Feb. 8, 2010

click here for feature on Mervyl Melendez

click here for CBI MEAC preview

click here for coaches' preseason All-MEAC team

Defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion Bethune-Cookman was the unanimous choice to repeat, in voting by the league’s head coach and sports information directors and released by the conference office.

The Wildcats were 32-28 in 2009 with a 16-2 conference mark. Bethune-Cookman won its fourth straight MEAC Tournament and 12th in the past 14 seasons.

Norfolk State was second in the poll with 112 points, edging third-place North Carolina A&T by two points. Delaware State and Florida A&M tied for fourth with 100 points, followed by Maryland-Eastern Shore and Coppin State.

The 2010 MEAC Tournament is scheduled for May 20-23 at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla.

2010 Predicted Order of Finish

(2009 MEAC/overall records, points, first-place votes)

1 Bethune-Cookman (16-2, 32-28) 196 (14)

2 Norfolk State (9-9, 22-23) 112

3 North Carolina A&T (9-9, 20-33) 110

T4 Delaware State (10-8, 19-25-1) 100

T4 Florida A&M (10-8, 24-30) 100

6 Maryland-Eastern Shore (9-9, 14-42) 52

7 Coppin State (0-18, 0-29) 30