Oct. 27, 2016 PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore was picked to finish eighth out of 13 teams in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference preseason poll released Oct. 27. After finishing the 2015-16 season with a 10-22 (7-9 MEAC) record, the staff turned to the junior college ranks for an influx of talent for this season.
Last season's team leaders Dominique Elliott and Devin Martin will be missed, but returning senior Bakari Copeland (Decatur, Georgia) and graduate student Derrico Peck (Atlanta, Georgia) seem poised to take on the leadership role.
Copeland, who averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a game last season, was selected Preseason Second-Team All-MEAC.
Howard senior James Daniel, III was selected MEAC Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, the conference announced today. Howard was predicted to win the regular season title.
The preseason poll and all-conference teams are selected by the conference's head men's basketball coaches and sports information directors.
Daniel, the 2016 MEAC Player of the Year, led the nation in scoring, averaging 27.1 points per game, and ranked first in the nation in free-throws made (280) for the Bison last season. A six-time MEAC Player of the Week, Daniel recorded nine 30-point games, including a career-high 39 points in the win against William & Mary.
Howard earned 13 first-place votes and 286 points to be named as favorites for the regular season title. The Bison were 6-10 in conference play and 12-20 overall last year. Howard opens its season on Nov. 11 in Ann Arbor, Mich. against the University of Michigan.
South Carolina State was predicted to finish second with nine first-place votes and 292 points. The Bulldogs made it to the finals of last year's MEAC Basketball Tournament before falling to Hampton. SCSU recorded a 19-15 overall record and a 12-4 mark in MEAC play.
Joining Daniel on the preseason All-MEAC First Team is teammate Marcel Boyd, South Carolina State's Eric Eaves, Bethune-Cookman's Jordan Potts and North Carolina A&T State's Sam Hunt.
The 2016-17 men ' s basketball season tips off on Friday, Nov. 11 when the Hawks travel to George Washington .
2016-17 MEAC Men's Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the MEAC's head men's basketball coaches and sports information directors.
Team (First Place Votes) -Points
- Howard (14) - 299
- South Carolina State (9) - 292
- Hampton (2) - 250
- North Carolina Central - 234
- Norfolk State - 203
- Bethune-Cookman - 182
- North Carolina A&T State - 141
- Maryland Eastern Shore - 140
- Morgan State - 136
- Coppin State - 123
- Savannah State - 121
- Delaware State - 104
- Florida A&M - 50
2016-17 MEAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MEAC Teams
As voted on by the MEAC's head men's basketball coaches and sports information directors.
Preseason Player of the Year: James Daniel, III, Howard
First Team
Name | School | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown |
James Daniel, III | Howard | G/F | 6-0 | 175 | Sr. | Hampton, Va. |
Eric Eaves | South Carolina State | G | 6-3 | 195 | Sr. | Columbia, S.C. |
Jordan Potts | Bethune-Cookman | G | 5-10 | 185 | r-Sr. | Columbus, Ohio |
Sam Hunt | North Carolina A&T | G | 6-2 | 175 | r-Jr. | Greensboro, N.C. |
Marcel Boyd | Howard | G | 6-10 | 230 | Sr. | Accokeek, Md. |
Second Team
Name | School | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown |
Patrick Cole | North Carolina Central | G | 6-5 | 210 | r-Sr. | Newark, N.J |
Edward Stephens | South Carolina State | G | 6-2 | 185 | Jr. | Columbia, S.C. |
Phillip Carr | Morgan State | F | 6-8 | 200 | Jr. | Brooklyn, N.Y. |
Devin Morgan | Delaware State | G | 5-10 | 180 | So. | Chester, Va. |
Bakari Copeland | Maryland Eastern Shore | F | 6-6 | 235 | Sr. | Decatur, Ga. |
Third Team
Name | School | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown |
Troyce Manassa | Savannah State | G | 6-4 | 215 | Sr. | Mobile, Ala. |
Terry Harris, Jr. | Coppin State | F | 6-8 | 205 | Sr. | Baltimore, Md. |
Jordan Butler | Norfolk State | F | 6-6 | 240 | Jr. | Hartford, Conn. |
DeAndre Haywood | Delaware State | G | 6-2 | 200 | Sr. | Paterson, N.J. |
Damon Collins | Howard | G/F | 6-5 | 180 | Sr. | Grand Prairie, Texas |
