LET THERE BE HOOPS!
20 HBCU teams help kickoff NCAA Basketball Season
MEN'S SCHEDULE
Mount St. Mary’s at Morgan State (PK), 12:00 EST - (Online- MorganStateBears.com)
MASSEY PR EDICTION: MSM 69, Morgan St 67 (55% win probability for Mt. St Mary’s)
Series History: Morgan St ate 2-0. Last won 11-25-2018, 78-68
MORGAN ST (15-16 LY, -0.5 scoring margin avg) - The Bears were 9-7 in the MEAC last year under Coach Kevin Broadus first season. Four of the team’s top five scorers from a season ago are back, and they’ll be joined by a pair of transfers in Jacksonville State Junior guard De’Torrion Ware and Cincinnati 6-foot-5 defensive stopper Trevor Moore. Senior, Forward, Troy Baxter Jr. is the leading returning scorer. Baxter came in from Florida Gulf Coast last season and made his presence felt with 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. (source: VSIN)
PVAMU at Arkansas-Little Rock (-11.5), 1:00 EST - ESPN3
MASSEY PREDICTION: ALR 74, PVAMU 69 - at Louisville, KY - Wade Houston Tipoff Classic (76% win probability for ALR)
Series History: ALR 5-0, Last game 12-19-2002 (76-65 ALR)
PRAIRIE VIEW (19-13 LY, +3.6 scoring margin avg) - Coach Byron Smith enters his 6th season, after leading the Panthers to their 2 nd regular season SWAC championships. Prairie View also has a 27-game home winning streak, which is the longest in the nation. The Panthers lost their top 5 scorers from last year. Prairie View does not return a player who made at least 28% of his 3-point shots last season, magnifying the addition of former Nebraska starting point guard Cam Mack, who had 12 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game while hitting 33.9% of his 3-point shots. (source: VSIN)
Appalachian State at SC State (+13.5 ), 2:00 EST
MASSEY PREDICTION: App State 74, SC State 66 (76% win probability for App State)
Series History: App State 2-0, Last game 2-6-1980 (70-61 App State)
SC STATE (11-18 LY, -5 scoring margin average) - Head coach Murray Garvin enters his 8th season with one of the youngest teams in the MEAC. Junior guard Tariq Simmons will be counted on to generate some offense with the Bulldogs’ top four players in points and rebounds having departed. Juco transfer Majok Madol, a 6-foot-10 forward, should provide some size inside after averaging 11 points and eight rebounds while shooting 70% from the floor on the lower level. The Bulldogs hope another juco transfer, guard Brandynn Manning, can come close to duplicating his 51 percent 3-point shooting from last season. (source: VSIN
North Carolina A&T State at No.8 Illinois (-26.5, 146.5 ), 2:00 EST - BTN (BigTen Network)
MASSEY PREDICTION: Illini 82, NCAT 59 (97% win probability for Illinois)
Series History: 12-29-2019, Illini 95-64
NC A&T STATE (17-15 LY, 0.2 scoring margin avg.) - coach Will Jones took over the program from Jay Joyner last December. It resulted in a 14-5 conference record under Jones after A&T had gone 3-10 under Joyner. Point guard Kameron Langley (preseason MEAC POY) averaged 9.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, eight assists and 2.1 steals per game, but he was even better in the MEAC, leading the nation in assists per game in conference play with 10.3 (no other player had more than 7.9), and his 2.4 steals per game were the 11th most in conference play. The Aggies lost Ronald Jackson, who led the team with 15 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, but they are high on former Missouri and N.C. State guard Blake Harris, who shot 42.1% from 3-point range and averaged 1.5 assists in 9.5 minutes per game at N.C. State.(source: VSIN)
Alcorn State at UAB (-20 ), 3:30 EST - C-USA TV
MASSEY PREDICTION: UAB 75, Alcorn St 62 (88% win probability for UAB)
Series History: UAB 7-0, Last game: 12-18-2018 (UAB 76-49)
ALCORN STATE (15-15 LY, +1.8 scoring margin avg.) - This is the first season for Coach Landon Bussie, who was a key assistant coach at Prairie View A&M the last six years. Three of the Braves’ top four scorers from last season are gone, but Troymain Crosby is back. Crosby averaged 13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game and made 84.8% of his free throws last season. Braves have a pair of transfers with upside. Kurk Lee comes from Drexel after appearing in only nine games the last two seasons. Before injuries kept him off the floor, Lee started two full seasons, averaging 14.9 points, five assists and 1.6 steals as a freshman. In a reserve role for Stephen F. Austin, Oddyst Walker scored 3.2 points per game but should see open looks opposite Arne Morris, who made 42.4% of his 3-point shots last season. (source: VSIN)
Delaware State at Wake Forest ( -18 ), 4:00 EST
MASSEY PREDICTION: WF 89, DEL ST 64 (97% win probability for WF)
Series History: DEL ST 1-0, Last game: 11-28-2014 (DEL ST 72-65)
DELAWARE STATE (6-26 LY, -9.6 scoring margin avg.) - Coach Eric Skeeters (3rd season) MUST replace departed leading scorer John Crosby, who averaged 19.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The positive news for the Hornets is they have 4 starters and 7 letterwinners returning led by Pinky Wiley, who is likely to take over the offense, averaged 9.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals while committing 2.3 turnovers per game. (source: VSIN)
North Carolina Central at No. 5 Iowa (-24, 149.5 ), 4:00 EST - BTN (BigTen Network)
MASSEY PREDICTION: Iowa 84, NCCU 58 (98% win probability for Iowa)
Series History: 11-28-2009, Iowa 73-63
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL (18-13 LY, +3.7 scoring margin avg.) - The defending MEAC regular season champs for Coach LeVelle Moton (12th season) must replace conference POY, Jibri Blount (avg 19.1 ppg, 9.3 reb). The Eagles will look to point guard Jordan Perkins to keep things running smoothly. Considered a pass-first guard, Perkins averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game last season. Perkins made only 20.5% of his 3-point shots last season, but teammate senior guard C.J. Keyser made 40.9% of his 3-pointers while scoring 11.4 points per game. Keyser hit 48.7% of his 3-point shots in road and neutral-court games, which was 33rd among D-I players. (source: VSIN)
Coppin State at Marshall (-20.5 ), 6:00 EST
MASSEY PREDICTION: Marshall 80, CSU 66 (90% win probability for Marshall)
Series History: 12-08-2012, Marshall 69-63
COPPIN STATE (11-20 LY, -6.1 scoring margin avg.) - Head coach Juan Dixon (4th season) has two players that were selected to the MEAC’s preseason 1st team to lead this team, DeJuan Clayton (12 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game last season) and Koby Thomas (the Eagles’ leading returning scorer, averaged 13.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals last season). The Eagle will need production from transfers that had success at previous school - Anthony Tarke (n 2017-18 when he was a full-time starter at NJIT and averaged 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, two assists and 1.3 steals per game) and Juco transfer Domantas Sakickas should help in a variety of ways after making 36% of his 3-pointers while averaging 11.8 points and 6.7 rebounds last season. (source: VSIN)
Florida A&M at Florida Gulf Coast (-4.5), 7:00 EST - ESPN+
MASSEY PREDICTION: FGCU 69, FAMU 63 (70% win probability for FGCU)
Series History: 12-22-2013, FGCU 77-68 (Las Vegas Classic)
FAMU (12-15 LY, -5.9 scoring margin avg.) - Coach Robert McCullum’s (4th season) Rattlers are finally clear of postseason restrictions and have something to play for this year. Florida A&M has 4 starters returning from a team that went 8-0 at home after playing the entire non-conference schedule on the road last year. The offense will run through junior MJ Randolph after he averaged 13 points, 5.8 rebounds. 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game and was incredibly consistent, scoring at least nine points in each of the last 20 games of the season. The post will continue to be held down by 300-pound center Evins Desir, who averaged 9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. (source: VSIN)
Mississippi Valley State at Arkansas (-37, 154.5), 7:30 EST
MASSEY PREDICTION: ARK 92, MSVU 61 (99% win probability for ARK)
Series History: ARK 5-0, no game less than 19; Last Game: 11-30-2011 (97-64 ARK)
MSVU (3-27 LY, -21.4 scoring margin avg.) - Coach Lindsey Hunter (2nd season) went 3-27 in his first year. The Delta Devils were first in the country in possessions per game while being 346th in the country in points per possession allowed on defense and 349th in points scored per possession. No Delta Devils had more than 6 rebounds per game, while they allowed the most rebounds per game in college basketball. Caleb Hunter, as a freshman, averaged 15.7 points, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. (source: VSIN)
Grambling at Grand Canyon (-12), 9:00 EST - ESPN3
MASSEY PREDICTION: GCU 74, GRAM 66 (77% win probability for GCU)
Series History: 12-09-2017, GCU 87-53
GRAMBLING (17-15 LY, +3 scoring margin avg.) - lost top scorer Devante Jackson and point guard Ivy Smith Jr, but have a solid low-post presence in leading rebounder Terreon Randolph. The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder averaged 4.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season. Cam Christon is the leading returning scorer at 9.4 points per game, which should help stabilize the backcourt as he made 35.8% of his 3-point shots and 90.5% of his free throws last season. Prince Moss averaged 8.3 points per game but saw his 3-point shooting accuracy slide from 46.4% to 25.8% season to season as he went from reserve to starter. The duo of Kelton Edwards and Trevell Cunningham will try to help Moss find open shots as Cunningham will likely run the point after posting 4.9 points and 2.2 assists per game as a part-time starter. Edwards made 39.7% of his 3-point shots and averaged 8.1 points per game. (source: VSIN)
UAPB at Marquette (-30, 139.5), 10:00 EST - FS1
MASSEY PREDICTION: Marquette 82, UAPB 52 (99% win probability for Marquette)
Series History: 12-19-2001 Marquette 100-49
ARKANSAS PINE-BLUFF (4-27 LY, -15.2 scoring margin avg.) - Coach George Ivory (13th season) returns 4 starters from a team that averaged the fewest points per game and on a per possession basis of any Division I team. The return of 6-foot-5 forward Shaun Doss should help. Two seasons ago he averaged 12.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game before injury limited to three games last season. Post Markedric Bell led the team with 10.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game last season. (source: VSIN)
Texas Southern at Washington State (-10 ), 11:00 EST - PAC-12 Network
MASSEY PREDICTION: WAZZU 79, TX SO 68 (84% win probability for WSU)
Series History: Washington St 3-0, Last Game 11-12-2017, WSU 86-84
TEXAS SOUTHERN (16-16 LY, -3 scoring margin avg.) - Coach Johnny Jones (3rd season) has a veteran team, only 2 players with one year of experience (1 sophomore, 1 redshirt freshman), all other players have entered their 3rd to 5th year of eligibility. The Tigers will be counting on junior Yahuza Rasas to crash the boards after he posted a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game last season to go with 9.8 points. Wing Justin Hopkins is the top returning scorer with 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 36.2% from 3-point range and 77.5% from the free-throw line. John Jones and Bryson Etienne are constants in the backcourt. Jones scored 8.7 points and shot 86.4% on free throws. Etienne added 7.2 points and 1.6 assists. Former LSU and Georgetown wing Galen Alexander played just nine games for the Hoyas last season but made 43.8% of his 3-point shots while averaging 4.2 points and 2.7 rebounds. (source: VSIN)
WOMEN'S SCHEDULE
Edward Waters at UAB, 11:30 am EST
EDWARD WATERS (19-11 LY, +12.9 scoring margin avg.) - Head Coach Charmaine Wilson begins her 10th season at the helm of the program that will look to improve on last season's showing which saw them finish 19-11, their seventh consecutive plus .500 season. Last season, EWC was third in the GCAC in scoring, averaging 75.24 points per game, second in the league in scoring defense only surrendering 62.38 points per game, and led the conference in assists per game with 17.07. The leading scoring from last season has no more eligibility (Mia Leite) and leading shot blocker (India Searls) has transferred, but three starters return and will be called upon to lead a team with nine newcomers. Senior guard/forward La'Quanza Glover was the second leading scorer from last year and averaged a double-double, 14.6 ppg and 12.0 rebounds per. (source: EWCTigerPride.com)
Grambling at Florida, 1:00 pm EST - SEC Network
Series History: 11-5-2019, Florida won 72-65 (Grambling led 52-51 entering 4Q)
GRAMBLING (5-24 LY, -12.5 scoring margin avg.) - A year ago, coach Freddie Murray's team had to recover from losing 90% of their production from the previous season. The season may not have produced many wins, but the new season only means the experience from a year ago will make this a tougher more connected team. Grambling has their top 4 scorers returning, led by senior guard Justice Coleman, who averaged 15 points per game and was recognized to the second-team All-SWAC. This year she was preseason first-team All-SWAC. Candice Parramore (9.4 ppg), Alexus Holt (9.0 ppg) and Ariel Williams (8.0 ppg) all look to add the type of experience with Coleman that will put Grambling back into a championship-level team that won't lose a lead to Florida this season. The Lady Tigers will also look for guard Leah Morrow to step on the court as a new addition that will add to the team's success. (source: GSUTigers.com)
North Carolina Central at Campbell, 2:00 pm EST - ESPN+
Series History: Campbell 16-3 series lead; Last year - NCCU won 67-64 at home with a 15-0 4th quarter run.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL (13-17 LY, -3.5 scoring margin avg.) - 13 wins and nine conference wins was the best season for Central since joining Division I over 20 years ago, Coach Trisha Stafford-Odom enters her fourth season looking to build on their final game of last season, which was a win over rival North Carolina A&T State. The Eagles had won six of the last seven games and two in a row before the pandemic shut their season down. Now, the Eagles look to pair Preseason All-MEAC honorees who combined for nearly 30 points per game last season. Senior guard Kieche White will be the lone four-year letter winner on the team. White averaged 14.0 points per game and led the Eagles in total steals (50) and made 3-pointers (33). Sophomore forward Anissa Rivera nearly averaged a double-double as a rookie with 13.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, while also leading NCCU with 50 blocks. (source: NCCUEaglePride.com)
Alcorn State at SE Louisiana, 2:00 pm EST - ESPN+
Series History: SE Louisiana 4-3; Last meeting 11-10-2017 Alcorn won 84-77 (OT)
ALCORN STATE (13-18 LY, -4.9 scoring margin avg. ) - Head coach Nathaniel Kilbert is in his first year as the head coach after two previous stints as an assistant coach. Last season was the best season since 2011 for the Braves. Alcorn ranked fourth in offense in the SWAC with an average of 63.5 points per game. The Braves will be led by their top returning scorers. Senior guard LaRae Roscoe played a team-high 25.2 minutes per game and led the team in scoring averaged 10.7 points per game while shooting 36.8 % from the 3pt arc. senior guard Kirdis Clark averaged 9.1 and shot a team leading 41.5 % from the field among key players. Junior forward Diamond Hall returns after leading the team in rebounding (5.2 avg) along with 6.4 points average. (source: Alcornsports.com)
Norfolk State at UNC Wilmington, 2:00 pm EST - FLOHoops.com
Series History: UNCW 4-0; Last game 11-11-2016 (64-56 UNCW)
(Editor's Note: Apologies to Norfolk State Women who were left off this post originally)
NORFOLK STATE ( 19-11 LY, +7 scoring margin avg.) - Coach Larry Vickers' Spartans posted their best regular-season MEAC record (12-4) and had their 3rd overall winning season, a first in the program's history at the Division I level. The Spartans will have to replace seven seniors, including the dynamic Chanette Hicks, who became the first player to win the MEAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season. Despite the loss of the those seniors and Hicks, four key returners are back for NSU led by senior guard Armani Franklin, who guards opponents best player and averaged 2.0 steals per game, 6th best in conference. Sophomore guard Camryn Platt-Morris played 19 games last year and will be called on to be more productive in the backcourt. Eight newcomers, five with college experience, will need to come together quickly if the Spartans are to keep their winning season streak alive.
Florida Memorial at Florida Gulf Coast, 2:30 pm EST - ESPN+
Series History: FGCU 12-0 all-time, just 4th meeting since FGCU moved to Division-I; Last year, FGCU won 91-47
FLORIDA MEMORIAL - currently 3-2, 3-1 in conference , defeated conference foe Keiser University 83-80 in overtime. Junior guard Keaynna Tolbert had a game-high 29 points and has scored over 18 points a game in 5 straight contests. Tolbert was recognized this week as The Sun Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week averaging 32 points and nearly 10 rebounds in two big conference wins.
UMBC at Morgan State, 3:00 pm EST - (Online- MorganStateBears.com)
Series History: UMBC 15-12, have won 8 of L10 including two straight; Last year, UMBC won 65-63 (OT)
MORGAN STATE (17-13 LY, +5.0 scoring margin avg.) - Morgan State Lady Bears finished 12-4 in the MEAC, tied for 2nd overall and earned a 3-seed in the MEAC tournament. The Lady Bears return a veteran team with eight seniors, including three graduate transfers. Senior guard Dahnye Redd was a preseason first-team All-MEAC selection after averaging 13.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, scoring double figures in 21 games. The Bears will also look for production from junior guard Ashia McCalla averaged 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals. McCalla was fourth in the conference in 3pt FG% (.343) and 3pt field goals made (58). McCalla scored double figures in 17 games. Coach Ed Davis, Jr. enters his fifth season with Morgan State. They will be a tough team to beat this season especially after being unable to experience a postseason last year. (source: MorganStateBears.com)
Lincoln (PA) at George Washington, 5:00 pm EST - ESPN+
Series History: First meeting. Only 103 miles separate the two schools.
LINCOLN (23-6 LY, +15.8 scoring margin avg.) - The Lincoln University women's basketball team opens the season with four straight games against Division I opponents before opening the CIAA season in January against Johnson C. Smith. Following the George Washington game, the Lions travel to #23 Syracuse, followed by road games at Saint Joseph's and Delaware State. Lincoln has played Division I teams in each of the last three seasons, all of which were exhibition games. t he last time a DI game counted, LU fell to Norfolk State in the 2016-17 season. The Lions must replace 80% of its scoring from a year ago, including their top two scorers, All-American Kwanza Murray and guard DeAshia Young. Seven newcomers join this year's team six of them have college experience as well as a high school guard with a pair of state championships on her resume. Senior guard Bryanna Brown is the top returning scorer (7.4 ppg), as well as made 3-pointers (31), assists (56) and steals. Senior forward Joy Moton will be called upon to be the teams "Big Spark" as she came off the bench in 19 games last year and provided a good overall play in contests. Senior forward Skydajah Patterson will be looked upon to regain her juco scoring and rebounding average of 13.7 points and 8.9 rebounds from two years ago prior to joining the Lions last year where she fell to 5.1 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Let me know which games you're watching and if you pick any upsets today. Enjoy the day of hoops and make sure to follow the Black College Sports Network on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @MyBCSN1.
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