MEAC basketball season preview, predictions

The MEAC marched into Winston-Salem on Oct. 15 for its annual preseason Media Day, bringing plenty of questions along with it.

How will North Carolina A&T, projected to win the women's' championship, rebound from last season's stunning loss to Coppin State in the tournament finals?

How will Morgan State stay on top despite losing the conference's defensive and overall players of the year, as well as its starting point guard from last year's team?

Even Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman seemed a little confused.

"I think we need a recount," Bozeman joked at the podium during the luncheon session.

Despite the aforementioned losses from last season's team which went 22-11 and earned an invitation to the NIT, the Bears appear to be the favorites to win the conference crown in 2009. The Bears will look to Marquis Kately and Reggie Holmes to build on last year and represent the MEAC in the NCAA Tournament.

Kately, a 6-foot-5 forward from Baltimore, finished second in scoring to MEAC Player of the Year Jamar Smith for the Bears last season, averaging 13.1 points and six rebounds per game.

"He's a talented player that can play four positions for us," Boozeman said. Holmes, a shooting guard with a sweet touch, finished third on the team in scoring last season, averaging 12.9 points per game.

On the women's side, North Carolina A&T coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs said she is confident that her team can recover from last season's disappointing finish.

The Aggies ran through MEAC competition with an unblemished record until the regular season finale against Hampton. They were still favored to win the conference tournament but fell just short, losing to Coppin State in the championship game.

"We had a great run," Cage-Bibbs said. "The question now is what are we going to do with this unfinished business?"

The Aggies look to be in good shape, returning all five starters from last year's team.

Last season, Coppin State rallied from a 4-19 start to win 12 of their last 14 games, including the conference championship game against Morgan State. The Eagles return preseason conference player of the year Tywain McKee and not much else.

"Once we get past him [McKee], everything else is questionable," he said.

"It's gonna take a lot from the unknown."

Perhaps the biggest uncertainty surrounding the conference is whether Winston-Salem will help grow the conference's basketball tournament.

The tournament moves to the Twin City after spending the last three years in Raleigh. The tournament will be held at the Lawrence-Joel Coliseum March 9-14.

Bozeman said that he is looking forward to this season's tournament.

"We're excited about having the tournament here in Winston-Salem," he said. We look forward to coming back and having a good time."

2008-09 MEAC Men's Basketball Preseason Prediction?as voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors?( First Place Votes in parenthesis) 1. Morgan State (15) 2. Hampton (2) 3. Delaware State 4. Norfolk State (1) 5. South Carolina State (2) 6. Coppin State (1) 7. Florida A&M 8. North Carolina A&T (1) 9. Howard 10. Bethune-Cookman 11. Maryland E. Shore 2008-09 MEAC Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish As voted on by the leagues Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors (First place votes in parenthesis) School............................................. Points 1. North Carolina A&T (18)............ 468 2. Delaware State............................ 378 3. Morgan State............................... 364 4. Coppin State (2).......................... 316 5. Hampton (1)................................ 291 6. Maryland Eastern Shore (1)........ 283 7. South Carolina State................... 192 8. Florida A&M................................. 196 9. Howard........................................ 92 10. Bethune-Cookman..................... 76 11. Norfolk State.............................. 68