MEAC ROUNDBALL
s on top, but
pursue
Coppin State has the talent, but they also pos
sess sufficient team savvy to win their second
straight regular season and tournament champi
onships. But it won't be a Sunday stroll in the park.
South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T
are steady on the case in the title chase. And don't
overlook Florid* A&M, a team that on a given night
could wind up wearing the MEAC's glass slipper.
Delaware State has been riding a pendulum of ups
and downs, but could also throw a wrench in the
predicted final outcome.
The rest of the cast ? Morgan State, Bethune
Cookman, Maryland-Eastern Shore and Howard
University are very likely to be bystanders who will
watch the league tournament's semi-finals and final
rounds from the stands. Here's a look at how the
teams shape up coming down the home stretch of
this season.
Coppin State has owned the league like a
prized possession, winning 10 of 11 MEAC games.
The Eagles don't have a lot of depth, but they gel
. the maximum out of their top seven people.
The Eagles are prime choices because of Reg
gie Isaac and Larry Stewart, a deadly inside-outside
offensive combo that destroys and dominates. Isaac
(24.9 ppg) keeps defenses honest with his outside
bombs as the circuit's top scorer, while Stewart
(23.5 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 61.9 percent field goal shoot
ing) handles much of the work inside the paint.
As a team* Coppin has succeeded because of
an all-encompassing defense. The Eagles are the
conference leaders in scoring defense (69.1 ppg)
and field goal percentage defense (.416).
South Carolina State's defensive maneuvers
__ have, put them hack into the upper echelon of the
MEAC. State has been especially stiff at the defen
sive end, holding opponents to 76.1 ppg and 44.8
percent field goal shooting.
The Bulldogs have also benefitted as the cir
cuit's top rebounding bunch with 42.6 a game, out
boarding foes by a +5.3.
Travis Williams is the main weapon with 21.3
points and 123 rebounds per game. Williams' part
ners in crime include Chris Felix (13.9 ppg, -^2
rpg), Jackie Robinson (6.5 rpg) and poini guard
Curtis Faust(6apg).
State will have to get more consistency out of
its offense if they are to knock the Eagles out of
their comfortable nest at the top of MEAC moun
taimop.
Folks arowxj the league have been prophetiz
ing thai North Carolina A&T will return to the
top spot this year.
The way things have transpired, there's reason
to believe that observers are correct in that assess
ment
The Aggies hSve started to produce the right
mix of floor balance that could pave the way to a
championship. Glenn Taggart and Dana Elliot are
the prime perpetrators offensively. Taggart is the top
guy at 20.1 ppg, 5.4 apg 5.2 rpg, while Elliot con
tributes 18.5 points and 7.2 boards a night. Jim
Humphries, Colin Spady, and Wayne Morris are a
tough bunch on the glass, further bolstering the
Aggies attack. Defensively, Humphries has been
denial -conscious as the league's premier shot block
er (47 uH8 games).* "
Whether or not A&T makes that final step will
depend on how much they can maintain the consis
tency level they've found over the final three weeks
of the regular season. .
This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for
Florida A&M. But guess what? Hie Rattlers are in
position to contend for another tournament title.
As usual, A&M's defense has been a major
factor for them. The Rattlers are ranked among the
best defensive teams in the MEAC, holding oppo
nents to 79.4 ppg.
Perhaps the most pleasant surprise for the Rat
tlers has been the development of point guard
Kenny Davis, who has emerged from the shadows
as a prime-time floor leadet Davis leads the league
in assists (6.2 a game) and is second in free throw
percentage (.851),In the process, he scores 15.8 ppg
and averages 2.4 steals a game.
Offensively, the Rattlers struggled during the .
early pan of the season. That was because they were
missing Reggie Finney (14.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and
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Delon Turner (14.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg), who became eligi
ble last month after sitting out the first half of the
season. In the meantime, Kelvin Daniels (16.8 ppg,
6.2 rpg) had to take up the slack in their absence
and he has come through.
With this group back in tact, A&M should be
back on the right track to create some problems for
all foes by the time the league tournament convenes
in Norfolk, Va. later this month.
When it comes to offense, there is no team
better than Delaware State. The Hornets are the top
scoring (87.9 ppg) and shooting squad (48.3 percent
shooting from the field) in the conference.
Those facts are hardly surprises when you
consider that two guys with the same last names
who arc not related, ply their trades for DSC.
Tom Davis draws a lot of attention whenever
he goes on the floor. The power forward contributes
23.7 ppg, 11.9 rpg and shoots 53.7 percent from the
floor. Emmanual Davis is just as valuable in the
backcouit Emmanual tallies 20.2 ppg, 5.4 apg and
leads the league in steals with 3.1 a game.
, The. Hornets sufferedduring his two-game
absence because of an injury.
Come tournament time, Dei State will have to
tighten up its defense in order to win. Not because .
they are subject to being shut down offensively, but
because teams will slow the pace of the game,
which wOl reduce the number of possessions that
the Hornets have during a game.
Morgan Slate has had its share of woes on
the court this season, but Glenn Smith has contribut
ed in a big way with 16.4 ppg. Bethune-Cookman
always manages to play the opposition tough, but
wins have been hard to come by. Cliff Reed is their
ace offensive player at 20.5 ppg and Ambrose
Austin is the league's top foul shooter (88.2 per
cent). Reggie Cunningham (7.2 rpg) and Chris
Carter (4.4 apg) are the Wildcats* other top players.
Maryland-Eastern Shore has avoided the cellar
but not by much. Darrick Powell is their most con
sistent guy at 12.1 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. ?
Leland Kent contributes 6.8 rpg. Howard Universi
ty has taken its share of lumps under Butch Beard,
lilTs first-year coach. Tyrone Powell is their top
guy (12.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Kelsey Sturdivant (6.5
rpg) is proving that he'll be an added factor as he
gets more playing experience.
- Lonnie Sheldon
Photo by Ma*. Dunhilt
Rattlers point man Kenny Davis leads the league in assists (6.2 a game)
and steals (2.4 a game) while averaging 15.8 ppg. .......