HBCU Round-Up 1.16.26: Parity, Fast Starts, & Home Court Advantage

The Week (Two) That Was in the MEAC: Parity, Defense, and an Unlikely Early Hierarchy

If the first full week of MEAC play proved anything, it’s that preseason expectations mean very little once conference games tip off. Two teams projected to finish near the bottom sit atop the standings at 3-0, while the preseason top three squads have stumbled to a combined 4-5 record in league play. South Carolina State, one of those lower-tier teams, accounts for half of the wins among the favorites.

Through the opening stretch of conference play, the league ranks first nationally in close-win percentage, with 41.7% of games decided by four points or fewer or going to overtime. Home court has offered little comfort, as the MEAC sits 26th in home win percentage, with half of home teams taking losses. Defense, free throws, and offensive rebounding remain the calling cards, while offenses continue to lag well behind the rest of the leagues.

Maryland Eastern Shore and NCCU Lead the Way

Maryland Eastern Shore and North Carolina Central, both picked to finish at or near the bottom of the conference, are the last remaining unbeaten teams at 3–0 in MEAC play.

UMES delivered one of the most impressive weeks in the league, going 2–0 to extend its conference start. The Hawks have surged from 337 to 322 in KenPom, the largest jump in the conference, after entering MEAC play on a seven-game losing streak. They boast the best defense in the league and a top three offense, making them the only team ranked top three on both ends of the floor. An uptick in tempo since conference play began has helped fuel the turnaround, and the Hawks have already surpassed last season’s win total. The test intensifies, however, with five of their next six games on the road.

North Carolina Central matched UMES with a 2–0 week, winning both games away from home to improve to 3–0 in conference play. Their offense is the best in the MEAC, even if paired with the league’s worst defense. NCCU excels in ball security and halfcourt execution, traits that have translated in close games. A favorable stretch looms, with five of their next seven games at home, where they are already 5–1 this season.

South Carolina State Emerges, Howard Searches for Traction

South Carolina State continued its upward climb with a 1–1 week, moving to 2–1 in conference. After managing just one Division I win prior to MEAC play. The Bulldogs’ early conference success has vaulted them to the third-highest KenPom ranking in the league. Defense remains their anchor, as they sit among the top three units in the conference. A lengthy homestand for the rest of January presents an opportunity to solidify their position near the top of the standings.

Howard, meanwhile, split the week to move to 1–2 in MEAC play, though the Bison remain the only team with an overall winning record. After entering conference play with momentum, winning five of six, the early stumble has been notable. Still, Howard’s profile suggests stability ahead. Elite turnover creation, the second-best defense in the league, and a remaining schedule where their lowest projected win probability is just 58% suggests they will get back on track. Offensive consistency remains the question, as the Bison sit seventh in conference offensive efficiency.

Preseason Powers Still Finding Their Footing

Norfolk State, a perennial MEAC force under Robert Jones, continues to adjust to new personnel. The Spartans went 1–1 on the week and are 1–2 in conference, having lost four of their last five games. Shooting has been the biggest issue as Norfolk State is connecting on under 30% from three. The schedule may offer relief, with five of their next seven games at home. Despite the slow start, projections still show only two more losses the rest of the way, both on the road.

Morgan State also split its games but remains 1–2 in conference play. The Bears have yet to win a true road game and now face a daunting stretch, with six of their next seven away from home. Ranked near the bottom of the league in both offense and defense, Morgan State has struggled to shoot, rebound, and defend the paint, an unforgiving combination in close games.

Coppin State and Delaware State Searching for Answers

Coppin State endured a 0–2 week, though the Eagles’ offensive potential remains intriguing. They rank as the second-best offense in the MEAC and are the league’s best three-point shooting team. The issue is defense, particularly on the perimeter, where opponents are shooting 50% from three. A challenging three-game stretch awaits, featuring matchups against three of the league’s top teams, two on the road.

Delaware State remains winless in conference play after a 0–2 week, extending a four-game losing streak. The Hornets own the worst offense in the MEAC, failing to score more than 65 points in any of those losses. Defense keeps them competitive as they rank top four in the league on that end but their offense relies almost exclusively on forcing turnovers and converting those opportunities.

Week 2 in the SWAC: Balance, Home Floors, and a Wide-Open Race

The SWAC action heated up this week as teams continued their push through conference play. With games showcasing tight contests, upsets, and standout performances, the standings are starting to take shape. Prairie View A&M emerged as a frontrunner with a perfect week, while teams like Alabama A&M and Jackson State delivered high-scoring thrillers.

Trends and Observations

Parity Rules the Day
Nine of the twelve SWAC teams are .500 or better in conference play, and only one team, Mississippi Valley State remains winless. Just 13.6% of conference games have been decided by 19 points or more, reinforcing how narrow the margins have been night to night. The top five from preseason polls have shuffled, with only two remaining in those spots.

Home Court Matters
Currently the SWAC ranks among the top five conferences nationally in home winning percentage, and several contenders are clearly benefiting. Prairie View A&M (6–0 at home), Grambling State (5–0), and Bethune-Cookman (4–1) have all built their résumés on home dominance.

Tempo, Tempo, Tempo
The SWAC remains one of the fastest-paced conferences in the country, with six teams ranking in the top 85 nationally in adjusted tempo. That pace continues to produce varianceand opportunity, especially for teams that can defend without fouling.

Prairie View A&M and Arkansas Pine Bluff’s Fast Start

Prairie View remains the league’s most intriguing team. Despite a perfect week and a 6–0 home record, the Panthers slipped in KenPom (288 → 294), largely due to an offense that ranks in the bottom four of the conference. What keeps them in first place is the best defense in the SWAC, even if a narrow escape against Mississippi Valley State raised eyebrows. If the offense finds even modest improvement, PVAMU’s ceiling rises significantly.

The Golden Lions proved their early success wasn’t a fluke by surviving their first true road test. After opening 4–0 at home, they split a two-game road swing and jumped from 331 to 317 in KenPom. UAPB boasts the best offense in the conference and shoots a blistering 40.5% from three, making them one of the league’s most dangerous teams regardless of venue.

Jackson State’s Rise and Florida A&M’s Surprise Start

Jackson State is quietly stabilizing after a rough nonconference slate. The Tigers improved to 2–1 in league play and climbed from 344 to 331 in KenPom. However, the road ahead is daunting: three of their next five games are against teams currently in the top four, with half coming away from home. They are getting a elite season from star point guard Daeshun Ruffin who is coming off being named the SWAC player of the week. The supporting cast has to continue to help him if they want to continue their upward trajectory.

FAMU delivered the most momentum-shifting week in the league. After nearly upsetting Bethune-Cookman earlier, the Rattlers capitalized at home with a 2–0 week and the largest KenPom jump in the SWAC (343 → 323). They own the second-best offense in conference play and defend the three at an elite level despite their bottom-five defense overall. To continue the momentum, the defense must improve, especially with their upcoming road-heavy stretch. New Head Coach Charlie Ward has got the Rattlers on track to be a surprising contender in the conference and is one of the new coaches who have found early success.

Best Of the Rest

Bethune-Cookman continues to look like the most complete team on paper despite not being atop the standings. They are the only SWAC team ranked in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and their overall metrics forecast they could be a team to ascend late. A narrow home loss to Southern keeps them from perfection, but the Wildcats’ upcoming schedule includes four of the next six on the road which will define if those metrics are just nice to look at on paper.

Grambling’s split personality remains pronounced. The Tigers are 5–0 at home but winless on the road in conference play. A winless week dropped them from 248 to 260 in KenPom, though their profile remains solidly middle-of-the-pack on both ends. Their ability to force turnovers fuels easy offense, but perimeter defense remains a glaring weakness. The good news: five of their next seven games are at home.

Despite a .500 conference record, Alabama A&M remains the only SWAC team with a winning overall record. The Bulldogs flashed their offensive upside with a 100-point outing against Jackson State, though their KenPom ranking dipped slightly (297 → 298). They remain one of the league’s more balanced teams and a strong rebounding group, even after a surprising home loss to Alcorn State.

Team of the Week: North Carolina Central Eagles

Consistency is the calling card of head coach LeVelle Moton, and once again the Eagles find themselves back at the top of the MEAC. Despite a challenging non-conference schedule that left them at 4-11 entering January, they've flipped the script with a 3-0 MEAC record, including an upset over the preseason favorite and two convincing road wins. This hot streak is their best start in MEAC play since 2019.

Moton has authored one of the most sustained runs of success in HBCU hoops. Outside of the COVID year, he has endured just three losing seasons, and history suggests that down years are merely preludes to bounce-backs. Following his two previous losing campaigns, NCCU responded with 15-win and 25-win seasons, respectively, an unmistakable trend that has resurfaced this winter with their hot start.

Offense Carrying the Load

North Carolina Central’s surge is being driven by an elite, conference-best offense. Through the early MEAC slate, the Eagles rank first in offensive efficiency by a wide margin, separating themselves statistically from the rest of the league.

They lead the MEAC in:

• Effective Field Goal Percentage
• Free Throw Rate
• Free Throw Percentage
• Two-Point Percentage

At the center of that efficiency is a dynamic tandem in Gage Lattimore and Khouri Carvey, who are combining for over 30 points per game. Their complementary skill sets allow NCCU to score at all three levels, generate consistent paint touches, and punish teams that foul which is an ideal formula for conference play.

Preseason Projections vs. Current Performance

In the MEAC preseason poll, the Eagles were projected to finish tied for fifth place with Delaware State. This mid-pack prediction reflected modest expectations after a 14-19 overall record (6-8 MEAC) last season, where they finished sixth in the conference. Fast forward to now, NCCU has shattered those projections early in conference action. With an overall record of 7-11 but a perfect 3-0 in the MEAC.

They're currently first in the standings, a stark contrast to their preseason slot. Their non-conference slate was brutal, featuring losses to powerhouses like NC State, Virginia, and North Carolina, which contributed to a rough start that impacted their overall metrics. However, since MEAC play began, they've averaged 82 points per game in wins, flipping their season trajectory and building confidence for a potential conference title run.

Weekly Player Spotlight

Daeshun Ruffin – Jackson State

Daeshun Ruffin continues to look every bit like the preseason SWAC Player of the Year, putting together a dominant week that powered Jackson State to a 2–1 start in conference play. Ruffin earned SWAC Player of the Week honors after averaging a staggering 37.5 points, six rebounds, and 7.5 assists, highlighted by his first double-double of the season, a 39-point, 10-assist performance on the road at Alabama A&M.

His scoring consistency has reached elite territory, with three straight 30-plus point outings and seven consecutive games of at least 20 points. Ruffin’s relentless attacking style is reflected in his ability to live at the free-throw line, reaching double-digit attempts in three straight games, all while rarely coming off the floor. He’s played fewer than 30 minutes only three times all season which shows he is durable and able to continue trending up throughout SWAC play.

Quion Williams – Arkansas Pine Bluff

Quion Williams has been the engine for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, propelling them to their first 3-0 conference start since 2019, a remarkable turnaround from last year. The versatile forward nearly posted his second triple-double of the season on the road at Texas Southern with 16 points, 17 rebounds, and 8 assists He then proceeded to follow that up with 15 points and 9 rebounds at Prairie View A&M.

Williams has rarely come off the floor, playing less than 30 minutes only once all year, and his scoring has dipped below double digits just twice. He boasts the team's highest PER by a wide margin despite a relatively average usage rate, proving he's thriving within the offense rather than forcing shots. As a result, he leads UAPB in points, assists, and rebounds, making him a true do-it-all contributor who is contending for SWAC Player of the Year honors.

Micah Octave – Florida A&M

Micah Octave’s return has provided Florida A&M with an immediate and much-needed boost on both ends of the floor. After missing roughly six weeks due to injury, Octave has averaged 14.3 points and 8.3 rebounds across his first three games back, shooting an efficient 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc.

His presence has stabilized the Rattlers’ frontcourt and added offensive versatility, helping FAMU go 2–1 since his return and climb into a tie for third place in the SWAC standings. Octave’s productive week was recognized with SWAC Impact Player of the Week honors, a fitting acknowledgment of how quickly he’s shifted the trajectory of the lineup.

Zamoku Weluche-Ume – North Carolina A&T University

Weluche-Ume has emerged as a key contributor for the Aggies, stepping up in the absence of Lo Walker and showcasing steady growth after an uneven start to the season. The 6’8 forward from London has recorded two double-doubles in his last three games, including a 15-point, 13-rebound, four-assist performance against Elon, followed by a 14 point and 6 boards at Stony Brook.

He has now scored in double figures in five straight games and currently leads the Aggies in rebounds. After averaging just 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds through his first seven games, his recent seven-game stretch (13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds) highlights a dramatic turnaround and a player growing into a larger role. Although the Aggies have not had success early in conference play, if he can continue this when they get Walker back, things could trend better for the Aggies.