NORFOLK, Va.—The South Carolina State Bulldogs were picked to finish eighth (8^th) in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference race, while two-time defending regular season champion North Carolina Central Eagles was picked to win the 2015-16 MEAC regular season title. 

Senior forward/center Darryl Palmer  was selected Second Team All-MEAC and teammate junior guard Greg Mortimer was named to the Third Team, as voted on by the conference's head men's basketball coaches and sports information directors.

Norfolk State senior guard Jeff Short was named men's basketball Preseason Player of the Year. Joining Short on the preseason All-MEAC First Team is James Daniel (Howard), Quinton Chievous (Hampton), Bruce Beckford (N.C. A&T State), Dominique Elliott (Maryland E. Shore). 

"Although we are predicted higher this season (8^th) than years past we are not anyway satisfied with our current place in the MEAC Preseason Standings," said SC State head coach Murray Garvin.  "We are more focused on the process of getting better every day & winning on and off the floor. The main goal is always to be playing your best basketball in March and these Preseason Predictions motivate us to do just that."  

For the second year in a row North Carolina Central was selected to finish first in the conference's preseason poll. The Eagles received 14 first-place votes and totaled 316 points to be named as favorites to start the season.  Hampton (297 first place points) was predicted to finish second with 297 total points.  Norfolk State was selected to finish third, while Maryland Eastern Shore received fourth place. 

Howard was selected to finish fifth with North Carolina A&T State at sixth place.  Morgan State (7^th), S.C. State (8^th), Delaware State (9^th), Bethune-Cookman (10^th), Coppin State (11^th), Savannah State (12^th), and Florida A&M (13^th) round out the 2015-16 preseason poll.

"This is the first time since I have been the Head Coach here at SC State that we have had two student-athletes on the Preseason All-MEAC teams," said Garvin. " I give credit first to the student–athletes for putting in the work and I also like to give credit to our strength and conditioning staff and our assistant coaches for working with these guys in getting them bigger, faster, stronger and improving their skill level."
 
Garvin On Mortimer:  "I am really happy for Greg getting recognition for being named Preseason All MEAC. He has been a great example of working hard and staying focused on improving not only for himself but also our program here at SC State.  He has been an unheralded part of our program to outsiders but to our team and coaching staff we have always known that he is a very valuable asset to our team.  Two years ago when he arrived he was so unsure of himself and very quiet, now he has become one of our most respected and vocal leaders and we look for great things this season from him. Greg also has a 3.0 g.p.a. and is a stellar student in the classroom."
 
Garvin On Palmer:  "Darryl has been a three-year starter for our program and has worked himself into becoming an elite athlete and basketball player here at SC State.  He has lead us in rebounding and block shots for the past two seasons and we look for even better results from D.P.(Palmer) in his senior campaign.  Darryl also is a 3.0 student and is on pace to graduate this spring."
  
The 2015-16 MEAC men's basketball regular season tips off Friday, November 13 with 11 teams in non-conference action.  The 2015-16 MEAC Basketball Tournament is slated for March 7-12 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.

For more information on MEAC Men's Basketball, log on to www.MEACsports.com.

2015 MEAC Men's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the Conference's Head Men's Basketball Coaches and Sports Information Directors
 1.      North Carolina Central (14)                 
2.      Hampton (9)                                      
3.      Norfolk State                                     
4.      Maryland Eastern Shore                    
5.      Howard (1)                                       
6.      North Carolina A&T State                   
7.      Morgan State                                    
8.      S.C. State (1)                                    
9.     Delaware State                                  
10.   Bethune-Cookman                               
11.   Coppin State (1)                                   
12.   Savannah State                                   
13.   Florida A&M                                           
 
2015-16 Men's Basketball Preseason All-MEAC Teams
As voted on by the Conference's Head Men's Basketball Coaches and Sports Information Directors
 
Preseason Player of the Year: Jeff Short, Norfolk State University
 
First Team

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
James Daniel	Howard	G	5-10	165	Jr.	Hampton, Va.
Jeff Short	Norfolk State	G	6-4	205	r-Sr.	Bronx, N.Y.
Quinton Chievous	Hampton	G/F	6-6	215	Grad.	Chicago, Ill.
Bruce Beckford	N. C. A&T State	F	6-7	215	Sr.	Silver Spring, Md.
Dominique Elliott	Maryland E.  Shore	C	6-8	245	Sr.	Savannah, Ga.

 
Second Team

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
Brian Darden	Hampton	G	6-2	183	Sr.	Hampton, Va.
Dante Holmes	N.C. Central	G	6-3	190	r-Sr.	Baltimore, Md.
D'Shon Taylor	Norfolk State	G/F	6-5	205	Sr.	Nassau, Bahamas
Cedric Blossom	Morgan State	F	6-6	225	Sr.	Columbia, Md.
Darryl Palmer	S.C. State	C	6-8	210	Sr.	Summerville, S.C.

 
Third Team

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
Ricky Johnson	Bethune-Cookman	G	5-9	160	r-Sr.	Akron, Ohio
Devin Martin	Maryland E. Shore	G	6-4	205	Sr.	Baltimore, Md.
Greg Mortimer	S.C. State	G/F	6-3	191	Jr.	Savannah, Ga.
Brian Pearson	Savannah State	F	6-7	230	Sr.	Monroe, Ga.
Jarvon Pressley	Hampton	C	6-8	250	Sr.	Charlotte, N.C.

 
 
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