NCAAB · 1 year ago

MEAC Tournament Betting Guide: Norfolk Eyeing Dynasty Territory

David Connelly

Host · Writer

MEAC Tournament Best Bet: Norfolk State (+170)
Don't doubt Robert Jones. He is the king of the conference and knows what it takes to come out on top in these types of moments. It also helps to have Thomas as a queen piece on the court, someone who is capable of scoring at all three levels while also getting teammates involved. Getting to the line is the calling card for the Spartans, and it's one of the least volatile ways of scoring points. It makes Norfolk State incredibly upset-proof and a worthwhile bet to cut down the nets in the MEAC.
MEAC League Overview
If you like stout defense and hard-nosed basketball, the MEAC will be your tournament to tune into this week. The league ranks third-to-last in the country in offensive efficiency while topping the country in free-throw rate and offensive rebounding percentage. It leads to rock fights, but it also leads to plenty of close games. Nearly one-third of games played in the MEAC finish with a margin of four points or fewer or go to overtime. It should make for a dramatic tournament filled with lead changes, upsets, and tight ball games. Let's break down the contenders.
MEAC Tournament Favorite: Norfolk State (+175)
The Spartans are in the midst of one of the most underappreciated dynasties in the sport. Head coach Robert Jones has built an absolute powerhouse within the MEAC with a combined conference record of 124-42 across his 11 seasons at the helm. They have made the NCAA Tournament in two of the past four seasons and are favored to make it three in five this year. UNC Wilmington transfer and MEAC Player of the Year Jamarii Thomas is a major reason for Norfolk State's success, as he has racked up 13 KenPom game MVPs this season, tied for the eighth-most in the nation. The Spartans also boast a suffocating defense, forcing turnovers at the tenth-highest rate in the nation. Combine that with their elite depth and most teams are in for an exhausting night when they take on this team.
MEAC Tournament Challenger: North Carolina Central (+220)
It feels like Norfolk State and North Carolina Central may be on a collision course to meet in the finals. The Eagles clearly have the most fluent offense in the league, leading to each of their previous five wins coming by double-digits. They can quickly blow these inferior offenses out of the water, but their inability to string together stops can often lead to their demise. The guard trio of Fred Cleveland Jr., Po'Boigh King, and Ja'Darius Harris is the best backcourt in the league, a luxury this time of year when it comes to crunch time. A stretch of three consecutive auto bids from 2017 to 2019 has turned into a drought, if you can call it that, since the COVID season that was ultimately canceled. We'll see if head coach LeVelle Moton can get his guys back into the dance in 2024.
MEAC Tournament Dark Horse: Delaware State (+1000)
The Hornets were the only other team in the MEAC that was able to give Norfolk State any sort of consistent trouble during the regular season. They split the season series with the Spartans while really fumbling away an opportunity to sweep in the final minutes of that one. While they stayed away from Norfolk State's side of the bracket, they have to face a South Carolina State team that swept them in the regular season in the quarterfinals. If they can get past the Bulldogs, they will be a live underdog to take down NCCU, a team they lost to by a combined five points in their two meetings.
MEAC Tournament Best Bet: Norfolk State (+170)
Don't doubt Robert Jones. He is the king of the conference and knows what it takes to come out on top in these types of moments. It also helps to have Thomas as a queen piece on the court, someone who is capable of scoring at all three levels while also getting teammates involved. Getting to the line is the calling card for the Spartans, and it's one of the least volatile ways of scoring points. It makes Norfolk State incredibly upset-proof and a worthwhile bet to cut down the nets in the MEAC.
MEAC League Overview
If you like stout defense and hard-nosed basketball, the MEAC will be your tournament to tune into this week. The league ranks third-to-last in the country in offensive efficiency while topping the country in free-throw rate and offensive rebounding percentage. It leads to rock fights, but it also leads to plenty of close games. Nearly one-third of games played in the MEAC finish with a margin of four points or fewer or go to overtime. It should make for a dramatic tournament filled with lead changes, upsets, and tight ball games. Let's break down the contenders.