MEAC Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

1. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats

The MEAC will be the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats’ conference to lose in 2018-19. They also won a share of the regular season title during the 2017-18 campaign, but during the conference tournament, they fell flat. With all but one starter back next season, they’ll be a tough team to beat once again this upcoming season.

The Wildcats will lose MEAC Player of the Year Brandon Tabb, but the MEAC’s Defensive Player of the Year returns in big man Soufiyane Diakite. Diakite averaged 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds for Bethune-Cookman last season. 6-foot-6 guard Isaiah Bailey returns for his senior season as the team’s leading scorer after averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game as a junior.

Then there’s 6-foot-9 forward Shawntrez Davis. Davis put up 14.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 blocks per game last season as a junior. With tons of senior experience returning, the Wildcats will be the team to beat in the MEAC. Add in the acquisition of graduate transfer 6-foot-2 guard Dondre Duffus and the outlook for Bethune-Cookman is NCAA Tournament or bust.

Duffus averaged 6.4 points per game at Southeast Missouri before his season was cut short due to injury. After last year’s early exit in the conference tournament, Bethune-Cookman will play with a chip on their shoulder all season long as the early favorite to win the MEAC.