WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Hampton University men's basketball team was selected to finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) on Wednesday during the conference's preseason press luncheon in the Embassy Suites Hotel, while two Pirates earned Preseason Second Team honors.
Last season's regular-season champion Morgan State was selected to win the MEAC crown by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The Bears received 15 of a possible 17 first-place votes.
Juniors Michael Freeman and Vincent Simpson were each selected to the preseason second team. Freeman (Alexandria, Va.) was third on the team last season with 7.7 points per game, while also pulling in 4.9 rebounds a contest.
Simpson (Philadelphia, Pa.) was second on the team with an average of 11.1 points per game, to go along with 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists a contest.
Coppin State's Tywain McKee was selected the Preseason MEAC Player of the Year.
The Pirates will begin the 2008-09 season on the road, Nov. 14 against Iona. Their first home game will be against George Mason on Nov. 20.
For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at
www.hamptonpirates.com.
2008-09 MEAC Men's Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
First-place votes in parentheses
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-Eastern Shore
2008-09 Preseason All-MEAC Team
Player of the Year: Tywain McKee, Coppin State
First Team
Tywain McKee, Coppin State
Jason Johnson, South Carolina State
Marquise Kately, Morgan State
Lamar Twitty, Florida A&M
Corey Lyons*, Norfolk State
John Holmes*, Bethune-Cookman
*indicates tie
Second Team
Michael Deloach, Norfolk State
Reggie Holmes, Morgan State
Michael Freeman, Hampton
Eugene Myatt, Howard
Vincent Simpson, Hampton