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Hampton NCAA Tournament Preview, Prediction
The Hampton Pirates have made it to the NCAA Tournament. Here's a preview of the team and a prediction of how they'll do during March Madness.
March 14, 2016
The Hampton Pirates have made it to the NCAA Tournament. Here’s a preview of the team and a prediction of how they’ll do during March Madness.
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Team: Hampton Pirates
Record: 21-10
Conference: MEAC
Head coach: Edward Joyner
How they got here: Won conference tournament
The Good
Hampton is back in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, and the Pirates rely on the one-two punch of Reginald Johnson Jr. and Quinton Chievous to do the damage. Johnson scores inside and out, and his vision with the ball sets him apart, especially in the open floor. Chievous averages a double-double and shots 57 percent from the floor, but he’s not just a banger. He has some range, which opens the floor for his teammates.
The Bad
Although Brian Darden chips in 12.9 points a night, the drop-off beyond the top three scorers is steep, and the Pirates can be sloppy with the ball. They also struggle to knock down the three, and free throws are an issue late in tight games. A lack of size also is a problem, especially in the spotlight of the NCAA Tournament.
Prediction
Hampton, as a program, has pulled off an upset before, but this isn’t that type of team. The Pirates are solid at the mid-major level, but Hampton has too many flaws to pull off a stunner by winning a game or two. This has all the makings of a one-and-done team.
