Hampton got the MEAC's automatic bid by beating South Carolina State in the conference tournament championship game, marking the second straight year they've made the tournament. Here's everything you need to know about the Pirates:
Resume:
Record – 21-10 (13-3 in MEAC)
RPI – 165
Strength of Schedule – 326
Starting Lineup:
G Reginald Johnson Jr. (Jr.) – 11.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg
G Brian Darden (Sr.) – 12.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg
G Lawrence Cooks (Jr.) – 8.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg
G Quinton Chievous (Sr.) - 17.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg
F Dionte Adams (Sr.) – 5.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Key Player:
Quinton Chievous
Hampton has a very balanced team, but Chievous has emerged as their leader during a breakout year. He spent the first two years of his career at Tennessee before transferring, and it's paid off for the Pirates. A physical guard at 6'6" and 215 lbs, he's excellent at finishing around the rim (57 percent shooting percentage) and is a dominant figure on the glass despite his size.
Biggest Strength:
Rebounding
A team with a four-guard lineup isn't supposed to be a good rebounding team - Hampton isn't a normal team. All five players on the court hit the glass with reckless abandon, using their athleticism and positioning to outwork their opponents. They rank 8th in the country in rebounding (41.7 per game) as a result.
Biggest Weakness:
Shooting
The Pirates are excellent around the basket, but are a flat terrible jump-shooting team. They rank just 271st in the country in shooting percentage (41.4) and 309th in three-point shooting percentage (31.1).
Outlook:
Hampton picked up a win in the First Four last year, but I don't think they'll another win this year. Their lack of shooting will ultimately be the reason they get bounced in the first round.