JC of HBCU Sports Blog is the RTC correspondent for the MEAC and SWAC conferences.
Things are beginning to take shape in the MEAC, and if you followed the conference at all last season, you know that it means absolutely nothing. Morgan State and Coppin State are exactly who we thought they were. If you asked at this time last season who would appear in the conference finals, one of those teams would have been on your list for a bust down back to Division II, let alone an appearance in the big dance.
This year, the Sunshine State is having an impact on the conference picture, and that could mean dark clouds for many teams come tournament time.
THIS WEEK – You have to watch out for the Florida A&M Rattlers and the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Both teams were pushovers in 07-08, but they are in third and fourth place respectively and both have been the victor in five of their last ten games.
WHAT’S HELPING –
- Every team in the MEAC is dangerous at home. No squad, regardless of the number of games it has played, is below a .500 record on their home court.
- Half of the conference has at least three wins through five games into MEAC play. Balance.
WHATS HURTING
- The top two scorers in the conference, Norfolk State’s Michael Deloach (20.9) and Tywain McKee (18.6) roughly shoulder about a third of their team’s scoring output. Anybody else got any insight into why these teams combine for an 8-26 record?
- Three of the top five teams in field goal percentage are among the worst defensive units in the MEAC. Norfolk State, Delaware State and Howard each shoot better than 43 percent, but all yield better than 40 percent to opponents.
WHATS NEXT?
There are a few big regional games coming up this week in the SWAC, which means you tuning into the SWAC games on ESPNU is not such a bad idea.
- Howard @ Morgan St. – Saturday, Jan. 24 – The best and the worst of the MEAC clash in an rivalry game, but the Bison will bring a two-game winning streak into Hill Field House.
- Norfolk St. @ Hampton – Saturday, Jan. 31 – The Michael Deloach Fireworks Show travels to the City by the Sea in a Tidewater rivalry matchup with the conference’s top-ranked scoring defense.