MEAC report

SportsLine.com Report
April 10, 2000

There's one way Howard can look on the bright side of things after a completely disastrous 1999-2000: things can't get any worse, can they?

The Bison won one game -- defeating North Carolina A&T 69-62 on January 8 -- which halted a nine-game losing streak. They followed the win by dropping 18 straight to close out the season.

North Carolina A&T extracted revenge in a big way, defeating Howard 94-69 to end the Bison's season and to put them out of their misery.

A glance at 2001

At least only two seniors depart -- they just happen to be the Bison's leading scorer and rebounder.

Antonio Michell (6-0, 180) leaves and takes his 14.8 scoring average with him, while top border, Jermaine Holliway (6-5, 230) is also gone.

Howard needs to reload on the recruiting trail, though senior-to-be, guard Reggie Morris (6-2, 180) is a nice player to have back. Morris averaged 13.4 points per game last season.

Jonathan Stokes (6-2, 170) had a fine freshman season, averaging 11.6 points per game.

The coach

After a 1-27 season, his first with the Bison after coming in to replace the disgraced Kirk Saulny, interim coach William Coward was happy to be done with basketball. He was hired on an emergency basis from his spot as a volunteer kicking coach on the football team.

On May 4, Howard hired Franklin Allen, the head coach at Tennessee State for the last seven years, to lead the program.

Who'll be back

Reggie Morris averaged 13.4 as a junior and was the team's second-leading scorer. Freshman Jonathan Stokes (6-2, 170) chipped in 11.6 points a game last season, and another freshman, Ron Williamson (6-1, 180) averaged 7.7 per game.

There's not much experience down low so Nick Dodson (6-9, 200) will have to pick it up after averaging 2.5 points per game as a frosh last season.

Bryen Alvin (6-6, 225) is a solid swingman who averaged 9.3 a contest.

Who's gone

The team's leading scorer, Antonio Michell and leading rebounder, Jermaine Holliway, both used up their eligibility.