NEWSLETTER
Another “Micro-Major” if you will. Like the SWAC, but up north. The 2023 MEAC Tournament will give us a team you may want in a Calcutta if yours pays out a “largest first round margin of loss” prop.
When is the MEAC Tournament?
March 8th – March 11th, 2023.
Where is the MEAC Tournament played?
The Norfolk Scope. I go over this every year but for prosperity’s sake: this is in Norfolk, but is not the home arena for Norfolk state. So semi-neutral for them.
How to watch the MEAC Tournament
Get ESPN+ fired up for this one. Exclusively streaming until the final, which will air on ESPN2 Saturday afternoon.
Who won the regular season title?
Plenty of parity, but Howard ended up with the best regular season record at 11-3.
Defending Champ
Top seeded Norfolk State took last years tournament, winning by 15 in the final over Coppin.
Who will participate
All eight teams, which give 0-14 Delaware State one final shot at getting a win versus a MEAC team this year.
How Many teams will the MEAC send to the tournament?
Lunardi’s Bracketology is saying just the one.
MEAC Tournament Bracket
Extra day of rest for the top two seeds heading into Friday, otherwise just a normal eight team bracket.
MEAC Tournament Odds
Tournament Preview
NC Central is playing the best ball right now, Howard had the best overall season on paper, and Norfolk State is playing in their hometown. Lots of tough choices here.
The metrics rank NC Central a bit higher than the other top seeds, but they have shown a bit of tendency to play poorly when leaving Durham. They turn the ball over at a very high clip and shot under 30% from deep during conference play.
Howard, on the other hand, is elite from deep, in fact top 25 in the nation for 3P% this year. They don’t get to the line much and the defense is middle of the pack. They are coming off a impressive win over Norfolk State to close the season and will be a nice sized favorite in the first round. The finals seem likely but, they have lost to both the four and five seed already this season.
Norfolk is looking like the most balanced team, with the leagues most efficient offense and a defense that can keep them in games. A Strong inside presence and a backcourt by now TWO TIME MEAC player of the year Joe Bryant, Norfolk State running it back is definitely in the cards here.
MEAC Tournament Prediction
I’ll take the “home” team with the best player and the best offense at a price I think is pretty fair (this could be the one that’s finally better on a rollover).
My Bet: Norfolk State +260
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