The MEAC is a conference that does nothing more than determine which team is the better loser.
The MEAC might be the weakest collegiate basketball conference in the history of college basketball. It’s so unpredictable, virtually any team has the opportunity to be a conference champ. In fact, for the past two seasons, the victor of the MEAC conference had an atrociously losing record.
All MEAC teams have dreadful shooting from beyond the arc, a turnover prone backcourt and an undersized frontcourt.
It’s no wonder that the team taking top honors in preseason polls often finishes at the bottom of the barrel. It’s a wide open race. Even Miss. Cleo doesn’ know this.
If there is any team that has a definite edge in the race to capture a trip to the big dance, it has to be Florida A&M.
In a preseason poll released earlier this week, the Rattlers were nabbed to finish fifth in the conference. Last year the Rattlers played the toughest schedule of any MEAC team, with games at Michigan State and Illinois.
With a strong freshman campaign last year, Jon Mason should help preseason All-MEAC guard Tony Tate solidify a backcourt that can shoot the three ball and get to the basket. However, they must resist the temptation to force passe.
In the previous four seasons, South Carolina State has captured the regular season crown. FAMU has emerged as the conqueror of the conference tournament two of those times.
In a conference where LeBron James’ Alma Mater could emerge as a dynasty, it is uncertain as to who will win.
One thing can be assured; who ever wins the MEAC definitely won’t take the title of a Cinderella team come NCAA Tournament time. Instead, they’ll probably take the title of blind mice. College basketball just doesn’t get worse than this.
Morgan L. McDaniel is a sophomore journalism student from Detroit. He can be reached at famuansports@hotmail.com