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2020 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

Tuesday, March 10th (first round); Wednesday, March 11th and Thursday, March 12th (quarterfinals); Friday, March 13th (semifinals); Saturday, March 14th (championship)

Format

Traditional bracket with split quarterfinal doubleheaders to protect the top two seeds

Site(s)

The Norfolk (Va.) Scope is the home of the event for the eighth straight season.

TV/Streaming Info

ESPN2 has the final on Saturday afternoon, while subscription service FloHoops.com will stream the other eight games.

Participants

Just 10 of the conference’s teams will participate with the Florida A&M Rattlers (12-15, 10-6) ineligible for the postseason due to NCAA sanctions.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

First Round (Tue., March 10)

FloHoops.com ($) will stream both games.

Game 3: No. 9 Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (5-27, 4-12) 64, No. 8 Delaware State 68
The season series was a road split.

Game 4: No. 10 Howard 70, No. 7 South Carolina State Bulldogs (11-18, 6-10) 63
The Bulldogs won the pair’s lone meeting on the road.

Quarterfinals (Wed., March 11)

FloHoops.com ($) will stream both games.

Game 7: No. 8 Delaware State Hornets (6-26, 4-12) 75, No. 1 NC Central 92
The season series was a home split.

Game 8: No. 10 Howard Bison (4-29, 1-15) 77, No. 2 North Carolina A&T 86
The Aggies won the pair’s lone meeting at home.

Quarterfinals (Thu., March 12)

FloHoops.com ($) will stream both games.

Game 11: No. 5 Morgan State Bears (15-16, 9-7) vs. No. 4 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (16-14, 10-6), 6 p.m.
The Wildcats won the pair’s lone meeting at home.

Game 12: No. 6 Coppin State Eagles (11-20, 7-9) vs. No. 3 Norfolk State Spartans (16-15, 12-4), approx. 8:30 p.m.
The Spartans swept the season series.

Semifinals (Fri., March 13)

FloHoops.com ($) will stream both games.

Game 15: Game 11 Winner vs. No. 1 NC Central Eagles (18-13, 13-3), 6 p.m.
Game 16: Game 12 Winner vs. No. 2 North Carolina A&T Aggies (17-15, 12-4), approx. 8:30 p.m.

Championship (Sat., March 14)

Game 17: Semifinal winners, 1 p.m. (ESPN2)

10-Year Mayhem Potential

Data from Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter.

Over the past 10 seasons, the MEAC’s top two seeds have only managed to win a total of six championships, with the No. 1 last winning in 2017 and the two in 2012!

• 1 seed (4): 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017
• 2 seed (2): 2011, 2012
• 6 seed (2): 2015, 2018
• 3 seed (1): 2019
• 7 seed (1): 2013

10-Year NCAA Seeding Record

Years with an NCAA win are in bold.

• 16 seed (7): 2011, 2013 (First Four), 2015 (First Four), 2016, 2017 (First Four), 2018 (First Four), 2019 (First Four)
• 15 seed (2): 2010, 2012
• 14 seed (1): 2014

NC Central is responsible for the MEAC’s highest seed in the past 10 years, but Norfolk State has the conference’s lone win away from Dayton in that span.

This year’s champ is likely going to be the MEAC’s eighth 16 seed in 11 seasons and the fourth team in succession ticketed for the First Four.

Last NCAA Tournament Appearances

NC Central: 2019 (16 seed, First Four)
NC A&T: 2013 (16 seed, Round of 64)
Norfolk State: 2012 (13 seed, Round of 32)
Morgan State: 2010 (15 seed, 1st Round)
Coppin State: 2008 (16 seed, Opening Round)
Delaware State: 2005 (16 seed, 1st Round)
South Carolina State: 2003 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Howard: 1992 (16 seed, 1st Round)

Hampton, winner of three MEAC titles in the last decade, is now in its second season as a Big South member. Florida A&M last qualified in 2007 (16 seed, Opening Round), but will have to wait until 2021 at the earliest to get back. With Savannah State‘s return to Division II this offseason, Bethune-Cookman and Maryland Eastern Shore are the only remaining MEAC members without an NCAA bid.

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