’s leading returning scorer is senior Jonathan Boyd, who produced 9.3 ppg.  Regardless of who’s scoring, the Braves MUST improve a defense that surrendered 83.5 ppg, good for 320th in the country.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff: The Golden Lions look to be built for the upcoming season after fielding a competitive squad a season ago despite being completely void of seniors.  This year is a different story.  Nine players return that averaged double digit minutes a season ago, while four more averaged at least 5 mins/game off the bench.  Their balanced scoring attack is led by Terrance Calvin, the only Golden Lions to average double digit points.  If they hope to take a big enough leap to compete for a title, they’ll need to put more points on the board after averaging only 62ppg a season ago.

Grambling State: The Tigers ran a young team onto the floor last season, and paid the consequences.  GSU ranked last in scoring offense, free throw % and steals in the conference, and fielded a mediocre defense.  The good news heading into 2009 is that the Tigers will return nearly every part of a well-balanced offense.  The bad news, however, is they still don’t have a go-to man and their tallest returning player is 6-9 George Akpele.

Jackson State: The Tigers must replace two of their 4 double digit scores that lead them to a second place finish in 2008-09.  Sophomore Rod Melvin logged big minutes as a frosh, but failed to put up the stats to make many believe he’ll be able to fill the void.  If JSU can find some support for seniors Grant Maxley and Garrison Johnson, they could once again be in the mix for a title, but it’s a big “if” at this point.

Mississippi Valley: It could be a long winter for the Delta Devils, who must replace the top two scorers on a team that entered SWAC play without a victory, managing a 7-11 conference showing.  The first thing that must improve on a defense that surrendered 74 ppg, which is a tough feat for a team that is losing its leading rebounder.

Prairie View A&M: The Panthers were only of only three teams to boost an above .500 overall record in 2009.  They did so with a balanced scoring attack that led the conference with 70ppg.  Freshman guard Michael Griffin looks ready to expand to a bigger role after posting 9ppg a season ago.  Senior forward Darnell Hugee returns after leading the Panthers in rebounds and points, and should help make the team title contenders once again in 2009.

Southern: Like Mississippi Valley, the Jags failed to win a non-conference game in 2009, including mega-embarrassing losses to USC Upstate, Talladega College, and Tougaloo College.  Ouch.  Now, they enter 2009 looking to replace top scorer Chris Davis, and will try to uncover some resemblance of a go-to guy.

Texas Southern: Another SWAC team that went winless in the non-conference season (though in defense, the Tigers played a much tougher schedule – @ Gonzaga, @ Texas, @ Marquette, @ Cincinnati, @ Arkansas – then did the other winless teams.  Texas Southern returns their top scorer in guard DeAndre Hall, but must replace nearly the entire supporting cast.  If the Tigers can’t find some offensive help for hall, they’ll likely end up towards the bottom of the conference standings once again.