Big opportunity for Hampton men’s basketball in Big South

Justin Whitner | Staff Writer

The Hampton men’s basketball team, MEAC Tournament runner-up last season, gets a new start this season against new teams in the Big South Conference.

“Honestly, I think the move will boost our performance more than anything,” Pirates third-year guard Lysander Bracey said. “We’re going into a conference where we are feared because nobody knows anything about us. We have a chip on our shoulder going in as the only HBCU, so I feel that this move will bring out the best play in us.”

Hampton was picked third in the Big South Conference preseason poll, with junior guard Jermaine Marrow selected to the preseason all-conference first team. The Newport News native averaged 19.1 points, 5.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game last season.

Marrow scored 22 on Tuesday as HU won its season opener against Mid-Atlantic Christian, 110-58.

The Pirates, winners of two of the past four MEAC championships, feature a senior-heavy roster this season.

HU goes to Virginia Commonwealth on Friday and travels to California on Nov. 13.

Hampton returns home to face Bowling Green on Nov. 19.