HAMPTON PIRATES
 Coach: Bobby Collins |  Record: 16-15

 
Overview: Bobby Collins has spent the past couple of years fending off rumors that his job was in jeopardy. Given the job he has done, that is simply ridiculous. A berth in the tournament should have finally put those stories to bed. Picked to be among the leaders in the MEAC, this season was all about a second chance for Hampton. Beaten on a last-second shot in the 2005 MEAC tournament championship game against Delaware State, the Pirates fought their way all the way back for a rematch with Del State. This time it was Hampton that closed the deal in the final seconds.

Potential Difference Maker: Bruce Brown is a force down low. The 6-foot-11 senior has taken over games. He’s not just a nice post option in the MEAC -- He’s a nice post player period. He’s a tough kid with a nice low post game.

On Offense: They are very similar to Indiana, as they will set a lot of perimeter screens and double screens. However, their big guns are the high-low duo of Jaz Cowan and Brown Their offense will look for a lot of high-low opportunities that isolate Brown in the post.

On Defense: They will play man-to-man defense but will run and jump in the half court to confuse teams. They will also play some 2-3 zone.

Strengths: This is a good offensive team with a great center in the middle who can cause match-up problems in the tournament. Cowan and Brown both shot over 54% from the field in the conference.

Weakness: They have been an inconsistent team proving they can beat anyone or lose to anyone in their league. They do not have a true point guard and they are a terrible foul shooting team (60%).

Keys to Success: They must pound the ball inside and get good play from their point guard. They have to limit their turnovers.

How to Beat Them: Force them to play from the outside and do not let them establish the inside game. You must keep them off the boards and handle their switching defenses.