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COMING BACK: Deloach has Norfolk State on the move heading into this week's MEAC Tournament at Joel Coliseum
Photo Courtesy of Norfolk State University
Michael Deloach will lead his Norfolk State team in the MEAC Tournament.
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Published: March 10, 2009
Updated: 03/10/2009 12:40 am
Coaches in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference might be disappointed to know that Norfolk State's Michael Deloach will return next season.
Deloach -- the conference's leading scorer -- was a nonqualifier when he signed with Norfolk State and because of that had to sit out his first season. But he has since completed 80 percent of the requirements toward a degree to earn back the season he missed.
He has been listed as a senior on the Norfolk State roster all season, even though he isn't in eligibility.
"Yeah, I don't think the coaches know I'll be back," he said. "I guess they'll know when I show up next season."
Before that happens, however, Deloach is focused on the MEAC Tournament, which will start today at Joel Coliseum.
The Spartans had a lull late in the season and a four-game losing streak. They have regrouped just in time for the tournament and are on a three-game winning streak. Deloach, a 6-0, 175-pound guard from Rocky Mount, is responsible for much of the resurgence.
Since moving from point guard to shooting guard this season, he has averaged a league-best 21.6 points. He has scored in double figures in all but one game.
"We are feeling really good, and throughout this season, teams are starting to respect us more," Deloach said. "We had some trouble and were beating ourselves basically, but as a team, we are really focused on making a run in the tournament."
Deloach had a career-high 32 points in a loss to William & Mary early in the season. After scoring nine against Wright State, he has scored in double figures in 21 straight games.
Although Deloach has established himself as one of the top scorers in the MEAC, it didn't come about just because of a position change. He worked extensively on his shooting in the offseason, and his 3-point accuracy is much better.
"I could always get to the basket with my driving, but coaches told me I could do more with improving my jump shot," said Deloach, who shoots 35 percent from 3-point range.
Last season as the team's sixth man, Deloach averaged 12.8 points. Norfolk State's star was Tony Murphy, who exhausted his eligibility.
When Coach Anthony Evans moved Deloach to shooting guard, it opened up his game.
"I've just been more comfortable at the No. 2 (shooting guard) spot," he said.
Deloach, who played his first three years at Northern Nash High School before transferring to Bonner Academy in Raleigh, came to Norfolk State without much fanfare.
He admits that Norfolk State took a chance on him because of his academics, but he has rewarded them with what will turn out to be a great career. He has scored 1,062 points and with one season to go could break into the top 10 in school history.
"The thing holding me back was my SAT because I've never been a real good test taker," Deloach said.
He has since passed what he considers the biggest test of all, staying in school and becoming a top player in the MEAC.
Deloach has played better in bigger games. His lowest output in a conference game this season was 18 points. In MEAC games, he's averaging 23.3 points and shooting 49 percent from the field.
Not many will be expecting the Spartans to make a run in the tournament, but if Deloach stays hot, they could make some noise.
"I think anybody can win it because there's no real dominant team," he said. "Morgan (State) has beaten a lot of teams, but then Hampton beat Morgan, and then we turned around and beat Hampton by 30. It's going to be wide open."
Deloach said that for the Spartans to be successful, he'll need to score early.
"That's probably the key," he said. "If I can play well in the first half then it opens things up for my teammates. They tend to feed off me, so I'm going to come out ready to go."
■ John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com.
All-MEAC
(VotIng by the conference's head coaches and sports-information directors)
Men
First team
Tywain McKee (Coppin State); Jason Johnson (S.C. State); Reggie Holmes (Morgan State); Michael Deloach (Norfolk State); Eugene Myatt (Howard)
Second team
Clifford J. Reed (Bethune-Cookman); Vincent Simpson (Hampton); Jason Flagler (S.C. State); Corey Lyons (Hampton); Neal Pitt (Md.-Eastern Shore); Marquise Kately (Morgan State)
All-rookie team
Clifford J. Reed (Bethune-Cookman); Michael Harper (Coppin State); Jimmy Williams (South Carolina State); Keishawn Mayes (Maryland E. Shore); Kevin Thompson (Morgan State)
Coach of the Year: Todd Bozeman (Morgan State)
Player of the Year: Tywain McKee (Coppin State)
Rookie of the Year: Clifford J. Reed (Bethune-Cookman)
Defensive Player of the Year: Jason Johnson (S.C. State)
Women
First team
Corin Adams (Morgan State); Amber Bland (N.C. A&T); April McBride (Md. Eastern Shore); Brittanie Taylor-James (N.C. A&T); Whitney Cunningham (Coppin State)
Second team
Zykia Brown (Howard); Demetria Frank (Bethune-Cookman); Sonia Johnson (Delaware State); Chinyere Ukoh (Hampton); Marie Reid (S.C. State)
All-rookie team
Jericka Jenkins (Hampton); Bernadette Fortune (Hampton); Sonia Johnson (Delaware State ); Antonia Bennett (Florida A&M); Marquilla Evans (Norfolk State)
Coach of the Year: Patricia Cage-Bibbs (N.C. A&T)
Player of the Year: Brittanie Taylor-James (N.C. A&T)
Rookie of the Year: Sonia Johnson (Delaware State)
Defensive Player of the Year: Whitney Cunningham (Coppin State)
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