UMES Basketball Season Preview

Dec 31, 2013; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies forward Trevor Thompson (32) and Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks guard Ishaq Pitt (2) fight for a rebound during the first half at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

As The Baltimore Wire’s college basketball preview continues, we make a drive over the Bay Bridge. The town of Princess Anne and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is our stop as we look at the upcoming UMES Hawks basketball season.

UMES was frankly not very good last year as they finished at 6-24 (4-12 in the MEAC).

Former Hampton coach Bobby Collins, who had been recently at Winston-Salem State, takes over as head coach. He has had previous success in this conference, so if anyone can right the ship, he may be the one. It just won’t be immediately.

The team will have to rely on returning players Ishaq Pitt and Devon Walker to lead this squad. Too much of the rest of the roster is an unknown quantity at this time.

The MEAC preseason poll has the Hawks set to finish next to last in the conference, only besting South Carolina State.

Starting their season on the road, the Hawks will face a buzzsaw of Virginia Tech, Villanova, Mount St. Mary’s, Saint Francis (PA), Fordham and VCU, as well as an appearance at the Toledo subregional round of the Legends Classic before coming home. December 2nd against UMBC is their first home game.