A very interesting post from the MEAC/SWAC Mainstreet on black college basketball programs and the non-Division I programs that hinder them. And there’s two ways you can look at the MEAC and SWAC scheduling a vast number of NAIA and Division II and III schools early in the season.
One way is the preparation and morale booster that playing cupcakes provides. When you’ve been on the road against power conference squads for the better part of a month, a few games here and there against weaker opponents does the mind and fan base good.
Conversely, weaker opponents do very little to improve your national profile. If your squad is playing a team that has the name ‘bible college’ or ‘Pan American’ in it, chances are your squad will get very little recognition from the NCAA Selection Committee come tournament time.
I’m always a proponent of scheduling comparable out-of-conference mid-majors; it’s the best way to improve RPI and build fan allegiance. And if you do have to make money through guaranteed games, at least you’ve diversified the schedule enough to prevent national embarrassment and fractured consistency.
Courtesy of the Mainstreet, here’s the out-of-conference cupcake rundown on the MEAC and SWAC.
MEAC Men Basketball Scheduled Cup-Cakes…
1. Delaware State: Holy Family, Wilmington and Mary Washington
2. Coppin State: Lincoln (Pa.), West Virginia Tech and Washington Adventist University
3. South Carolina State: Erskine College, Allen, Southern Wesleyan
4. Florida A&M: Albany State (Ga.)
5. North Carolina A&T: Brevard College, Davis & Elkins and Carson Newman
6. Bethune Cookman: Edward Waters, Florida Gulf Coast, Carver Bible, Florida Christian College and Jacksonville
7. Winston Salem State: Atlanta Christian, Milligan, Ferrum College and Columbia Union
8. Morgan State: None
9. UMES: Stevenson
10. Howard: None
11: Hampton: None
12: Norfolk State: None
SWAC Men Basketball Scheduled Cup-Cakes…
1. Alabama A&M: Oakwood, Martin Methodist, Stillman and Tuskegee
2. Alabama State: Columbus State and West Alabama
3. Alcorn State: Tougaloo College, Mississippi College and University of Detroit-Mercy
4. Grambling State: Centenary College (Louisiana), Paul Quinn College (Texas)
5. Jackson State: Spring Hill
6. Mississippi Valley: Champion Baptist
7. Prairie View A&M: Schreiner, Florida Gulf Coast, Champion Baptist, Ecclesia, Dallas Christian
8. Southern: Xavier (La.), Talladega, Central Arkansas and Chicago State
9. Texas Southern: Northern Colorado, Dickinson State, Jarvis Christan University
10. Arkansas Pine Bluff: None
Other Division I HBCUs
1. Tennessee State (OVC): Detroit-Mercy
2. North Carolina Central (Indep/MEAC): North Carolina Wesleyan, Carver Bible College, Florida Gulf Coast, Tennessee, Temple, and The Apprentice School
3. Savannah State (Indep): Webber International, University of North Florida, University of Virginia-Wise, Allen University, Carver Bible College and Jacksonville University.
*NOTE* – As accurately pointed out by the patron saint of mid-major basketball, the following schools ARE NOT lower Division opponents as listed on the Mainstreet’s cupcake guide. Blame my lax editing on the holiday and a screaming infant.
Thanks, KW.
Florida Gulf Coast, Chicago State, Central Arkansas, Centenary, Northern Colorado, North Florida, Detroit, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Temple.
