Oct. 15, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) revealed their pre-season predicted order of finish and pre-season teams today at the conference's media day held at the Embassy Suites in Winston-Salem, the city that will host the 2009 MEAC Basketball Tournament. For a Hawks team that is rebuilding, it is no surprise that new Head Coach Frankie Allen's squad was predicted 11th.

"It gives us an opportunity to improve and lay a foundation for the future of this program. The pre-season polls don't predict anything, they just give us a place to start and to make ourselves better."

The rankings and teams are voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

The Hawks only return four players from last season and MEAC All-Rookie team member Marc Davis along with senior center Aleksandar Popovic highlight the quartet. The team was 4-28 overall in 2007-08 and 2-14 in the conference. No University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) player was selected to the first or second team.

UMES has seven newcomers, all of which are anxious to prove their worth. "The kids are ready to show what they can do," said Allen. "I think being predicted 11th will help motivate them to try to be better than the prediction."

Morgan State leads the pre-season order of finish, receiving 15 first place votes. Hampton was second, Delaware State third and Norfolk State fourth. Tywain McKee of Coppin State, Jason Johnson of South Carolina State, Marquise Kately of Morgan State, Lamar Twitty of Florida A&M and Corey Lyons of Norfolk State were all selected to the first team. John Holmes of Bethune-Cookman, a native of Salisbury, Md., was also on the first team, tying with Lyons.

The Hawks season gets underway on Friday night at Hawk Hysteria, showcasing the team's first official practice. They open against an opponent on November 4th when they host Swarthmore in an exhibition contest.