If you enjoy high-tempo basketball, you are in the right place. The MEAC led all conferences in tempo last year, while also being the worst in terms of turnovers. This has typically been a top-heavy conference, but last year, the bottom of the league displayed more competitiveness. The overall competitiveness of the league, from top to bottom, is expected to continue this year due to the extensive amount of turnover.
The conference loses all 15 players who made the all-conference team. With change comes uncertainty, which should lead to a wide-open conference race. Home-court advantage has been diluted over the last few years, but in the MEAC, it still matters. According to KenPom, the conference concluded with a 67% home win percentage, ranking second in the country.
Top Three Contenders
Norfolk State
Under coach Robert Jones, the Spartans have dominated this conference. They have four straight 20-plus win seasons and have won the regular season and/or conference title in four of the past five years. To keep that streak going, it will be on the shoulders of a heavy transfer class. From a floor perspective, we know what we are getting from the Spartans, which makes them one of the favorites to win this league again.
Continuity will need some work with five new starters, but the talent level remains high. The backcourt could be one of the best in the conference, led by Elijah Jamison and Anthony McComb III. The outside shooting continues to haunt this team, but what they do on the interior and on the offensive glass is what defines them. With any other coach experiencing this type of turnover, I would be worried, but with Jones, they will be fine.
South Carolina State
Erik Martin has improved the Bulldogs each year and is seeking the first back-to-back 20-win seasons in school history. He effectively utilizes his team depth, finishing in the top 10 in bench minutes, and returns the most production in the MEAC. In a league with so much tempo and offense, the Bulldogs had the best defense, which helped them win a shared MEAC title. Drayton Jones played a significant role in that defense, but he departs, leaving a substantial void on the defensive end.
Offensively, they have a chance to be even better than last year. Adding two dynamic JUCO scorers, Chris Parker and Obie Bronston Jr., gives them versatile scoring and explosiveness. Blending the newcomers with the returning production, the Bulldogs will be tough to beat again this year. Home-court advantage was huge last season, as the Bulldogs suffered only two home losses, including one in conference play. Expect another big leap this year from Martin’s team behind an explosive offense.
North Carolina Central
The Eagles experienced a complete roster turnover, losing a bevy of production. Much like with Norfolk State, I trust coach LaVelle Moton, regardless of the moving pieces. A critical component of Moton’s offense is a pure point guard, so the combination of Dionte Johnson and Ryan Archey is critical. Overall size and defense remain concerns, but the Eagles’ defense is expected to improve significantly once conference play begins.
Moton is a winner. In his 15-year tenure, he has had just three losing seasons, excluding the Covid year, and is coming off the first losing season since 2016. From a conference perspective, the six wins were also the fewest in the Moton era. After the two prior losing seasons, the Eagles won 15 and 25 games. History repeats itself, so do not count out the Eagles this year to be a contender in the MEAC.
Darkhorse Contender
Howard
The return of Bryce Harris is massive. Last year, Harris earned preseason Player of the Year, but his season was cut short due to an injury. With his return, the Bison will have one of the best players on the floor in every conference game. The transfer class does not stand out, but they fill team needs, which is more important.
Coach Kenneth Blakeney relies more on his starters, so the lack of depth is not concerning. Consistency is the real issue. Consistency is key with this group, along with fixing some defensive issues. They shoot 3-pointers well and defend it at a high level, but turnovers and the defense need to improve. With a healthy Harris, the biggest dark horse in the conference resides in Washington, D.C.
