NORFOLK, Va. — The South Carolina State men's and women's basketball teams have been selected to finish fifth and eighth, respectively, in the 2026-27 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference preseason predicted order of finish, as both programs prepare to compete for the league championship.
The Bulldogs, under the direction of head coach
Erik Martin, received 36 points in the men's preseason voting to secure fifth place in the eight-team conference. Meanwhile, the Lady Bulldogs, led by head coach Cedrick W. Baker, collected 17 points and were projected to finish eighth in the women's standings.
Four SC State student-athletes were also recognized on the conference's preseason watch lists, with
Mitchell Taylor and
Noah Treadwell representing the men's program and Alexia Murphy and
Monajah Ford earning recognition on the women's side.
Bulldog Men Look to Challenge MEAC Contenders
South Carolina State enters the 2026-27 campaign looking to make its presence felt in a competitive MEAC race under Martin's leadership.
The Bulldogs were picked fifth with 36 points, just six points behind fourth-place North Carolina Central, which received 42 points.
Howard was selected as the preseason favorite to capture the men's conference championship with 62 points and six first-place votes. Morgan State followed in second place with 46 points and one first-place vote, while Norfolk State earned third with 43 points and one first-place vote.
North Carolina Central was picked fourth, followed by SC State in fifth. Delaware State and Coppin State tied for sixth with 20 points each, while Maryland Eastern Shore rounded out the poll with 18 points.
Men's Basketball Players to Watch
Mitchell Taylor and Noah Treadwell headline the Bulldogs' preseason watch list selections as SC State prepares for another challenging conference schedule.
Both players will be important figures to watch as the Bulldogs look to build consistency, compete against the league's top programs and position themselves for a strong postseason run.
With the conference race expected to be competitive, South Carolina State will look to exceed its preseason projection and make a push toward the MEAC championship.
Lady Bulldogs Aim to Exceed Preseason Expectations
On the women's side, South Carolina State enters the upcoming season determined to improve its standing in the conference and compete for a spot among the league's top teams.
The Lady Bulldogs were selected eighth with 17 points in the preseason voting. Despite the projection, SC State will have an opportunity to establish its identity and gain momentum throughout the conference schedule under Baker's leadership.
Howard was selected as the preseason favorite with 86 points and 10 first-place votes. Norfolk State followed in second place with 76 points, while Maryland Eastern Shore was third with 56 points and one first-place vote.
Coppin State was projected fourth with 47 points, followed by Morgan State with 40, North Carolina Central with 36 and Delaware State with 34.
Women's Basketball Players to Watch
Alexia Murphy and Monajah Ford were named to the women's preseason watch list, giving the Lady Bulldogs two players to follow heading into the 2026-27 season.
The duo will be among the key players for South Carolina State as the Lady Bulldogs look to develop team chemistry, establish consistency on both ends of the floor and improve their position in the MEAC standings.
SC State will look to use its conference matchups as opportunities to build momentum and prepare for the postseason championship tournament.
2026-27 MEAC Men's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
| Rank |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
Howard |
62 (6) |
| 2 |
Morgan State |
46 (1) |
| 3 |
Norfolk State |
43 (1) |
| 4 |
North Carolina Central |
42 |
| 5 |
South Carolina State |
36 |
| T6 |
Delaware State |
20 |
| T6 |
Coppin State |
20 |
| 8 |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
18 |
2026-27 MEAC Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
| Rank |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
Howard |
86 (10) |
| 2 |
Norfolk State |
76 |
| 3 |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
56 (1) |
| 4 |
Coppin State |
47 |
| 5 |
Morgan State |
40 |
| 6 |
North Carolina Central |
36 |
| 7 |
Delaware State |
34 |
| 8 |
South Carolina State |
17 |
Parentheses indicate first-place votes.
SC State Preseason Players to Watch
Men's Basketball
Women's Basketball
Both South Carolina State basketball programs will look to surpass their preseason expectations when conference play begins, with the ultimate goal of competing for a MEAC tournament championship and earning the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
For more information on SC State basketball, including schedules, rosters and upcoming games, visit
www.scsuathletics.com.
— SC State Athletics —
