MEAC Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

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9. Coppin State Eagles

Things got off to a rocky start in head coach Juan Dixon’s first season as the Coppin State Eagles head coach. The Eagles lost their first 17 games of the 2017-18 season, going 5-27 overall on the year. They went 5-11 in MEAC play, earning all their victories in conference play.

Coppin State finished last in the conference in points per game (60.8) last season. Leading scorer Lamar Morgan will be back, after averaging 12.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest during his junior campaign.

Coppin State also returns 6-foot-2 guard Dejuan Clayton from injury, though, which should improve their outlook. Clayton played in just six games during the 2017-18 campaign, averaging 10.2 points, 1.8 assists and 1.8 rebounds per contest before going down with a knee injury for the rest of the season.

Dixon had an interesting start to his college coaching career after a decorated playing career with the Maryland Terrapins. The former ACC Player of the Year should improve his coaching record in Year 2, but it will be another tough one for him.