Opponents of Morgan State's men's basketball team be warned.
Following a down year which saw them finish fourth in the MEAC last season after winning three regular season and two conference tournament titles the previous the previous three seasons, the Bears are poised to bounce back.
"This is probably the most talented team we've had op to bottom since we've been here,'' says Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman, who in four seasons has transformed the Bears from a doormat to dominance in the MEAC.
The Bears, picked by MEAC coaches and sports information directors to win the title, have good mix and youth experience. Seniors Kevin Thompson, a 6-9 post man, DeWayne Jackson, a 6-8 wing player, Larry Bastfield, a 5-11 point guard, Ameer Ali, a 6-4 forward, and Aric Brooks, a 6-6 swingman provide the experience. Thompson, the Bears top scorer and rebounder last season, and Jackson were both chosen to the preseason All-MEAC team. Ali has been the Bears' most improved player in informal workouts after losing 35 pounds over the summer.
Junior college transfers Anthony Hubbard and Thair Heath and freshmen Shaquille Duncan, Jeremy Canty, Jmmmy Hamilton and Blake Bozeman, the coach's son, are freshmen who could contribute. Duncan and Heath, both 6-9, will give the Bears' inside game a boost. Hubbard is a versatile perimeter scorer, and Canty should give the Bears the outside shooter they lacked last season.
"A lot of times coaches have a problem with being picked to win,'' Bozeman says. "Preseason predictions mean nothing. It's an indication of what people think of your program. When your goal is to win the league and others think you can, it's not a problem. It's a sign of respect. It's no problem at all, but it really means nothing.''
Hampton's quest to add the 2011-12 regular season championship to its 2011 conference tournament crown took a severe hit when senior guard Kwame Morgan suffered a broken leg over the summer that will sideline him for the season.
Morgan averaged16.1 points and scored in double figures 26 times. He led the MEAC and was eighth in the country with 100 three-pointers, the second-most in school history. He has had two surgeries since injuring his leg.
"That's a severe blow for us,'' Coach Steve Joyner Jr. says. "But we're not going to cry over it. We've got a lot of kids who can begin to step and do the things we need them to do.''
Morgan's loss leaves his All-MEAC backcourt partner and MEAC Tournament Outstanding Player Darrion Pellum to shoulder more of the scoring load. Pellum averaged a team-high 17.5 points, second-best in the MEAC.
Even without Morgan, the Pirates have more depth than they did a year ago when five team members played at least 35 minutes a game. Orin Bryant, a 6-10 forward who sat out last season, and newcomers David Bruce, Emmanuel Okoroba and Jasper Williams will help the Pirates off the bench.
After suffering through just his third losing record in conference play, Ron "Fang'' Mitchell, the dean of MEAC coaches with 25 seasons at Coppin State, is gearing up for Eagles to make another run at the championship. Mitchell has three starters and nine lettermen returning from the squad that led the MEAC in scoring. Michael Harper (15.2), Akeem Ellis (12.2), Tony Gallo (11.2) and Jordan Lee (10.4) all averaged double figures and are back and ready to shoot.
Mitchell hopes the Eagles will improve defensively, and he is counting on Antonio Williams, their leading rebounder with 6.7 a game, to provide inside toughness. Logan Weems, at 6-7, gives the Eagles bulk inside, and 6-9 Osmon Olol.
Norfolk State is well-positioned to move up in the standings and improve on its sixth place finish of a year ago. The Spartans are led by preseason MEAC Player of the Year Kyle O'Quinn, but they won't be a one-man band.
O'Quinn, a 6-10 post player who was fourth in the nation in blocked shots (3.4 a game and single season school record 110) and fifth in rebounding (11.1 a game), will get plenty of help from guard and swingmen Rodney McCauley, the only other returning starter, and Chris McKeechum.
Much of the Spartans' success will depend on contributions from newcomers, guards Jamel Fuentes, Quasim Pugh and Winston Graham, forwards Robert Johnson and A.J. Rogers and swingman Kievyn Lila-St.Rose. Graham and Johnson are expected to be eligible after the fall semester.
North Carolina Central enters its first season back in the MEAC confident that it will do well. The Eagles, a charter member of the MEAC before returning to the CIAA, has reason to be confident after posting a 10-5 record against MEAC foes last season.
"We got a glimpse of what the culture would be like,'' Coach LeVelle Moton says, assessing the Eagles' success against MEAC teams.
Moton has augmented his roster with a pair of big-time transfers, Kansas State forward Dominique Sutton and Oklahoma swingman Ray Willis. Former University of Georgia guard Ebuka Anyaorah and forward
DaVron Williams are two other newcomers who figure prominently in the Eagles' plans.
The newcomers join starters Landon Clement, Justin Leemow and Nick Chasten. Clement is a senior three-point specialist who averaged 18.7 points a game and became the firs player in school history to make more than 100 3-pointers in a season. He was 109-for-268 from behind the three-point line (40.7%).
With a solid nucleus of returning players and impressive recruiting class, Delaware State has reason for optimism about rebounding from its disappointing 9-21 record of a year ago. The Hornets return their backcourt tandem of Jay Threatt , the 2011 MEAC assists leader and Casey Walker, the 2011 MEAC Rookie of the Year. Both were named preseason All-MEAC. Marques Oliver, another starter is back also. In addition guard Brandon Oliver and forward James Marcellus return after sitting out last season.
The Hornets' recruiting class consists of freshmen Tyshawn Bell, a three-point specialist, Kendall Gray, a 6-10 center, 6-4 guard Tahj Tate and 6-7. 240-pound forward Kasim, Abdulwali, all of whom are expected to contribute.
Even though North Carolina A&T returns four starters, the Aggies will have a new identity this season. That is because they will be without All-MEAC center Thomas Coleman, who exhausted his eligibility. Coleman was the Aggies' leading scorer and rebounder. Coach Jerry Eaves will rely on a number of players to make up for Coleman's production.
Guard Nic Simpson (13.3 points) is the leading returning scorer and will be asked to step up his offense. Guard Marc Hill (10.8 points) is the only other returning double figures scorer.
Eaves would also like for the Aggies' new identity to include tougher defense a faster tempo on offense.
Newcomers expected to produce include swingman Anthony Estes and forward Waylan Silvrand, a pair of 6-7 freshmen, and transfers Kam Shepherd, a 6-9 center, and Jordan Herrera, a 6-7 swingman.
Bethune Cookman, is in a rebuilding mode after suffering heavy losses from the squad that won the regular season title last year. Gravelle Craig has replaced Cliff Reid as coach; point guard C.J. Reid, the 2011 MEAC Player of the Year, has transferred, and the Wildcats also lost second-team All-MEAC forward Alex Starling.
The Wildcats, who will have six newcomers on their roster, do have an experienced core to build around in starters Garrius Holloman, their second leading scorer (11.5 points) and rebounder (6.6), Stanley Elliott and Javoris Bryant. Three-point specialist Kevin Duke and Mikel Trapp were key contributors who return.
Anthony Breeze, a 6-5 guard who transferred from Appalachian State a graduate student, junior college transfers Alex Smith and David Baroum are newcomers who are being counted on. Size will be an issue for the Wildcats. Bell, who is 6-8, is their tallest player.
Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry has new look squad with 10 new players on the Bison's roster, with most them coming from the Washington, D.C., area. Look for the Bison to be more athletic, stronger, faster and tougher than in the past.
The Bison's newcomers freshmen Brandon Ford, a 6-4 guard; Brandon Bailey, a 6-6 small forward, Oliver Ellison, a 6-8 power forward, and 6-0 point guard Simuel Frazier. Transfers Glen Andrews, a 6-2 guard who played at Tulsa, and Trey Lee, a 6-4 guard who played at Coastal Carolina, will be eligible to play in January.
They join returnees Mike Phillips, the leading scorer at 12.9 points a game, Anton Dickerson, David Collins and 6-10 center Alphonso Leary, a sophomore, who has bulked up and will provide a presence in the middle. Dickerson is expected to have a big shooting after averaging 11.4 points. Point guard Calvin Thompson also returns a sitting out most of last season with an injury.
South Carolina State took a step backwards last season, posting a 10-22 record after back-to-back winning years. The prospects for a turnaround are good with three starters and three reserves returning.
Coach Tim Carter has his starting backcourt of Brandon Riley (9.4 points) and Khalif Toombs (7.0 points) and forward Omar Sanders (7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds) to build around. Forward Presano Bell will have an expanded role after averaging 7.0 points and 4.2 points and leading the team with 45 blocks coming off the bench. Forward Joe Ikhinmwin and guard Shaquil Barberblocks are reserves likely to see more playing time as well.
Aaron Martin, a 6-5 swingman from St. Petersburg (Fla.) Community College, and 6-10 center Dominique Youmans from Snow (Utah) College are the Bulldogs' top recruits.
Savannah State doesn't figure to be a conference patsy in its first season of eligibility for the MEAC championship. The Tigers return starters Preston Blackmon, their second leading scorer a year ago with 12.5 points a game, and Josh Montgomery, who averaged 10.0 points. They will also have junior forwards Arnold Louis Rashad Hassan back in the lineup. Both redshirted last season to save a year of eligibility so they will have two years to compete in the MEAC.
Coach Horace Broadnax says Louis and Arnold developed more strength and maturity and are more explosive than we they last played.
"They will be the cornerstones,'' Coach Broadnax says. "if we're successful, they will be the reasons. They're going to push us to the next level, or they're going to push me over a cliff. Hopefully there will be no game rust.''
Broadnax also signed a pair junior college transfer guards, who should complement Hassan and Louis. Derrick Randolph was the top junior college three-point shooter last season, and Patrick Hendley, at 6-4, will give the Tigers size in the backcourt.
Optimism is in the air at Maryland Eastern Shore despite the Hawks' 9-22 record last season. With three starters - Hillary Haley, Tyler Hines and Mark Robertson - returning and solid recruiting class, the Hawks have reason to expect better days.
Haley was the Hawks' leading scorer with 16.8 points a game; Hines averaged a team-high 7.5 rebounds and 8.7 points; Robertson gave the Hawks a defensive presence
Coach Frankie Allen went after size in his recruiting class. He landed 6-11 Olatunji Kosile from Northwest Florida State Community College and 6-9 Pina Guillaume from Blinn Community College; 6-9 Ron Spencer, who sat out last season after transferring from Tennessee-Martin, gives the Hawks a mammoth frontline.
Clemon Johnson won an NBA championship as a player with the Philadelphia 76ers, and he hopes to coach Florida A&M, his alma mater, to a title as well. Johnson, in his first-year with the Rattlers after coaching Division II Alaska-Fairbanks, has five seniors back from the squad that was 12-20 a year ago. He focused his recruiting efforts on bringing in players with size to help 6-8 senior forward Yannick Crowder, who was the Rattlers' only inside presence last season.
A former post player himself, Johnson signed junior college transfers Markee Teal, Jeffrey Neal, and Jeremy Dean, all of whom are at least 6-6. Nathaniel Drayton, a 6-7 forward who sat out last season with an injury, is also being counted on to contribute on the interior.
Amin Stevens, a 6-6 small forward who was selected to the preseason All-MEAC team, will be called on to score more on the perimeter.
"I'm not looking at this as a rebuilding season,'' says Johnson, who will have five seniors on hand. "I'm looking at it as a continuation what was started last year.