MEAC Releases 2015-16 Men’s Basketball Preseason Honors, NCCU Picked To Win Conference

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State senior guard Jeff Short was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men’s basketball Preseason Player of the Year, the conference announced today.

The two-time defending regular season champion North Carolina Central Eagles were picked to win the 2015-16 MEAC regular season title.

All awards are voted on by the conference’s head men’s basketball coaches and sports information directors.

Short finished second in the MEAC in scoring last year averaging 19.1 points in 34 games, 29^th in the nation.  He was one of two NSU players to compete in all 34 games and started in 33.  He was named to the MEAC first team a year ago and was selected to the second-team Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-State Association.  He also earned MEAC Player of the Week once last year. Short scored in double digits 14 times last year and recorded one double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds against Morgan State (Feb. 14).  In his first year with the Spartans, Short totaled 648 points 142 rebounds, 66 assists, 32 steals and 14 blocks.

For the second year in a row North Carolina Central was selected to finish first in the conference’s preseason poll. The Eagles received 14 first-place votes and totaled 316 points to be named as favorites to start the season.  The Eagles finished 16-0 in conference play and 25-8 overall last year.  NCCU ranked in the top five in many MEAC categories, including scoring defense (55.2 avg/g), scoring margin (+13.8), field goal percentage (.487), field goal percentage defense (.360 pct.), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.282 pct.), rebounding defense (30.1 avg/g), assists (14.0 avg/g), assist/turnover ratio (1.1), and defensive rebounding percentage (.703 pct.). The Eagles welcome back eight returnees and one starter.

Hampton was predicted to finish second with 297 total points.  The Pirates finished as tournament champions with an 8-8 conference mark and 17-18 overall finish.  Norfolk State was selected to finish third, while Maryland Eastern Shore received fourth place.  Howard was selected to finish fifth with North Carolina A&T State at sixth place.  Morgan State (7^th), S.C. State (8^th), Delaware State (9^th), Bethune-Cookman (10^th), Coppin State (11^th), Savannah State (12^th), and Florida A&M (13^th) round out the 2015-16 preseason poll.

Joining Short on the preseason All-MEAC First Team are James Daniel (Howard), Quinton Chievous (Hampton), Bruce Beckford (N.C. A&T State), Dominique Elliott (Maryland E. Shore).

The 2015-16 MEAC men’s basketball regular season tips off Friday, November 13 with 11 teams in non-conference action.

The 2015-16 MEAC Basketball Tournament is slated for March 7-12 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.

2015 MEAC Men’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish

As voted on by the Conference’s Head Men’s Basketball Coaches and Sports Information Directors

1. North Carolina Central (14)                   316 points
2. Hampton (9)                                         297 points
3. Norfolk State                                        283 points
4. Maryland Eastern Shore                    249 points
5. Howard (1)                                           235 points
6. North Carolina A&T State                    163 points
7. Morgan State                                        159 points
8. S.C. State (1)                                        144 points
9. Delaware State                                      138 points
10. Bethune-Cookman                                135 points
11. Coppin State (1)                                   113 points
12. Savannah State                                     103 points
13. Florida A&M                                        31 points

2015-16 Men’s Basketball Preseason All-MEAC Teams

As voted on by the Conference’s Head Men’s Basketball Coaches and Sports Information Directors

Preseason Player of the Year: Jeff Short, Norfolk State University

First Team

Second Team

Third Team

Courtesy: MEAC