UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
MEAC PICKS SCSU, COPPIN: The return of senior forward
Thurman Zimmerman and a solid cast of 
supporters
likely propelled South Carolina State to be the choice of
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference head basketball coaches and
sports information directors to take the 2005 men's hoops title.
The league released results of the preseason voting last week
and will hold a preseason press conference at noon Thursday,
Oct. 13 in Raleigh, N.C. at the RBC Center, the new site of
the league's basketball tournaments. Zimmerman, a
former MEAC Player of the Year, was granted another year
of eligibility by the NCAA. His return pushed the
Bulldogs, with 10 of a possible 20 first place votes, past
defending champion Delaware State, who got six first place votes,
and Hampton, who tied for second. Norfolk State
and Florida A&M round out the top five. DelState lost in the
NCAA Tournament's opening round last year to ACC
champion Duke. Defending women's tournament champion
Coppin State got ten votes to take the top spot and was followed
by Hampton and Howard, who got seven and two first
place votes respectively. Coppin lost its first round NCAA
tournament game last year to North Carolina. Full practices
begin on Oct. 14-15.
CIAA BASKETBALL TIPS: The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is hosting its annual Pre-Season Press Conference and Luncheon at the Charlotte Convention Center on Thursday, October 13, 2005, beginning at 11:30am. Men's and women's head coaches will share their outlook and prospects for the 2005-06 season while the preseason All-CIAA Team and Predicted Order of Finish will also be announced. Interviews and a light lunch/meet and greet opportunity will begin immediately following the presentation portion of the event. The CIAA will be welcoming new coaches Doug Robertson (Bowie State women), Robert Brickey (Shaw men) and Tony Collins (Virginia State men) to the fold. Virginia Union is the two-time defending men's CIAA tournament champion who went on to win its third NCAA Div. II national championship under head coach Dave Robbins last year. The Shaw Lady Bears won their third straight women's CIAA championship and captured their first-ever South Atlantic Regional title under Jacques Curtis. They lost in the national quarterfinals to Central Arkansas.
© 2005 Azeez Communications, Inc.