MEAC Update: Week 6
December 15, 2025The MEAC enters Week 6 with teams showing diverse trending patterns. This analysis examines each team’s performance trends using MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) indicators to identify not just where teams stand, but where they’re headed.

Figure 1: Efficiency margin trends for MEAC teams throughout the season. Teams trending upward show improving performance, while downward trends indicate struggles.
Conference Snapshot
- Week Dates: December 08 – December 14, 2025
- Trending Up (Efficiency): Coppin State, MD-E Shore
- Trending Down (Efficiency): Delaware State, Howard, Morgan State, Norfolk State, NC Central
Team-by-Team Analysis
Coppin State
Record: 2-12 | Elo: 1301.6 (ranked 368 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -34.19 (ranked 360 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Balls Stolen Per Poss (Balls Stolen Per Possession): Currently ranked 353 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
- Adj Def Eff (Adjusted Defensive Efficiency): Currently ranked 356 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp Shooting (Opp Shooting): Currently ranked 352 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
- Opp Turnovers (Opp Turnovers): Currently ranked 247 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
Delaware State
Record: 4-8 | Elo: 1408.3 (ranked 303 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -28.05 (ranked 355 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Adj Off Eff (Adjusted Offensive Efficiency): Currently ranked 365 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
- 2PM Per Poss (2 Point Makes Per Possession (%)): Currently ranked 236 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp FT Pct (Opp FTM/FTA (%)): Currently ranked 150 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
- Opp Shooting (Opp Shooting): Currently ranked 348 of 365 in D1. Trending up moderately 🔴.
Howard
Record: 7-5 | Elo: 1432.0 (ranked 275 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -12.67 (ranked 266 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Shooting (Shooting): Currently ranked 288 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
- Turnovers (Turnovers): Currently ranked 255 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp Shooting (Opp Shooting): Currently ranked 220 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
- Opp Turnovers (Opp Turnovers): Currently ranked 21 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
MD-E Shore
Record: 4-11 | Elo: 1317.8 (ranked 365 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -21.91 (ranked 324 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- FT Rate (FTA/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 363 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
- FGM Per Poss (Field Goal Makes Per Possession (%)): Currently ranked 230 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
Defensive Trends:
- Def Reb Pct (Defensive Rebounding): Currently ranked 293 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
- Opp 2Pt Rate (Opp 2 Point Attempts/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 115 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
Morgan State
Record: 2-8 | Elo: 1354.3 (ranked 352 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -26.62 (ranked 349 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Turnovers (Turnovers): Currently ranked 271 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
- FT Rate (FTA/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 67 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp Shooting (Opp Shooting): Currently ranked 342 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
- Def Reb Pct (Defensive Rebounding): Currently ranked 279 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
NC Central
Record: 3-9 | Elo: 1385.1 (ranked 326 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -27.91 (ranked 354 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Shooting (Shooting): Currently ranked 364 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
- Adj Off Eff (Adjusted Offensive Efficiency): Currently ranked 339 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp FT Rate (Opp FTA/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 340 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
- Opp 2Pt Rate (Opp 2 Point Attempts/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 14 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
Norfolk State
Record: 4-7 | Elo: 1513.2 (ranked 162 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -13.51 (ranked 275 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Adj Off Eff (Adjusted Offensive Efficiency): Currently ranked 336 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
- 2Pt Rate (2 Point Attempts/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 6 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp Turnovers (Opp Turnovers): Currently ranked 235 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
- Opp FT Rate (Opp FTA/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 327 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
S Carolina St
Record: 0-11 | Elo: 1417.0 (ranked 295 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -38.27 (ranked 365 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Shooting (Shooting): Currently ranked 359 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
- FT Rate (FTA/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 115 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp Shooting (Opp Shooting): Currently ranked 322 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
- Opp Turnovers (Opp Turnovers): Currently ranked 243 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.

Figure 2: Offensive Four Factors comparison across MEAC teams. The radar chart shows each team’s shooting efficiency (eFG%), ball security (TOV%), offensive rebounding (OREB%), and free throw generation (FT Rate).

Figure 3: Defensive Four Factors comparison across MEAC teams. The radar chart shows each team’s opponent shooting defense (Opp eFG%), ball disruption (forcing TOV%), defensive rebounding (DREB%), and opponent free throw prevention (Opp FT Rate).

Figure 4: MACD trends heatmap showing which metrics are improving (green) or declining (red) for each team. Stronger colors indicate more pronounced trends.
Looking Ahead
As MEAC teams continue their season, the MACD trending indicators will help identify which teams are genuinely improving versus those riding unsustainable momentum. Check back next week for updated analysis.
Metrics Glossary
Four Factors (Dean Oliver’s framework for basketball success):
- eFG% (Effective Field Goal %): Field goal percentage adjusted for 3-pointers being worth more (FGM + 0.5×3PM) / FGA. Higher is better offensively, lower is better defensively.
- TOV% (Turnover Rate): Turnovers per 100 possessions. Lower is better offensively (taking care of the ball), higher is better defensively (forcing turnovers).
- OREB% / DREB% (Offensive/Defensive Rebound Rate): Percentage of available rebounds grabbed. Offensive rebounds create second-chance points; defensive rebounds end opponent possessions.
- FTR (Free Throw Rate): Free throws made per field goal attempt (FTM/FGA). Measures ability to get to the line AND convert. Higher is better offensively, lower is better defensively.
Other Metrics:
- Elo Rating: Chess-style rating system that updates based on game results and opponent strength. Higher Elo indicates stronger team.
- Efficiency Margin: Point differential per 100 possessions (Offensive Efficiency – Defensive Efficiency). Accounts for pace of play.
- MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence): Trend indicator comparing 12-game and 26-game exponential moving averages. Positive MACD = improving trend, Negative MACD = declining trend.
Analysis powered by HoopSci’s advanced metrics and MACD trending indicators.

