Howard Wins Season Opener

After Season-Opening Win, Howard Beaming With Confidence

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

WASHINGTON – Before Howard’s season-opening victory over Oregon State, the buzz going around campus was the possibility of an appearance from Beaver head coach Craig Robinson’s brother-in-law, President-Elect Barack Obama and soon-to-be First Lady Michelle Obama, Robinson’s sister.

But with neither the future Commander-In-Chief nor First Lady taking in an eventful night at 2,700-seat Burr Gymnasium, perhaps the new excitement is about just how good of a team Jackson’s squad can be this year.

The Bison boast a few senior veterans in forward Randy Hampton, guard Curtis White and guard Eugene Myatt. The trio, along with a mixture of young, upcoming talent, gives Howard the depth they lacked last season when the injury bug bit them as conference play began. It proved to be the difference in their 47-45 victory over the visiting Beavers, with Myatt and White providing the spark, chipping in 13 points a piece.

Undoubtedly, the victory gives Howard an immediate confidence booster, as they became the first MEAC school to knock off a Pac-10 member in quite some time.

Jackson has taken part in memorable victories over his illustrious coaching career, but giving the magnitude of this contest, he says the win ranks at the top of his list.

“(Howard) has had some big wins in their history,” said Jackson after the win. “In my tenure here, it’s huge, especially with the pressure of the first game and with a Pac-10 team coming in.”

Myatt agreed.

“The (MEAC) has gotten big wins in the past and we contributed to that tonight,” he said.

Even with Howard holding onto a comfortable lead late in the second half, Jackson acknowledged his team being in such situations before, yet failing to find a way to close out wins. Friday night, the mission was accomplished.

“I knew we were practicing well and we worked hard to prepare for this game,” said Jackson. “They come from a power conference and for us to finish off a win like this was big.”

Special thanks, according to Jackson, goes to the fans, who were just as excited about the contest as they were in hopes of catching a glimpse of Mr. and Mrs. Obama. After Oregon State’s Daniel Deane missed a game-tying layup at the buzzer, a few Howardites swarmed the court in celebrating the program’s biggest win in recent memory.

“I’ve never seen that,” said Jackson. “It just shows that excitement is building here. We have a great atmosphere and a great stage for basketball. (Fans) were cheering and helping us out.”

Meanwhile, it was a bittersweet debut for Robinson. He spent some of the last 20 months on the campaign trail with his brother-in-law, during which he was hired to help rebuild a program that went winless in Pac-10 conference play – including a now 22-game skid dating back to last season – and faced issues with certain players trying to adapt both team chemistry and discipline.

Still, Robinson says he was humbled by the atmosphere and the attention both he and the game received.

“It’s very exciting and an honor to take part in something like this,” he said. “A great atmosphere, great students and a great band, but what I was most impressed with was that the pressure didn’t bother the team. They made a great effort and handled it well.”

As for Howard, health and stamina will continue to remain a factor for this team as they head into an early tough stretch that includes road contests at Navy, then to St. John’s in the first of two trips to the Big Apple this season.

The Bison will see these same Oregon State Beavers again, this time out in Corvallis for a rematch on December 20th.

Howard’s Big Season Opener

Howard Hoops, Campus Buzzing With Excitement

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

WASHINGTON – When the Howard men’s basketball team kicks off their 2008-09 campaign at home against Oregon State, there will be a couple of historical storylines headed into contest – on and off the court.

The Bison will play the first of two meetings this season against the Pac-10 members, with the Beavers invading Burr Gymnasium for the first time on Friday before playing host to Howard later next month.

But there’s a catch to OSU’s visit this week.

Former Brown head coach Craig Robinson is in his first year at the helm for the Beavers, and he just so happens to be the brother-in-law of President-Elect Barack Obama.

Throughout the week, Howard’s campus has been buzzing with great anticipation for the arrival not only of Robinson and his team, but with the slight possibility that the soon-to-be First Lady and 44th President may take in the night’s action at the 2,700-seat facility. Howard’s Department of Athletics wouldn’t confirm nor deny that it would happen, but the news has officials scrambling to revise their ticket policy for students and outsiders.

Despite the craze, Howard head coach Gil Jackson remains focused on getting his team prepared for the opener, but even he admits that being a part of something special adds to the legacy of the university as a whole.

“Howard is always in the middle of historical happenings and that’s one of the things about attending this school,” said Jackson. “The campus and the team are excited about it, but right now were just preparing to play a great game.”

Howard has seen its share of celebrities and famous people attending special events in the past, mainly during its Homecoming week. But the notion that the President-Elect and First Lady could find themselves sitting in the crowd with the student body may rival former appearances by NBA star Allen Iverson, actors Ice Cube and most recently Terrance Howard.

Of course, Jackson’s team is anxious not only for the season to get underway, but to do so with a bit of history in the making.

“The players are thrilled by it, but I don’t know if (Barack or Michelle) would show up,” said Jackson. “If (Barack) did, it would be great if he came to both locker rooms and said something to the players.”

Oregon State was to have arrived in the Nation’s Capital late Wednesday afternoon, but Robinson would not respond to repeated requests for comment about his ties to Friday’s contest.

As for the game itself, the Bison will surely have their work cut out for them in a powerhouse like Oregon State. Even with the Beavers coming to DC on a 21-game losing streak (including an 0-18 mark in Pac-10 play last season), they boast a pair of solid guards in junior brothers Seth and Josh Tarver. They also have a decent forward in sophomore Daniel Deane. Deane, who enrolled at OSU after being dismissed from Utah for academic reasons, brings both height and experience to Robinson’s squad.

Meanwhile, Howard has senior guard Eugene Myatt leading the Bison attack. He’ll have support out of sophomore guards Kyle Riley and Chris McHenry, whom both, according to Jackson, have excelled in preseason play.

For the Bison, the key to Friday’s contest will be constantly pressuring the Beavers on defense and converting on offense. The other issue is the number of players available. Howard will already be without their top recruit, freshman guard Calvin Thompson, due to an undisclosed injury. So the Bison have to look to the bench for support and hope that each and every player can make an impact once their number is called.

Jackson says if that’s the case, then Howard will not only find themselves hanging around with the Beavers, but they’ll make the MEAC race interesting.

“We definitely have to stay healthy,” he said. “If we can do that, we’ll be able to compete and represent our conference well, out of conference. The guys are working hard to stay in shape and stay healthy. That’s going to be a big part of us this year.”

MEAC Preview

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2008-09 Preview

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

Few will argue that Coppin State’s unlikely run to the MEAC championship was the one of the biggest stories in the conference last season.

Perhaps playing a grueling out-of-conference schedule against powerhouse opponents like Ohio State and Missouri provided the Eagles a good tune-up to conference action, or maybe it was the clutch play of star point guard Tywain McKee that helped Coppin get over the hump. His runner in the lane in the closing seconds of the conference tournament championship helped the seventh-seeded Hawks to an upset of top seed Morgan State and a berth in the field of 65. The bucket capped off a stellar night for Tywain, as he finished with a career-high 33 points.

Coppin’s dream season would be short-lived, however, as they struggled to find their rhythm against Northeast Conference champion Mount St. Mary’s in the opening-round game of the NCAA’s. Their nine-point setback ended a run for a team no one picked would qualify for the Big Dance, particularly with the most losses – ever – of any tournament team.

But a new season is here, and for head coach Ron Mitchell, he’ll see most of the 2007-08 championship team returning, including McKee, who led the team in scoring and was sixth in the conference in that category. The early portion of their schedule will once again be brutal, as they face off against a sleuth of college basketball powers in Purdue, Kansas, Dayton, Wisconsin, Syracuse and Oklahoma.

With Coppin’s luck, maybe playing against such stiff competition will be yet another good tune-up to league play and perhaps a repeat of last season’s surprise run to the top of the conference.

Champions of the regular season and tournament runner-ups, Morgan State will be on a mission to get back to the championship game – and beyond. At a recent conference press luncheon in North Carolina, the Bears received 15 first place votes and racked up 443 points to take the league’s top spot. Clinching the regular-season title gave head coach Todd Bozeman’s squad their first-ever postseason appearance in NIT, where they fell to ACC power Virginia Tech in the first round. This season, Bozeman will get back All-MEAC forward Marquise Kately, as well as standout guard Reggie Holmes. Both will be surrounded with a bevy of junior college recruits who are expected to have an immediate impact.

Hampton, picked to finish second, loses top scorer Rashard West, but have junior guard Vincent Simpson returning to a Pirates team that boasts a ton of depth and size at both the forward and center positions. Delaware State, Norfolk State and South Carolina State complete the top five, with the Spartans being another team to watch because with Tony Murphy leading the way, Norfolk found themselves briefly in first place in the conference late last season. Even without him this season, head coach Anthony Evans’ Spartans will remain balanced, with seniors Michael Deloach and Kevin Worsley leading the way.

Rounding out the conference are defending champion Coppin State, followed by Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, Howard, Bethune-Cookman and Maryland-Eastern Shore.

The season tips on Friday, November 14 with Morgan venturing to the City of Brotherly Love for a matinee at LaSalle. Coppin State begins their title defense the next day against UNC-Wilmington.

All-MEAC First Team (courtesy of MEACSports.com)

G Tywain McKee, Coppin State
G Jason Johnson, South Carolina State
F Marquise Kately, Morgan State
G Lamar Twitty, FAMU, North Carolina A&T
G Corey Lyons, Norfolk State
F John Holmes, Bethune-Cookman

All-MEAC Second Team (courtesy of MEACSports.com)

G Michael Deloach, Norfolk State
G Reggie Holmes, Morgan State
F Michael Freeman, Hampton
G Eugene Myatt, Howard
G Vincent Sampson, Hampton

Preseason Player of the Year: Tywain McKee, Coppin State

Team Outlooks

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (2007-08: 11-21 overall, 5-11 MEAC, 9th Place)
Projected Starting Five: John Holmes, F; Kevan Creppy, G/F; Tobias Mahone, F; Tyrel Adams, F/C; Dominique Whatley, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/23 – @ Dayton (Chicago Invitational, First-Round)
12/6 – @ Florida A&M
12/22 – @ Jacksonville
3/5 – Florida A&M

Even with four letterwinners returning, the Wildcats were picked to finish a spot below where they ended up last season. Senior and leading scorer John Holmes will carry most of the load, with contributions from fellow seniors Creppy, Mahone and Whatley. Early season tests against Dayton and Auburn should prepare them for league play in January.

Coppin State Eagles (2007-08: 16-21 overall, 7-9 MEAC, 7th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Tywain McKee, PG; Chuka lloegbu, SG; Rigoberto Sargeant, C; Vince Goldsberry, PG; Brian Chesnut, PF

Schedule Highlights:
11/22 – @ Purdue
11/28 – @ Kansas
12/20 – @ Wisconsin
1/3 – @ Oklahoma
3/5 – Morgan State

The defending champions will once again play a grueling non-conference schedule to start the season, and that should serve as some good experience once MEAC play begins in early 2009. McKee and Chesnut are the big two players returning. Sargeant should prove to be a force in the middle with good, solid defensive play.

Delaware State Hornets (2007-08: 14-16 overall, 10-6 MEAC, 4th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Trevor Welcher, G; Donald Johnson, G; Arturo Dubois, F; Jerel Chavis, G; Kris Douse, F.

Schedule Highlights:
11/20 – @ Ohio State
11/22 – vs. Kentucky (Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational)
12/1 – @ UConn
1/19 – @ NCAT

Riding the play of leading scorer and rebounder Roy Bright, the Hornets started last season strong, but struggled down the stretch. Without Bright’s services this season, head coach Greg Jackson looks to his veterans Johnson and Dubois to pick up the pieces. Welcher and Chavis gives Delaware State some good offensive production up front. An early matchup against second-ranked Connecticut highlights the Hornets’ out-of-conference schedule.

Florida A&M Rattlers (2007-08: 15-17 overall, 9-7 MEAC, Tied 5th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Joe Ballard, G; Byron Taylor, G; Lamar Twitty, F; Brandon Bryant, G; Larry Jackson, F.

Schedule Highlights:
12/2 – @ Florida
12/6 – Bethune-Cookman
1/5 – @ Nebraska
2/9 – @ Norfolk State

With the loss of leading scorer Leslie Robinson, second-year coach Eugene Harris gets four letter winners back this season, with Twitty and Ballard expected to lead the Rattler offense. Last season’s improvement also gives FAMU some national TV exposure. They’ll get 2 TV games on ESPNU this year against Hampton and at Norfolk State.

Hampton Pirates (2007-08: 18-12 overall, 11-5 MEAC, Tie 2nd Place)
Projected Starting Five: John Ntoko, G; Michael Freeman, F; Chad Easterling, F; Donte Harrison, F; Vincent Sampson, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/26 – @ Alaska-Anchorage (Great Alaska Shootout)
12/6 – vs. Howard (Big Apple Classic in New York)
2/23 – vs. Morgan State

The loss of leading scorer Rashard West means that Simpson is expected to get the ball more often this season. Mix it up with Freeman and Harrison in the middle, and head coach Kevin Nickelberry’s squad could find themselves near the top of the conference once again. Their out-of-conference schedule doesn’t seem to be difficult to cope with, but their late-season showdown with Morgan State could have tournament seeding implications.

Howard Bison (2007-08: 6-26 overall, 3-13 MEAC, 10th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Eugene Myatt, G; Randy Hampton, F; Calvin Thompson, F; Kandi Mukole, F; Curtis White, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/16 – @ Navy
12/6 – vs. Hampton (Big Apple Classic in New York)
1/26 – vs. Morgan State

The Bison started last season strong, but got bit by the injury bug. However, coach Gil Jackson will see the return of veteran standouts Myatt and Hampton, while a pair of freshmen in Thompson and Chris McHenry should give Howard some solid play at the guard position – and some extra depth. An improvement on last season’s record is possible, that is, if the Bison can simply stay healthy.

Morgan State Bears (2007-08: 22-11 overall, 14-2 MEAC, 1st Place)
Projected Starting Five: Marquise Kately, F; Reggie Holmes, G; Kevin Thompson, F; Jermaine Bolden, G; Troy Smith, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/15 – @ LaSalle
11/22 – vs. Utah (Glen Wilkes Classic)
12/6 – vs. Coppin State
1/24 – vs. Howard

The regular season champions seem determined for a return to the MEAC Tournament Championship game. With several talented JUCO and first-year players coming on-board, Todd Bozeman’s team may prove a force to be reckoned with this year. Virtually every key player from last year’s squad returns for the 08′-’09 campaign, with Kately and Holmes providing a spark. The early part of their schedule features a rematch of the title game against Coppin State. Barring any major collapse, the Bears should find themselves participating in postseason play for the second straight year.

North Carolina A&T Aggies (2007-08: 15-16 overall, 9-7 MEAC, Tie 5th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Ed Jones, F; James Porter, C; Nicholas Wilson, F; Dwane Joshua G; Tavarus Alston, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/24 – @ California
12/28 – @ Georgia
1/10 – @ Morgan State
1/12 – @ Coppin State

Leading scorer Steven Rush is gone, but the Aggies have four seniors returning this year. NCAT should build on their win total from last season, as the veteran leadership will be key for head coach Jerry Eaves’ squad.

Norfolk State Spartans (2007-08: 16-15 overall, 11-5 MEAC, Tie 2nd Place)
Projected Starting Five: Michael Deloach, G; Corey Lyons, G; Kevin Worsley,G/F; Antoine Perry, G; Brandon Monroe, F.

Schedule Highlights:
11/25 – @ Michigan
12/6 – @ North Carolina A&T
1/12 – @ Morgan State

Deloach, Lyons and Worsely are the key components for this year’s Spartans offensive attack. The loss of leading scorer Tony Murphy means that Deloach will have to pick up the load in that area. Worsely and Monroe give Norfolk State a good inside presence below. If all goes as head coach Anthony Evans envisions, the Spartans should find themselves, once again, among the top three in the league.

Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks (2007-08: 4-28 overall, 2-14 MEAC, 11th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Gary Lee, G/F; Aleksandar Popovich, F; Tim Burns, G; Marc Davis, G; Hillary Haley, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/25 – @ Navy
1/3 – @ Nebraska
1/5 – @ Oklahoma
2/7 – @ Howard

The Frankie Allen era begins in Princess Anne, and already the former Howard coach has made his presence felt. With star guard Ed Tyson not returning because he rendered himself academically ineligible, Allen brings in a bevy of JUCO transfers that should give UMES the depth and balance they were missing the last few seasons. Davis and Popovich are the only two returning from last season’s squad, and they’ll provide the leadership needed to give the Eagles some swagger. Allen makes his return to the Nation’s Capital in early February against the Bison in what should be an entertaining matchup and given the storyline involved.

South Carolina State Bulldogs (2007-08: 13-20 overall, 7-9 MEAC, Tie 7th Place)
Projected Starting Five: Jason Johnson G/F, Jessie Burton, G; Julius Carter, F/C; Brandon Smalls, G; Phillip Adams, G

Schedule Highlights:
12/13 – @ Clemson
1/10 – @ Delaware State
1/26 – vs. NCAT

Johnson, last season’s leading scorer, returns to a Bulldog squad that can mix it up on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Head coach Tim Carter’s squad should make strides as their non-conference portion of the season appears winnable and sets them up for a run at the top five in the MEAC standings.

MEAC Recap

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2007-08 Season Recap

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

Postseason tournament appearances for Coppin State and Morgan State may have been short-lived, but both schools highlighted a memorable 2007-08 campaign to remember for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Six of the eleven teams finished above .500 in the league, but the Eagles, led by All-MEAC First Team guard Tywain McKee, were without question, the surprise team of the season.

It all started at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC, site of the conference tournament. They edged out Howard in the first round, then surprised both preseason pick Hampton and third-seeded Norfolk State to reach the title game. Against top-seeded and crosstown rival Morgan State, McKee’s game-winning floater in the lane with three seconds left propelled Coach Ron “Fang” Mitchell’s squad into the field of 65, and closed out a record-setting performance (33 points, 6-of-8 three pointers) from the Philadelphia, PA native.

Forget the notion the Eagles (16-21, 7-9 MEAC) became the first school to reach the NCAA Tournament with 20 losses. After all, they found themselves in a position unlike that of powerhouses Virginia Tech and Ohio State, who had to settle for berths in the NIT. In fact, if you ask Mitchell, he wouldn’t hesitate to say that the season was, indeed, a success. Especially considering the Eagles had to overcome some hardships along their unlikely path to the MEAC crown.

“I think they were life-learning lessons”, said Mitchell. “Lessons about how important it is to get along as a group, and to have the persistence and the determination to succeed.”

As for McKee, Mitchell says that, although it took some time, the star guard grew into the role player and team leader he was expected to be.

“(McKee) was one of the guys that never really quit,” said Mitchell. “If anything, he was hurt because of the fact we were losing. He learned the game a lot better to the point where he knew what had to be done to win.”

To no one’s surprise, the Eagles found themselves once again playing on the national stage as one of the 16th seeds, this time in the opening round game of the NCAA Tournament against Mount Saint Mary’s. McKee paced the Coppin State attack with 15 points, but a valiant effort came up short in a nine-point loss to the Northeast Conference champions.

“We ran out of gas,” said Mitchell. “They were very defensive and persistent with their scoring. They made a lot of their shots, and we missed ours.”

With the season in the books, Coppin State now looks towards next season, where they’ll have to replace five seniors, including McKee. But Mitchell says a repeat of what happened this past season is possible, provided they get a deeper bench and a good cast of recruits.

“I look at starting the year, striving to be successful every game, and doing the best we can and grow young people with character,” he said.

“I also think we’ll do really well with the recruiting,” he added. “We just have to get more people to step up and get more balanced scoring. I’m looking forward to solidifying a few really good recruits we have coming in.”

Meanwhile, Morgan State (22-11, 14-2) earned their first National Invitational Tournament appearance by virtue of clinching the regular-season title. Maybe it wasn’t what coach Todd Bozeman and his team worked all season for, but for a conference that usually gets one team in the postseason by winning the conference tournament, he was more than happy to accept the invitation.

“The fact we had set out a goal to take positive steps, to be undefeated at home and to get to the postseason was one thing,” said Bozeman. “Getting the bid is something to be proud of.”

They started the season with a strong performance against national powerhouse Connecticut in the opening-round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic, then rode the backs of junior guard Jamar Smith (16.6 ppg) and junior forward Boubacar Coly (10.9 rebounds) to earn its first 20-win season in 32 years. It was enough to earn a spot in the NIT, but they faced a daunting task in the first-round against upstart Virginia Tech.

The Hokies, feeling bitter after being snubbed by the tournament selection committee following an impressive run through the ACC Tournament, took out their frustration on Bozeman’s squad, cruising to a 32-point romp.

“To get 22 wins was a positive and to get the community and campus excited about Morgan State basketball was great,” said Bozeman. “I’m happy with the results and looking forward to next season.”

Elsewhere, the Hampton Pirates (18-12, 11-5) were the preseason pick to represent the MEAC in the NCAA’s, and early on, they seem primed to run away with the conference title. But key losses at Coppin State and Morgan State dropped Hampton into a two-way tie for second with Norfolk State. The Pirates won the tie-breaker and entered the conference tournament as the second seed, earning a first-round bye before seeing their 18-12 season come to a crashing halt against eventual champion Coppin State in the second round.

Behind standout performances from guards Tony Murphy, Corey Lyons and Michael DeLoach, Norfolk State (16-15, 11-5) became one of the mid-season surprises in the league and found themselves briefly in first-place following a 10-2 start. They eventually fell victim to Coppin State’s run to the championship in semi-finals of the conference tourney.

Rounding out the top four is Delaware State (14-16, 10-6). The Hornets had high hopes coming into the season, led by All-MEAC First Team senior guard Roy Bright. A one-man show, Bright tried to keep things as such for DSU, leading the team with a 19.1 points-per-game average. However, it wasn’t enough as the three-time regular season champions stumbled to a fourth-place finish and a 14-16 overall mark.

Now, a final look around the rest of the MEAC in the order of finish:

North Carolina A&T (15-16 overall, 9-7 MEAC)

Notable Victories:
11/24 – won at DePaul, 96-93
1/14 – won vs. Coppin State, 59-56

Perhaps their win at home against eventual conference champion Coppin State didn’t come as much as a surprise for the Aggies. But to say they were one of a few teams that showed they could run with the upstart Eagles has to be a positive going into next season. Without question the win at DePaul in late November, behind Steven Rush’s career-high 40 points, was one of the biggest in their history. 2008-09 promises to be a rebuilding year for head coach Jerry Eaves. He’ll lose seven seniors, including Rush and leading rebounder, Jason Wills.

Florida A&M (15-17, 9-7)

Notable Victories:

1/21 – won at Coppin State, 63-48
2/16 – won vs. Morgan State, 90-89

With a new coach and a new focus, the Rattlers struggled to defend their title from the previous season in one that served the purpose of rebuilding. Wins against the two conference tournament finalists should give Coach Eugene Harris some momentum going into next season, as FAMU continues to revamp their program in the post-Mike Gillespie era. They’ll have to do so without seniors Leslie Robinson and Akini Akini.

South Carolina State (13-20, 7-9)

Notable Victories:

12/4 – won vs. VMI, 89-88
2/23 – won vs. Norfolk State, 97-86

The Bulldogs did all they could to make up for a slow start to conference play, and reached the quarterfinals of the MEAC Tournament, only to see their season end to runner-up Morgan State. South Carolina State could be one of the teams to watch for next season, as they’ll have the majority of their roster returning, including leading scorer and rebounder Jason Johnson. They’ll lose one senior in guard Robert Baker, but will have a full deck stacked with experienced upperclassmen come the 2008-09 campaign.

Bethune-Cookman (5-11, 11-21)

Notable Victories:

1/19 – won at Coppin State, 56-55
2/11 – won vs. NCAT, 54-50

Bethune-Cookman improved on their record this season by a mere two games. At times, the Wildcats were streaky, winning four in a row during a stretch from late November to early December, but closed out the campaign on a four-game skid, including a nine-point setback to South Carolina State in the first round of the tournament. BCC returns leading scorer John Holmes, but will lose four seniors, including John Anderson, who led the team in field-goal percentage.

Howard (6-26, 3-13)

Notable Victories:

11/17 – won at Pennsylvania, 80-65
11/20 – won vs. LaSalle, 69-63
11/27 – won vs. Navy, 75-65
1/28 – won vs. Coppin State, 73-69

The Bison started their season with some strong performances in their out-of-conference portion of the schedule, but the injury bug bit Gil Jackson’s crew as they entered MEAC play. Howard did put up a memorable performance for those watching the ESPNU contest against Coppin State, pulling out a thrilling four-point win. The last time both teams met was in the first round of the tournament, with the Eagles starting their run to the title with a nail-biting one-point win. Provided they stay healthy next season, things should get better for the Bison, with leading scorer Eugene Myatt and leading rebound Adam Walker returning.

Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-14, 4-28)

Notable Victories:

11/15 – won vs. Stony Brook, 53-52
12/11 – won vs. Kennesaw State, 77-72
2/9 – won vs. Howard, 59-56
2/11 – won vs. Hampton, 68-62

Despite finishing another season as the cellar-dweller in the conference, their victory against Hampton was pretty impressive. Still, it was a season to forget for the Hawks. Ed Tyson was the one-man show, leading the team in scoring with a 20.2 average. He’ll be back just as the program seems to be headed in the right direction with the recent hiring of former Howard coach Frankie Allen as their new general, who replaces interim coach Meredith Smith.

UMES athletic director Keith Davidson said the move to hire Allen was not only for his experience in the conference, but because they “needed somebody who knew the enemy.” Allen will have plenty to work with as the Hawks will have a deck stacked with upperclassmen coming back. Perhaps Allen’s experience with the MEAC will be enough to turn the team around in a hurry.

All-MEAC First Team (all are provided by MEACSports.com)

G: Roy Bright, Delaware State
G. Jamar Smith, Morgan State
G: Tywain McKee, Coppin State, Howard
G: Boubacar Coly, Morgan State
G: Tony Murphy, Norfolk State

All-MEAC Second Team

G: Rashard West, Hampton
G: Stephen Rush, NCAT
F: Marquise Kately, Morgan State
G: Jason Johnson, SCSU
G: Ed Tyson, UMES

MEAC Player of the Year: Jamar Smith, Morgan State
Rookie of the Year: Carrio Bennett, South Carolina State
Coach of the Year: Anthony Evans, Norfolk State
Hoopville’s Mike Lyle MEAC MVP: Tywain McKee, Coppin State (he hit the shot that got them to “The Big Dance!” That’s satisfying enough!)

Morgan State Happy To Be In NIT

For Morgan State, NIT will suffice

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – So it wasn’t exactly what the Morgan State Bears fought all season for. But despite losing the MEAC Championship game against crosstown rival Coppin State, the Bears are still tournament-bound.

By virtue of winning the conference’s regular-season championship, Morgan State will hit the road again, this time for the 71st annual National Invitational Tournament, which for them begins Wednesday night at top-seeded Virginia Tech in the first round. The NIT appearance will mark the Bears’ first in Division I.

Head coach Todd Bozeman won’t be the first to say that he’d prefer his team be dancing among the field of 65, but to earn an NIT berth as a consolation prize, and especially coming out of league where all 11 teams play every game as if it were their last, he’ll gladly accept the invitation.

“Our goal was to get to the postseason,” said Bozeman. Obviously, we wanted to get to the NCAA’s, but we’re really excited about where we’re at and looking forward to it.”

Without leading scorer Jamar Smith in the lineup, Morgan fell to the MEAC Champion Eagles Saturday night, 62-60, on Tywain Mckee’s game-winning floater with three seconds remaining. Before that heart-breaking loss, the Bears have ridden the combination of sophomore guard Reggie Holmes and junior guard Marquise Kately to help get Bozeman’s squad to the regular-season championship and an NIT trip.

“Not having our leading scorer out there makes a difference, but they’ve stepped up and filled the void,” said Bozeman. “But we’ll need some more help from the other guys to beat (Virginia Tech).”

Needless to say the Hokies (19-13, 9-7 ACC) are bitter after being snubbed from getting into the field of 65. After losing a close contest in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game to North Carolina, Virginia Tech will lean on two key guards to show the NCAA Selection Committee they should’ve considered them for an at-large bid.

Junior A.D. Vassallo and senior Deron Washington have put up some impressive numbers for the top-seeded Hokies. Vassallo is averaging a shade over 17 points-per-game, while Washington contributes a 12.4 scoring average. Tech also led the ACC in scoring defense and has been a force on the boards, outrebounding the opposition in 25 of their 32 contests.

“We just want to go in and play to the best of our ability,” said Bozeman. “They’re an outstanding transition team and play extremely hard, and our transition defense has to be huge for us.”

For Morgan, they’re also making a bit of history this week with becoming the second MEAC school to participate in a postseason tournament. To have a pair of teams come from the mid-major conference is satisfying to Bozeman.

Of course, an upset win on Wednesday night would be much sweeter.

“It’s good to have two teams from our league playing in the postseason,” he said. “You want to represent the conference as best as you can.”

Wednesday night’s winner will face the victor of the VCU-UAB contest in the second round.

Coppin State Ready For NCAA Opener

Eagles land in Dayton and still soaring with confidence

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

DAYTON, Ohio – Hours before they’ll take on Mount Saint Mary’s in the opening-round of the NCAA Tournament, Coppin State arrived in Dayton late Monday afternoon before taking to the University of Dayton Arena court for a one-hour practice.

Two days ago, they were locked in a tight battle with cross-town rival Morgan State in a “Battle of Baltimore” for the MEAC Tournament Championship.

That contest came right down to the wire. It might not have been quite like the conclusion of the HBO hit television series, but the showdown between seventh-seeded Coppin State and top-seeded Morgan State produced all sorts of drama you’d expect from two teams vying to get that elusive ticket to the big dance, and also for the fact that both schools are located just a few miles apart from one another.

In the end, it was All-MEAC First Team guard Tywain McKee capping off a night to remember. His driving floater with three seconds remaining sealed a hard-fought 62-60 win for the Eagles. McKee finished with a school and tournament record 33 points, good for Most Outstanding Player honors.

After Saturday’s thrilling victory, Fang Mitchell’s squad was quickly back to work in getting ready for Tuesday night’s matchup with the Mount St. Mary’s. Coppin State, which enters the tournament as the first school with 20 losses, meets the Northeast Conference Champions with the winner moving on as the 16th seed against top-seeded North Carolina in the East Region on Friday.

“It doesn’t bother me about the losses,” said Mitchell. “It’s a three-phase process and it was a tough way to get here. But to get to this point is a great feeling.”

It was expected Coppin State would be headed for Dayton for Tuesday’s “play-in” game, but the head coach says he was a bit miffed by the selection committee announcing the contestants an hour before the remaining 63 teams were named. Mitchell says the committee took away some of that excitement by naming the two teams too early, but compared to some of the other big-name schools that got snubbed in Arizona State, Ohio State and Virginia Tech, Mitchell says he’s not complaining.

“I really didn’t understand what the purpose of that was for announcing it early,” he said. “But at this point in the year, the major thing was to get there.”

As for Tuesday’s tangle with the upstart Mountaineers, Mitchell and his squad clearly knows what’s at stake.

“We’re blessed to be in this position that we’re in right now,” said Mitchell. “Our players may be somewhat tired from all the traveling, but when the game starts, they know that this is an opportunity for them to be successful.”

The Eagles will need all the energy they can muster up because Mount St. Mary’s boasts a pair of speedy guards in freshman Jean Cajou and sophomore Jeremy Goode. Cajou was named the NEC Tournament MVP after helping his team knock off Sacred Heart last week in Fairfield, CT. He averaged over 17 points during the championship run and has reached double figures in six straight contests.

“They have a lot of quickness at that position,” said Mitchell. “In reality, nothing changes. You just have to take care of the guards.”

For Coppin, without question the key to this run has been the play of McKee. He leads the team in scoring with a 16.6 average and has received support from another guard in Antwan Harrison. He’s also put up some good numbers with a 10.6 scoring average, second on the team.

“What he has done is shown tremendous leadership and has been a great team leader for us,” said Mitchell of McKee. “His attitude has also been very positive.”

Now that the 16-20 Eagles have touched down in Dayton, the focus will be solely on the Mountaineers. However, should Mitchell’s squad pull out another victory in front of a national television audience, they’ll get a major test in the Tar Heels.

Are they up for the challenge should they get that far?

“We take it one game at a time,” said Mitchell. “We’re talking about the best team in the country. If it happens, it will be a tough game, but we’ll be ready.”

Perhaps it can happen, but the first task at hand is keeping their early Cinderella run going against their other neighbors from Emmitsburg, Md.

Chemistry The Key For Norfolk State

For Norfolk State, Chemistry Has Been the Key

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

Norfolk State head coach Anthony Evans has one word to sum up his team’s ascension into a two-way tie for first place in the MEAC standings: chemistry.

He believes it’s the reason his Spartans are 10-2 in conference play, helped in large part, to standout performances from guards Tony Murphy, Corey Lyons and Michael DeLoach. All three have been the difference for a team many didn’t see as a contender against the likes of Morgan State and Hampton.

After a rough start, mostly during their out-of-conference portion on the campaign, Evans’ team has played their best basketball within the league. They’ve won eight of their last nine, including a five-game unbeaten streak which has them tied for the top spot with Morgan State.

But the Spartans will have their work cut out for them as try to keep the momentum going. They’ll hit the road for a regular season-ending five straight road contests, including a huge showdown at third-place Hampton on Saturday, March 1.

“It’s a good feeling with everything that’s been done,” said Evans. “I’m really proud of the guys. They’ve surprised a lot of people.”

Even with all the obstacles lying ahead for the Spartans, Evans says the team’s surprise run is a result of his players adapting to his coaching style.

“Our guys are starting to believe in the system,” he said. “We had a lot of guys coming back from last year and we knew it was going to take some time.”

Another key component for Norfolk State, which finished in seventh place last season, has been the offensive outburst from Murphy. The senior from Patterson, N.J., has averaged 20 points in his last four games, including 25 in the Spartans’ last win, at home against Maryland-Eastern Shore. His efforts have been backed by Lyons (14.2 ppg) and Deloach (13.3 ppg), both of whom have proven to be second and third scoring options for Evans.

“He’s a great guy that plays hard,” said Evans of Murphy. “He’s someone we know we can go to each and every night.”

Perhaps this surprise run to the top will be enough for the Spartans to dance among the field of 65. Norfolk State has never made the NCAA Tournament in their eleven-year tenure in the MEAC, but for Evans, who had his interim tag removed after agreeing to a three-year contract last month, says anything is possible as long as his squad continues their stellar play as of late.

“It would be a thrill for the team and the program,” he said. “We have to come out every night and play with consistency. We’ll keep on fighting and what ever happens will happen.”

MEAC Notebook

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Notebook

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

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?

Seton Hall Takes Out Delaware State

Seton Hall outruns Delaware State

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

NEWARK, N.J. – Delaware State guard Roy Bright helped his Hornets give Seton Hall everything they could handle in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. In the end, however, his efforts were upstaged by Big East standout Brian Laing, whose game-high 27 points were the difference in the Pirates’ 77-54 win on New Year’s Eve at the Prudential Center.

Named the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, Bright paced Delaware State (3-9) with 24 points, but the rest of his teammates had no answer for Laing. He started the contest on a hot streak, knocking down his first 12 shots and getting support from the Pirates’ physical play inside the paint, which won the rebounding battle, 34-24. Seton Hall (9-3) also shot 50 percent from the field – another statistic that usually amounts to a victory for a powerhouse over a mid-major.

“It’s always tough to compete with a team like that and on this level,” said Delaware State head coach Greg Jackson. “They were able to get out in transition early in the game and that caused us some problems.”

The game wasn’t decided until late in the first half, despite Bright keeping Delaware State within striking distance early. A pair of jumpers by Bright made it a 14-8 contest around the 13:10 mark. But Laing and Paul Gause knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 20-10. A two-handed dunk by Laing, followed by a 3-pointer from Jamar Nutter later put the hosts in cruise control, 34-18, with 6:50 remaining.

The Hornets started a mini-rally in the second half, scoring six straight points to cut into a 41-23 halftime deficit. Seton Hall responded with more power play on the inside with a dunk by Jeremy Hazell, followed by a short bucket in the lane by Laing that helped them open up a 60-35 advantage en route to the win.

Nutter added 12 points for Seton Hall and Bright had a game-high seven rebounds for the visitors.

For the Pirates, head coach Bobby Gonzalez was happy his squad was able to bounce back from a tough home loss to North Carolina State earlier in the month.

“This was an important game because it’s about who we are,” said Gonzalez. “We did all the things we needed to get ready for Big East Conference play.”

Meanwhile, Delaware State has already played a tough out-of-conference schedule against the likes of Arkansas, Georgia, Arizona State and Xavier. Still, Jackson felt this contest proved another good test as they head into conference play on January 12 at South Carolina State.

“This has been a great journey for us,” said Jackson. “We want to try to develop a type of team that will allow us to compete in our conference. By the end of the year, you will not have heard the last of Delaware State basketball.”

Notes

• The Hornets played this game with some meaning, as they were competing in the same city where a shooting tragedy claimed the lives of three Delaware State students last summer. The senseless acts made both local and national headlines, and Jackson spoke about the significance of his team playing with that incident well on their minds.
  “It was addressed, and we used that as a motivation,” he said. “We used what God has blessed us with in coming out here and playing. It also shows that life is very fragile, and you always have to treat everyday as if it were your last.”
• The MEAC is now a combined 0-4 against Big East schools this season.

Hampton Blows Out Howard In Big Apple Classic

Hampton thumps Howard in Big Apple Classic

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

NEW YORK – On college basketball’s grandest stage, the Hampton Pirates showed why they could be one of the nation’s biggest surprises within the mid-major ranks.

Led by All-MEAC First Team guard Rashad West’s 18 points, the Pirates jumped out to a big first-half lead against long-time rival Howard and never looked back in a 65-31 thumping in the second-annual Big Apple Classic at Madison Square Garden.

“It was a good win for our program,” said Hampton coach Kevin Nickelberry. “We had to come out and make our presence felt early. Our guys aren’t intimidated by anyone, and that’s a good thing.”

Having played a competitive non-conference schedule against schools such as Maryland, Tulsa, Delaware and Virginia Commonwealth, the Pirates used that experience to their advantage against an undermanned Bison squad that couldn’t cope with Hampton’s full-court pressure defense and an offensive showing from the Pirates back court.

The more startling statistic on the evening was the Pirates holding Bison guard Eugene Myatt to just seven points on 3-of-8 shooting. That’s an effort Nickelberry says is part of their game plan of keeping key players in check each time.

“We’re going to get after teams for 40 minutes,” he said. “We’ve done a better job of keeping their top scorers from getting points.”

The Bison surprised the Pirates in last year’s inaugural event with an 11-point win. But after a big home victory against Navy, the loss was a tough one to cope with for Howard head coach Gil Jackson.

“We just ran into a very good, experienced basketball team,” said Jackson. “We’re going to have to grow and learn something from this. If you don’t come prepared at this level, you’re gonna get hammered.”

Indeed, the Pirates put on quite an offensive and defensive display for the 7,800 in attendance.

With a predominately Hampton crowd – some doused in blue and white paint – cheering on their MEAC preseason favorite Pirates, Rush got things started with a three-pointer that turned a 7-5 lead into a 15-7 advantage at the eight minute mark of the half. Howard tried to keep it close midway through the period on a dunk by Paul Kirkpatrick, but another three-pointer by Rush made it 23-11 with just over four minutes remaining.

A dunk by Michael Freeman and a steal and layup by Vincent Simpson – both coming after consecutive Bison turnovers – helped Hampton open a 28-13 lead into a 37-15 rout with 15:59 left. Donte’ Harrison’s two-hand slam put the game well out of reach for Howard at the 12:51 mark.

Matthew Pilgrim added 11 points for the Pirates.

In the first game of the “Classic”, Virginia Union knocked off Bowie State, 76-65, in a matchup of Division II powers from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The Panthers, winners of 20 CIAA Championships and three Division II national titles, got 18 points apiece from brothers Brad and Brandon Byerson. Christian Jackson led the Bulldogs also with 18 points.

Notes

• The Classic included an appearance from BET’s 106 And Park celebrity hosts Rocsi and Terrence J, who hosted a drumline and step show competition between all four schools prior to the games.
• Hampton now leads the all-time series against Howard, 37-27, and are 21-4 since 1995-96.
• The Pirates and Bison meet again in Hampton for the regular season finale on March 6.

MEAC Notebook

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Notebook

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

The season maybe a little over three weeks old, but Howard and North Carolina A&T have already posted some impressive victories against powerhouse teams from the Big East, Ivy League and the Patriot League.

Recently, the Aggies picked up perhaps their biggest win in school history thanks to a breakout night from First Team All-MEAC guard Steven Rush. His career-high 40 points and personal record for three-pointers made (10) helped the Aggies to their best start in 16 seasons with a 96-93 come-from-behind upset of DePaul.

NCAT had to work hard for this one, as the Blue Demons used a 12-4 run to cut into a big deficit late in the contest. Then, Rush took matters into his hands as he converted on a three-pointer, then sealed the win with a pair of free-throws. Teammate Austin Ewing chipped in with 21 points, also a career-best.

As for Howard, they followed up their surprising win at Penn a couple of weeks ago with a victory at home against Navy, thanks to a collective team effort led by Eugene Myatt and Kandi Mukole. They each scored 10 points but keyed a 7-1 run with some critical buckets down the stretch to extend a 49-48 cushion into a 68-62 advantage.

Having shown that they can play with the “big boys”, the remainder of the out-of-conference schedule looks like this for both teams, first with Howard:

12/4 – @ American
12/8 – @ VMI
12/20 – @ Northwestern
12/22 – @ UIC
12/28 – @ St. Mary’s (CA)

Meanwhile, the Aggies will face some stiffer competition to close out December:

12/17 – @ Missouri
12/19 – @ Akron
12/23 – @ Miami (FL)
12/28 – @ Washington State

The contest at American will be the continuation of a long, six-game (and perhaps favorable) road trip for Howard, which begins against MEAC foe Hampton in the second-annual Big Apple Classic at New York’s Madison Square Garden. A win would cap what was nonetheless an impressive start for the Bison, considering they had to overcome the injury bug to a few key reserves early on.

The Aggies could put up a fight against Missouri and Akron, but will undoubtedly need another standout performance from Rush to pull off more upsets.

Maybe beating the likes of Navy, Penn and DePaul won’t give the Bison and Aggies a substantial boost in their RPI. But it will show that, come conference play in January, they would’ve had a great tune-up for what should be a fierce and competitive two months of action in the MEAC.

Florida A&M Loses At UConn

FAMU loses in first-ever meeting with UConn

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

HARTFORD, Conn. – Florida A&M’s first ever tangle with UConn didn’t go the way Rattlers head coach Eugene Harris envisioned.

FAMU got a game-high 18 points from Jermonte Bush, but a sloppy first-half that included offensive miscues and lackluster defense resulted in a 93-54 setback to the Huskies at the Hartford Civic Center.

“They’re a very good basketball team,” said Harris of UConn. “They’re very physical, got good outside shooters and got the seven-foot-three (Hasheem Thabeet) who’s hard to match up with.”

Thabeet wasn’t the only problem the Rattlers faced early on. Instead, the story of this game was the slow start for FAMU. They didn’t score their first points of the game until Oliver Price converted on a putback with 11:47 left in the first half, fell behind by as many as 18, and looked out of sync on a few of their possessions.

UConn used it all to their advantage as Husky guard Jerome Dyson fueled an 11-0 start with a short bucket midway through the half. Each time the Rattlers tried to gain some momentum, the Huskies used both their inside and outside game to keep FAMU off balance.

Jeff Adrien’s dunk with under nine minutes to go in the period increased the host’s lead to 25-7. That came after Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun called a second consecutive 30-second timeout to help keep his troops from losing focus.

That didn’t seem to be an issue for the Huskies, especially in the second half, as consecutive buckets from Adrien and Stanley Robinson extended a 43-15 lead to a 52-21 advantage. Thabeet’s dunk with 14:25 left put UConn in cruise control en route to a tough loss for FAMU.

Adrien and Robinson each scored 16 points for UConn while Dyson added 15. Leslie Robinson contributed eight points in a losing cause for the Rattlers.

Despite the win, Calhoun wasn’t all that impressed with his team’s effort.

“I don’t know if our team’s mood was into it early,” he said. “You get a big lead, you relax a little. That’s human nature. But we did do a better job with our focus in the second half.”

The Rattlers got a scare in the first half as Lamar Twitty had to leave the game at the 12:40 mark with a leg injury. He later returned in the period and finished with seven points.

“He banged his knee a little bit, but he’s okay,” said Harris.

The Rattlers head back to the Sunshine State to open conference play at Bethune-Cookman before traveling to Gainesville to battle the defending national champion Florida Gators.

Harris believes this contest gave his team some much-needed “training” for when they head into January.

“It’ll help us out down the road and get us ready for our conference games,” said Harris. “I have nothing but praise for UConn basketball.”

Howard Gets Big Win At Coach’s Old Home

Myatt’s 36 help Howard stun Ivy League powerhouse Penn

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

PHILADELPHIA – After getting blown out in their first two games of the season by a combined 109 points, Howard’s first win in the opening-round of The Philly Classic couldn’t have come at a better time – or a better place, for that matter.

And for third-year Bison head coach Gil Jackson, the victory couldn’t have been sweeter.

Junior guard Eugene Myatt torched the University of Pennsylvania for 36 points, including 21 in the second half, in an 80-65 shocker by Howard at Philly’s Historic Palestra in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Myatt converted on 13-of-17 shots, including a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc.

But the real story of the evening was Jackson’s triumph over his former team. It was a Homecoming of sorts for the Bison coach, who had a long, successful tenure with the Quakers. Before relocating to the Mid-Atlantic region, Jackson spent 16 years as an assistant at Penn and helped lead them to nine Ivy League titles and nine NCAA Tournament appearances. His impressive resume was enough for Howard to lure Jackson to the nation’s capital to turn around a Bison program that had lost 17 straight games to close out the 2004-05 campaign.

Despite posting losing seasons in Jackson’s first two at the helm, the team has shown they’re moving in a positive direction under his guidance. Sixteen is another number he’s been reminded of for another reason. It happens to be the number of years since Howard last made the NCAA’s, and the private institution based in the heart of DC is hoping Jackson will bring an end to that drought in the coming future.

The Bison struggled miserably in losses to Duquesne and Virginia to start this campaign, but got the offense going against Penn, who got a team-high 17 points from senior guard Brian Grandieri.

Howard led by as many as 11 with under 15 minutes to play in the contest, but the Quakers rallied to trim the deficit to 62-57. Then sophomore forward Kandi Mukole sparked a decisive 11-3 run with a layup and sent Penn to a stunning loss on their homecourt. Freshman guard Kyle Riley contributed to the win with 19 points.

The win may not give Howard quality RPI points, but they and coach Jackson have, arguably, the best out-of-conference victory by a MEAC representative early this season.

Morgan State Opens With Two Good Efforts

Bears show effort in 2K Sports College Hoops Classic

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

Morgan State kicked off their 2007-08 season with a strong performance against Big East powerhouse Connecticut in the first round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic. But Reggie Holmes 18 points weren’t enough as the Huskies avoided the upset with a hard-fought 69-65 win up in Storrs.

UConn’s Jerome Dyson led all scorers with 20 points and got key support from guards Jeff Adrien (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Curtis Kelly (13 points, 9 rebounds). Morgan standout guard Jamar Smith poured in 16 points in a losing effort.

Connecticut led this contest for most of the evening, with the Bears staging a late rally. A bucket from Smith cut the deficit to 66-62 with a little over a minute to play. After Adrien committed a turnover on the Huskies next possession, Morgan’s Marquise Kately missed on a lay-up, allowing Dyson and Doug Williams to seal the win for UConn with three free-throws in the closing seconds.

In the consolation game against Division II Ohio Valley, the Bears got a game-high 21 points from Holmes in a 77-66 win over the Fighting Scots. Kately poured in 15 points and Jerrel Green added 12.

MEAC Preview

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2007-08 Preview

by Michael T. Lyle, Jr.

One of the highs for the Florida A&M Rattlers last season was blitzing through the MEAC Tournament en route to their second conference championship this decade and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. But the lows began with a loss to Niagara in the opening round game of the tourney, followed by the arrest, and later the firing of former head coach Mike Gillespie in May after a woman filed a misdemeanor stalking charge against him. He was replaced in September by Eugene Harris, who held assistant coaching stints at Southeastern schools such as Clemson, Auburn and Alabama.

With the losses of seniors Rome Sanders, Brian Greene and Darius Glover, Harris faces the task of taking over an FAMU squad that placed in the top five in scoring, rebounding and three-pointers made last season. He will have several underclassmen to work with, but will get some support from the return of guard Leslie Robinson, the third-leading scorer on the team.

Aside from the changes, FAMU faces another hurdle. They have to fend off a highly-talented Hampton program if they plan on holding onto their crown in March. The Pirates were recently picked as the preseason’s top team in the conference, and with good reason. They get back All-MEAC First Team guard Rashard West and forward Michael Freeman. West led the conference in scoring (17.8) while Freeman (14.2) was 11th.

The Delaware State Hornets, North Carolina A&T Aggies and Morgan State Bears also have the potential to make some noise this year, as all three boast some stars at the guard position. The Hornets, who were runners-up in the MEAC Tournament and also clinched their third straight regular season title behind the play of conference Preseason Player of the Year, Roy Bright, as well as the Aggies, paced by Steven Rush, and the Bears, with Jamar Smith leading the way, were chosen to finish second, third and fourth, respectively.

Rounding out the conference are Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State, Coppin State, Norfolk State, Howard and Maryland-Eastern Shore. The only notable change out of this group is Tim Carter taking over the head coaching duties at South Carolina State in place of Jamal Brown, who was also relieved for violations of the Title IX law. The rest of the fray look to utilize their bevy of new and returning players to make a run at cutting down the nets in late March at Raleigh’s RBC Center.

The season tips on Wednesday, November 7 with Morgan State traveling up to Storrs, CT to meet national power UConn as part of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic. Eight other teams begin their campaigns on Friday, November 9.

All-MEAC First Team
F: Roy Bright, Delaware State
G. Rashard West, Hampton
G: Tywain McKee, Coppin State
G: Steven Rush, North Carolina A&T
G: Tony Murphy, Norfolk State

All-MEAC Second Team
F: Eugene Myatt, Howard
F: Michael Freeman, Hampton
F: Matt Pilgrim, Hampton
G: Jamar Smith, Morgan
G: Ed Tyson, Maryland-Eastern Shore

Preseason Player of the Year: Roy Bright, Delaware State

Hoopville’s MEAC 2007-08 Predictions

1. Hampton
2. Delaware State
3. North Carolina A&T
4. Morgan State
5. South Carolina State
6. Florida A&M
7. Coppin State
8. Howard
9. Norfolk State
10. Bethune-Cookman
11. Maryland-Eastern Shore

Team Capsules

Hampton Pirates (2006-07: 15-16 overall, 10-8 MEAC, 3rd Place)

Projected Starting Five: Rashard West, G; Michael Freeman, F; Bryan Taylor, G; Matt Pilgrim, F; Vincent Sampson, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/17 – @ Holy Cross
11/29 – @ Virginia Commonwealth
12/1 – vs. Howard (Big Apple Classic in New York)
1/14 – vs. Florida A&M
1/19 – vs. South Carolina State

There’s a buzz going around the MEAC that Hampton could run away with the conference title this season. With a lineup that includes two of the conference’s top scorers in West and Freeman, along with a defense that was among the best in the conference, the Pirates received the maximum amount of votes to garner the league’s top spot. The highlight of their schedule will be their early December battle against long-time rival Howard in the second-annual Big Apple Classic in New York. The season gets underway against Tulsa in the CBE Classic on November 11 at College Park, MD.

Delaware State Hornets (2006-07: 21-12 overall, 16-2 MEAC, 1st Place)

Projected Starting Five: Roy Bright, G; Kyle Ingram, G; Joe Dickens, F; Donald Johnson, G; Jerel Chavis, G.

Schedule Highlights:
11/13 – vs. Ohio State OR Wisconsin-Green Bay (NIT Season Tip-Off)
12/17 – @ Southern California
12/28 – @ Xavier
2/4 – @ Morgan State
2/25 – vs. Florida A&M

Despite finishing atop the MEAC standings for the third straight year, the Hornets couldn’t make it pay off in the conference tournament championship, as an FAMU buzzer-beater sent Delaware State to a stunning two-point loss and ended what was nonetheless a strong 2006-07 season. The Hornets now look to bounce back with Preseason Player of the Year Roy Bright leading the way. He, along with head coach Greg Jackson, will have their hands full with a convoy of incoming recruits and second-year talent. Their quest back to the MEAC championship game gets going in their own Hornet Roundball Classic, November 9 against Allen University.

North Carolina A&T Aggies (2006-07: 15-17 overall, 10-8 MEAC, 4th Place)

Projected Starting Five: Steven Rush, G; Glenn Nelson, G; Austin Ewing, G; Jason Wills, Trahern Chaplin, F

Schedule Highlights:
11/10 – @ Pittsburgh
11/27 – @ Tennessee
1/26 – vs. Winston-Salem State
1/28 – vs. South Carolina State
2/4 – vs. Hampton

“Senior Leadership” is the theme this season for the Aggies. Their projected starting five consists of seniors, led by All-MEAC First Team selection Steven Rush. He’ll mix it up with guards Nelson, Ewing and Wills, and will get some great support from forward Trahern Chaplin. The early portion of NCAT’s schedule sees them traveling to Pittsburgh and to SEC powerhouse Tennessee. The Aggies were chosen to finish third in the conference, but given the experience they boast at almost every position, don’t be surprised if we see this team in the final of the tournament championship.

Morgan State Bears (2006-07: 13-18 overall, 10-8 MEAC, 6th Place)

Projected Starting Five: Jermaine Bolden, G; Jamar Smith, G; Jerrel Green, G; Emmanuel Hightower, G; Marquise Kately F

Schedule Highlights:
11/7 – @ UConn
12/1 – vs. Coppin State
12/6 – @ Maryland
1/5 – @ Seton Hall
2/23 – vs. Howard

One of five schools that finished tied for third in the conference, Morgan State was picked to finish fourth this year, and with the addition of JuCo transfer and Baltimore native Jermaine Bolden, Morgan could be the MEAC’s biggest surprise before the end of March. Coach Todd Bozeman has spoken highly of Bolden, and his experience at the guard position will be a great fit in a lineup that includes Smith, Green, Hightower and Kately. A good early test will come for the Bears on November 7 when they meet UConn in Storrs.

South Carolina State Bulldogs (2006-07: 13-17 overall, 10-8 MEAC, 5th Place)

Projected Starting Five: Jason Johnson, F/C; Jessie Burton, G; Derrick Davis, G; David Cobb, F; Julius Carter, F/C

Schedule Highlights:
11/9 – @ South Carolina
11/20 – @ North Carolina
12/15 – @ North Carolina State
2/25 – vs. North Carolina A&T
3/6 – vs. Winston-Salem State

South Carolina State should prove to be a competitive squad this season as they look to move on without former head coach Jamal Brown. But the Bulldogs will have to quickly adapt to the coaching style of new general Tim Carter if they plan on standing a chance in the conference. SCSU’s offseason was highlighted by the signing of JuCo transfer Jason Johnson, and he will provide the Bulldogs with a good inside presence. Burton, Davis and Cobb give Carter a balanced attack up front, but it’s just a question of how long it will take for the crew to adjust. If they can do so quickly, come conference play the Bulldogs could be one of the better teams in the MEAC.

Florida A&M Rattlers (2006-07: 21-14 overall, 12-6 MEAC, 2nd Place)

Projected Starting Five: Leslie Robinson, G; Jon Mason, G; Akini Atkins, F; Joe Ballard, G; Ernest Maul, G.

Schedule Highlights:
11/26 – @ UConn
12/1 – @ Bethune-Cookman
12/5 – @ Florida
1/28 – vs. Delaware State
2/9 – vs. North Carolina A&T

It’s sure to be a busy season for new FAMU head coach Eugene Harris as he and the rest of his Rattlers look to defend their conference title in the post-Mike Gillespie era. Leslie Robinson’s return will be key and he’ll have a good supporting cast consisting of Mason, Atkins, Ballard and Maul. Perhaps their venture into Storrs against UConn and a matchup in Gainesville with defending national champion Florida could prove to be good early season tests for Harris’ squad? FAMU starts off against Colorado on November 15 at the American Youth Classic in Madison, WI.

Coppin State Eagles (2006-07: 12-20 overall, 9-9 MEAC, 8th Place)

Projected Starting Five: Tywain McKee, PG; Antwan Harrison, SF; Robert Pressley, SF; Mike Miller, SG; Brian Chesnut, PF

Schedule Highlights:
11/27 – @ Hawaii
12/1 – vs. Morgan State
12/10 – @ Ohio State
12/27 – @ Missouri
2/25 – vs. Howard

With a roster consisting of just eight players, Coppin State struggled in their out-of-conference portion last year. This year they face an equally tough schedule as the early part of the season finds the Eagles making trips to powerhouses such as Hawaii, Missouri, Arizona State, Marquette, Dayton, Indiana and NCAA Tournament runner-up Ohio State. Coppin State returns the MEAC’s second-leading scorer in Tywain McKee, as well as Antwan Harrison and Robert Pressey, the latter of whom led the team in rebounding. The Eagles finished with an even record in the conference, and could build on that record if the aforementioned three continue to make strides. The campaign kicks off on November 9 at Delaware State’s Hornet Roundball Classic.

Howard Bison (2006-07: 9-22 overall, 5-13 MEAC, 10th Place)

Projected Starting Five: Eugene Myatt, F; Curtis White, Randy Hampton, F; Jeron Smith, F; Julis Hearn, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/14 – @ Virginia
11/17 – @ Pennsylvania
11/27 – vs. Navy
12/1 – vs. Hampton (Big Apple Classic in New York)
1/26 – vs. Morgan State

Howard is still in the rebuilding process, and they’ll look to improve on a three-win increase as they welcome back key forwards Eugene Myatt and Jeron Smith. Third-year coach Gil Jackson will return to his old stomping grounds on November 17 when he leads the Bison into the City of Brotherly Love against Ivy League power Pennsylvania. Before Howard, Jackson spent 16 years as an assistant at Penn and helped guide the Quakers to nine Ivy League titles and nine NCAA berths. The other notable contest on the schedule is their annual battle with Hampton in New York on the grandest stage of them all, Madison Square Garden. Hampton will be out for revenge, though, as the Bison really took it to the Pirates in the inaugural Big Apple Classic a year ago.

Norfolk State Spartans (2006-07: 11-19 overall, 10-8 MEAC, 7th Place)

Projected Starting Five: Tony Murphy, G; Al’Davon Thomas, G; Tynell Dunkley, F; Calvin Brown, C; Rashid Cann, G.

Schedule Highlights:
11/10 – @ Richmond
11/16 – @ Central Florida
1/7 – vs. North Carolina Central
1/28 – vs. Winston-Salem State
2/2 – vs. Hampton

The Spartans have high hopes this season, and with All-MEAC First Team guard Tony Murphy, the Spartans could shake up the standings early in conference play. Murphy, the team’s leading scorer a year ago, will be backed by guards Thomas and Cann while getting support at the bottom with big men Dunkley and Brown. Matchups at Richmond, Central Florida and at home against Hampton highlight the Spartans’ campaign.

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (2006-07: 9-21 overall, 6-12 MEAC, 9th Place)

Projected Starting Five: John Anderson, F; Jimmy Hudson, G/F; Wade Weeks, F; Josh Cummings, G; Dewayne Pettus G

Schedule Highlights:
11/15 – @ Purdue
12/1 – vs. Florida A&M
12/17 – @ Iowa State (Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic)
1/12 – @ Hampton
1/26 – vs. Delaware State

The Wildcats were one of the cellar dwellers last season and were picked to move up three spots prior to the start of their campaign. It could be a promising year for Bethune-Cookman as they return the majority of their roster and look to mix it up with some young talent. The only major loss for the Wildcats was leading rebounder Ron Mitchell, but Anderson should fill that vacant spot quickly. He’ll have some help from Hudson, who was 20th in the MEAC in scoring. They opened up with an exhibition contest against Lynn on Saturday, November 3 before starting off a week from that day against Warner Southern.

Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks (2006-07: 4-27 overall, 1-17 MEAC, 11th Place)

Projected Starting Five: Ed Tyson, G; Omar Akram, G/F; Brandon Moore, F; Aleksander Popovic, F/C; Danijel Krleski, G

Schedule Highlights:
11/20 – @ Iowa
11/27 – @ West Virginia
12/1 – vs. Delaware State
12/15 – @ Wagner
2/2 – @ Morgan State

Maryland-Eastern Shore is guided by All-MEAC Second Team guard Ed Tyson. He heads a Hawks squad that provides a lot of size in the middle but is lacking in scoring ability. Akram, Moore and Popovic are good supplements to Tyson, but it still stands to be another long season in Princess Anne and for interim head coach Meredith Smith. Early out-of-conference games at Iowa and at Wagner stand out on their schedule.

Conference Outlook

This season promises to be full of both excitement and stiff competition. Many believe Hampton is the front-runner to win it all, and they’ll get a few chances to show the nation why. At press time, the MEAC’s television schedule was not released, but fans can expect to see some of the top teams in the league on the ESPN family of networks in early 2008. The MEAC Tournament takes place at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina from March 10-15, with the winner receiving the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.