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LOCATION: Baltimore, MD
CONFERENCE: Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC)
LAST SEASON: 14-14 (.500)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 12-6 (3rd)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 3/2
NICKNAME: Bears
COLORS: Orange & Royal Blue
HOMECOURT: Hill Field House (6,000)
COACH: Chris Fuller (SUNY-Buffalo '73)
record at school 42-68 (4 years)
career record 42-68 (4 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Chris Watson (Morgan State '97)
Lamont Pennick (Cumberland '90)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 5-7-9-12-14
RPI (last 5 years) 293-278-268-216-217
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference semifinal.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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For the last four years, Morgan State coach Chris Fuller has steadily improved his program from the ashes of probation in 1995. He has worked hard, not taken shortcuts and improved Morgan State with each season. Last year brought a milestone for the Bears as they finished 14-14, the program's first non-losing season in more than 10 years. Even bigger news was in the MEAC, where Morgan State finished in third place with a 12-6 record that included a victory at crosstown rival and MEAC kingpin Coppin State. Morgan's .500 record, as much as it meant, was misleading. Like most smaller Division I programs, it has to play guarantee games to help balance the budget. Fuller's program is no exception. It had to play road games at James Madison, Iona, Marquette, Xavier, Georgetown and Louisville almost automatic losses that help keep non-revenue sports alive. The folks at Morgan State were delighted with the record last year, especially considering all those guarantee games. The 12-6 record in the MEAC was the best for the Bears in more than a decade.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B BENCH/DEPTH C-
FRONTCOURT C- INTANGIBLES C+
Many will probably expect Morgan State to fall backward this season with the loss of Sparks and King. Don't look for that to happen. Chris Fuller is not a coach who is satisfied easily and he wasn't satisfied last year. His track record as a recruiter is very good and he knows how to handle adversity. Look for Jimmy Fields to have a great senior season and compete for MEAC Player-of-the-Year honors. If Michael Canady can return to his freshman form and the three newcomers are as good as advertised, it could be the Bears' first winning year since the 1988-89 season. Look for Morgan State to do just that as Fuller will have his team prepared for continued improvement. They might not be ready to win the MEAC championship, but the Bears should have something to say about who does. We expect a fourth-place finish and a winning season. |
But Fuller wasn't satisfied. The Bears didn't play well down the stretch and a loss to Florida A&M in the semifinals of the conference tournament wasn't really an upset. Fuller has several reasons Morgan was not playing its best ball at the end of the year. "We didn't do a good job rebounding all year and it especially showed down the stretch," Fuller said. "We just weren't tough enough both physically and mentally and that has to change this year. "Plus we moved into our new fieldhouse at the end of the season. To change from the place we played in before (an off-campus facility) to our new place kind of threw us for a loop. We just weren't used to playing there and it threw our timing off a little bit. "The Florida A&M game in the tournament was a microcosm of how we played the last few games of the season not very well." Things got even tougher after the season. First, there was normal personnel turnover when Morgan graduated three starters, including Rasheed Sparks (14.6 ppg), an all-conference forward. Then sophomore forward Curtis King (13.7 ppg), the team's second-leading scorer, decided to transfer close to home and play for Drexel. The Bears averaged 66.5 points per game last season and 48.9 percent of those points was suddenly gone. But the always-upbeat Fuller has seen tough days and he is determined that this program will not go backward. "We have a good nucleus with the players we have coming back," Fuller said. "And we think we had a good recruiting year. We wanted to address our lack of toughness last year and we think we've done that with the players we've brought in. We will be a better rebounding team this year and be tougher both mentally and physically." One reason for Fuller's optimism is the return of 5-9 senior point guard Jimmy Fields (13.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.3 apg). Fields transferred to Morgan State three years ago from UNC Charlotte and the Baltimore native has gotten better with each season. He was the Bears' third-leading scorer and was second in the league in assists last year. Fields scored 29 points in Morgan's win over Hampton in the MEAC tournament and earned all-tournament honors. "We expect a lot from Jimmy and expect him to be our best player," Fuller said "We'll expect him to score and to distribute the ball to our scorers. He's gotten better each year he's been here and I look for him to have a great senior season." Backing up Fields will probably be 6-1 sophomore Cory McNeill. McNeill has not played the last two years because of a broken ankle suffered before he came to Morgan. Last year, because the break wasn't healing properly, the ankle had to be rebroken and set again. He appears to have recovered and should be ready to go. McNeill averaged 15 points at Mt. St. Joseph's High School in Baltimore, Md., three years ago. "Cory has been through hell and back," Fuller said. "We hope he's healthy this year and will be able to give us some minutes at the point guard slot backing up Jimmy Fields. Our doctors tell us he's ready to play and I'm looking forward to having him out there." Angelo Herron (1.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.0 apg) is a 5-9 senior shooting guard who started in 16 games last season but only averaged 18 minutes per game. He will battle McNeill for the backup point-guard spot. "Angelo knows how to distribute the basketball," Fuller said. "He's a good defender and he'll battle for the back-up point guard spot." The shooting-guard slot could be handled by 6-2 junior Heddrick McBride (2.3 ppg, 0.9 rpg). McBride had a solid rookie year, averaging 3.5 points and 1.1 rebounds, but never got untracked. "I think Heddrick fell victim to the sophomore jinx last season and we expect him to be a lot better this year," Fuller siad. "We look for Heddrick to start at the shooting guard spot for us this year. He's worked hard since the season ended and had a good summer." Ronnie Van Hook (6.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg) is a 6-2 senior who was the Bears' fourth-leading scorer last year. Fuller expects the Baltimore native to take a step forward this season. "Ronnie can score and come off the bench and give us a boost," said Fuller. "He's a decent defender in the full court and hopefully as a veteran he'll be ready to help us this year." A freshman could contribute this season. Fuller is very excited about the potential of 6-5 freshman Reggie Winkfield. Winkfield played at Bullis School in Germantown, Md. "We think we might have gotten a steal in Reggie," said Fuller. "When his team played DeMatha last year, he gave Joe Forte (North Carolina signee) fits and Forte was one of the best recruits in the country last season. He really knows how to play defense and can shoot the three really well. Reggie is a big strong kid who is smart and knows how to play the game." The small-forward spot will not have anybody small filling it as Fuller expects 6-7 sophomore Brandon Reece (2.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg) or 6-7 sophomore Reggie Bullock (1.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg) to compete for the job. Both didn't play much last year as they backed up Sparks and King. But Fuller expects the two to contribute greatly this season. "I expect Brandon Reece to be a key player for us this season," said Fuller. "He has a lot of potential and he'll compete for playing time. Brandon is a big strong kid who is very athletic and strong. He's a slasher who can score. "Reggie Bullock may be our best defensive player. He has a ways to go on the offensive end but has the potential to improve. Reggie will get more minutes as his offense improves." The power-forward spot should provide some serious competition between 6-7 senior Doug Qualls (2.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and a pair of freshmen: 6-7 Douglas Sims and 6-7 Tom Frederick. Both should make strong pitches to play this season. Qualls is a nice story . He's a former walk-on with a 3.9 GPA in electrical engineering and will graduate with honors in the spring. "Doug will compete for the starting job this year and will serve as our captain," Fuller said. "He struggled a little bit last year but he should be better this season and I'd like to see him start during the year. Doug is a great kid who's very smart and he'll be making more money than most of us when he finishes up here." Sims is from Fuller's hometown of Buffalo, but finished his high school career in Detroit, averaging 19 points and 14 rebounds. Frederick is from England, where he averaged 18.4 points and 12.2 rebounds for the England Junior National team. "We wanted to get tougher and stronger this year and we think we have with Doug Sims and Tom Frederick," Fuller said. "Doug has a very strong offensive game and is really a tough kid who I think will really help us this season. "We think we have another sleeper in Tom Frederick. He's been a member of England's 19-under national team and was ranked as one of the top 40 players in Europe last summer. Tom is a very skilled player who can score inside and then step out and hit the 15-footer. He has a lot of international experience and also has a great deal of toughness." The center spot should be in the capable hands of 6-11 junior Michael Canady (1.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 16 blocked shots). Canady had a solid freshman year and made the all-rookie team, but was another player whose numbers dropped off last year. He blocked 42 shots his rookie year. "Michael should be in the starting lineup this year," said Fuller. "He suffered from the sophomore jinx last season but should be ready to have a good year this season. Michael's a great shot blocker with long arms. He runs the floor well but he needs to get tougher both mentally and physically to be effective this year."
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