• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Friday, June 9, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

New coaches bring new energy to MEAC league

by Charles Hallman
October 26, 2022
22
SHARES
440
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
MGN

Sports Odds & Ends

All but one of the 16 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men’s and women’s basketball clubs will open their 2022-23 season on November 7. South Carolina State women will open on November 8.

The league announced last Thursday during its virtual media day, attended by the MSR, its preseason best player, 1st-2nd-3rd all-MEAC teams and predicted order of finish for both MBB and WBB, voted by the conference head coaches and sports information directors.

Howard (WBB) and Norfolk State (MBB) are picked to finish first, respectively.

The Howard women’s team made history earlier this year by advancing in the NCAAs for the first time in school history, a four-point victory over Incarnate Word before losing big to eventual champions South Carolina (79-21). HC Tiesha “Ty” Grace, hired in 2015, led HU to its first MEAC Tournament title since 2001. 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Grace was named to the 2022 Achieving Coaching Excellence (ACE) College Basketball Honor Roll as well as the tournament’s most outstanding coach in the inaugural First Four last spring. “The next step will be to win the next [NCAA] game,” admitted Grace. “Once you make it, you want to continue to propel, get to the next step.”

For Jason Crafton it’s about receiving respect from the so-called basketball experts. “Last year we were picked dead last in the country by Sports Illustrated,” said the Maryland Eastern Shore men’s coach, now in his fourth season, “ranking everybody in the country from Gonzaga number one to Maryland Eastern Shore last.” His Hawks this season are picked to finish sixth in the MEAC.

Maryland Eastern Shore WBB Coach Jason Crafton
Courtesy of MES

“Now it’s about making that next step,” he pointed out. “We brought back some good talent.”

Not unlike other all-Black conferences, the MEAC is an afterthought by non-HBCU folk. But don’t tell this to the proud coaches and their fans across the league.

“It’s a testament to the coaches that we have in the league that are bringing in great talent,” continued Crafton. “You get a nice new crop of young coaches that have come in to lead. So, it’s an infusion of new coaches that are bringing some new energy in terms of racing the pedigree of the league.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -

The MEAC is “way better than advertised,” said Ed Davis, Jr., the Morgan State WBB HC. “[The] coaches can coach in this league. The teams are good.”

He pointed out that until the typical basketball folk correctly see the league through non-elitist eyes, especially when NCAA selections are made, he afraid nothing will change “until the MEAC gets someone at the table,” said Davis, “sitting at the table in that room when they’re making the seedings.”

Howard Head Basketball Coaches Ty Grace (left) and Kevin Blakeney
Courtesy of Howard

South Carolina State is picked at the bottom of the conference [men’s] or near the bottom [women’s]. The two Bulldogs squads also have new coaches at the helm this season.

“What we want to do is make sure we build culture,” said WBB Coach Tim Eatman.

MBB Coach Erik Martin added, “I’m just trying to lay down the foundation for my program, and I want to build culture. I want to be someone that no matter who we play, we’re gonna learn to play hard and we’re gonna compete.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“We’re excited for the season,” said Coppin State Men’s Coach Juan Dixon.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Encampment evictions to continue in winter

Next Post

Player talent strong in SWAC league 

Charles Hallman

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

You Might Also Like

Symposium examines issues in college athletics
Gophers/College

Symposium examines issues in college athletics

MEAC
Sports

Calling MEAC Bowling Championship a full-circle for Tiffany Greene  

Black basketball coach of the year honorees for 2022-23
Sports

Black basketball coach of the year honorees for 2022-23

HUD announces $5.5 million award for HBCUs to conduct housing and community development research
National

HUD announces $5.5 million award for HBCUs to conduct housing and community development research

Will the 1982 Cheyney team finally get due recognition?
Gophers/College

Will the 1982 Cheyney team finally get due recognition?

Five college ADs who are shifting the landscape
Sports

Five college ADs who are shifting the landscape

Next Post
Southwestern Athletic Conference

Player talent strong in SWAC league 

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Minneapolis
◉
84°
Fair
5:26 am8:58 pm CDT
SatSunMonTueWed
77/52°F
73/54°F
82/61°F
88/63°F
88/61°F
Weather forecast Minneapolis, Minnesota ▸
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Apr 13
April 13 @ 7:30 pm-June 10 @ 9:00 pm Recurring

Wit by Margaret Edson

Apr 14
April 14 @ 9:00 am-August 12 @ 5:00 pm

Paper Is People: Decolonizing Global Paper Cultures

Jun 9
8:00 am-5:00 pm Recurring

Free Fresh Food Friday

Jun 9
June 9 @ 6:00 pm-June 11 @ 7:00 pm

The SOTA Movement: Minnesota’s Street Dance Festival

View Calendar

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...