Hampton Pirates became a better team just in time to win MEAC

NORFOLK, Virginia --Without the aid of a parallel universe machine, we’ll never know how Hampton University would have fared last week with a healthy Dwight Meikle.

The Pirates still might have blown through the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament. If their leading scorer and rebounder had not sprained an ankle in last Monday’s first-round win versus Morgan State, they certainly fielded a better collection of talent.

But without Meikle, you can make the argument that the Pirates might have been a better team, one that was focused and resourceful and cohesive enough to win the program’s first MEAC title in four years.

“Sometimes they say adversity makes you stronger,” HU coach Ed Joyner Jr., said. “It scared the hell out of me when Dwight went down, I’m going to be honest with you. Not that I didn’t think we could win, but Dwight was the one person who was consistent for us all year.”

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