MEAC report

SportsLine.com Report
April 10, 2000

The Bulldogs made a late run at the MEAC regular season title, only to finish two games out of first place. They won their first MEAC conference tournament game, only to lose to Hampton in a wild overtime game, 98-88.

North Carolina A&T, like most MEAC teams, got off to a rough start, winning just one of its first nine games. Finally, in January the Bulldogs got on track, putting together a five-game win streak. The Bulldogs finished 11-7 in conference play at 14-14 overall.

A glance at 2001

North Carolina A&T, based on experience, should be a league-title contender next season. The Bulldogs return their top six scorers and graduate just two seniors, neither one a double-figure scorer.

Leading scorer and versatile Bruce Jenkins, a 6-6, 205-pound junior-to-be, is one of the league's best. Tarrell Robinson (6-6, 220), is another quality swingman who can score as he was the Bulldogs second-leading scorer behind Jenkins.

The Bulldogs aren't the tallest team around and will need to recruit height in the off-season.

The coach

Former University of North Carolina player Curtis Hunter had a solid first year and should have an even better one next season.

Who'll be back

Just about everyone returns, including one of the MEAC's top players in Bruce Jenkins, a 6-6, 205-pound swing man who'll be a junior next season. Jenkins led the Bulldogs in scoring at 14.5 points a game and shot 50 percent from the field.

The team's second-leading scorer, Tarrell Robinson (6-6, 220) will be a senior next season after averaging 12.5 points a game as a junior.

The team's next three top scorers, James Miller (5-11, 160), Marque Carrington (6-2, 185) and Jafar Taalib (6-8, 215) are all back. Taalib could use some help underneath as he's one of only two players over 6-6, the other being 6-10 Abraham Traore, who played in just nine games last year and scored just four points all season.

Who's gone

Just two players graduate, 6-4 Vashon Murphy, who averaged 6.5 points a game; and Kelvin Clyburn (6-5), who put in 3.5 points a contest.