The Real Prestige Rankings: Part III

24) MEAC – Average Point Total: 9.73

1) Coppin State – 39 (141, T-90)

2) Hampton – 37 (148, DNQ)

3) North Carolina A&T – 12 (T-157, T-161)

4) South Carolina State – 10 (T-160, T-111)

5) Florida A&M – 5 (T-189, T-237)

T-6) Delaware State – 2 (T-226, T-229)

T-6) Howard – 2 (T-226, 260)

T-8) Morgan State – 0 (T-273, T-290)

T-8) Norfolk State – 0 (T-273, DNQ)

T-8) Maryland Eastern Shore – 0 (T-273, T-298)

T-8) Bethune-Cookman – 0 (T-273, T-298)

It is very rare for a No. 15 seed to defeat a No. 2 seed in the first round of the NCAA tournament.  The last team to do it was Hampton in 2001, who defeated No. 2-seeded Iowa State.  However, the MEAC also has another team that shares this record of biggest NCAA tournament upset.  No. 15-seeded Coppin State defeated No. 2-seeded South Carolina in 1997.

The MEAC conference does seem to be losing prestige lately, however.  The NCAA play-in game was instituted in 2001, and three of the eight play-in game losers have come from the MEAC (Coppin State, Hampton, Florida A&M). 

In one of the closer conference races thus far, Coppin State gets the top spot over Hampton because they have qualified for one more tournament.  It should be noted however, that Hampton only became a Division I program in 1995.  Coppin State had 10 extra years to accrue points, which is more than a slight advantage.

23) Ohio Valley – Average Point Total: 10.18

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