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Tuesday, November 7
Mid-Eastern Conference Breakdown

ESPN.com

HOW THEY'LL STACK UP

SOUTH CAROLINA ST.: Coaching gives Bulldogs edge ...

HAMPTON: ... but Pirates have talent to overtake champs.

COPPIN STATE: Too many key losses to keep up with duo above.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T: Jenkins gives Aggies respect every night.

MORGAN STATE: Will be most-improved team after 5-24 campaign.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN: Continues to climb ladder of respectability.

FLORIDA A&M: Pair of 6-10 sophs make Rattlers tallest MEAC team.

NORFOLK STATE: Can't underestimate the loss of Damian Woolfolk.

MARYLAND-EASTERN SHORE: Not to be confused with No. 5 Terps.

DELAWARE STATE: Greg Jackson won at D-II, will do so here in time.

HOWARD: Will win more than once, but not much more.

Tuesday, Nov. 7
Cy Alexander should be looked at as the next coach out of a low major conference to make a jump. But someone needs to give him a shot. All he keeps doing is getting South Carolina State into the NCAA Tournament. Having Whitt around means he could be in the field again.

The Bulldogs beat Clemson last year and could pull off another upset with a schedule that includes a number of marquee non-conference games.

Hampton and Coppin State have the best shots to unseat the Bulldogs, but the berth still goes through the Bulldogs.

ESPN.com All-MEAC

Guard: Marsilles Brown
Senior, 5-10, Hampton

Guard: Vincent Whitt
Senior, 6-6, South Carolina State

Forward: Curtis King,
Junior, 6-7, Morgan State

Forward: Bruce Jenkins
Junior, 6-6, North Carolina A&T

Forward: Travis Williams
Senior, 6-9, Hampton

Player of Year ...
Vincent Whitt, G, South Carolina State
The Bulldogs welcome former Clemson shooting guard Whitt to the lineup after trying to stop him in practice all last season. They couldn't and we don't expect the MEAC to do so either. The 6-6 senior can jump through the gym.

Introducing ...
Anton Jenifer, G, Morgan State
This is Jenifer's third stop, having played at two JCs before finding his way to the Bears. But two years ago at Baltimore Community College, he averaged 44 points, which led the nation's juco players. Last year, the 6-foot dynamo only tallied 26.9 a night at Catonsville (Md.) Community College -- again leading the nation's juco set.

Best backcourt ...
Hampton: Marseilles Brown and Tommy Adams. Brown was a former Colonial rookie of the year playing for Richmond, but scored his 16 points a night for the Pirates last season. The 5-10 point guard also dropped 5.5 dimes a night, giving Adams more room to score. Adams (11.7 ppg.) was the starting point until Brown came aboard, and as a result both guards can distribute the ball to each other or a loaded frontline.

Best frontcourt ...
Hampton: Tarvis Williams, LaSean Howard and Arthimus Howard. The center spot is solid with the 6-9 senior Williams, who averaged 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds last year. LeSean Howard will put his 6-6 frame outside at times, but knows how to score no matter where he plays. Hampton is his third stop, starting at Syracuse and then transferring to Long Beach State and now Hampton. Arthimus Howard is the third senior up front, giving the Pirates plenty of experience and confusion in the scorebook.

Team on way up ...
Hampton: After tying for second last year, the Pirates appear to be the new power in the MEAC with plenty of depth and talent -- a potent combination at this level.

Team on way down ...
Bethune-Cookman: Losing Freddie Cole and Tyris Livas will be tough to overcome. It's a year of transition for the Wildcats.

Tournament tough ...
NCAA: Hampton.

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