MEAC Update: Week 7
December 23, 2025The MEAC enters Week 7 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 15 – December 21, 2025
- Trending Up (Efficiency): Delaware State, MD-E Shore
- Trending Down (Efficiency): Coppin State, Howard, Morgan State, Norfolk State, NC Central
Team-by-Team Analysis
Coppin State
Record: 2-13 | Elo: 1298.1 (ranked 368 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -36.14 (ranked 363 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Balls Stolen Per Poss (Balls Stolen Per Possession): Currently ranked 357 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
- Fouls Drawn Per Poss (Fouls Drawn Per Possession): Currently ranked 208 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp Shooting (Opp Shooting): Currently ranked 351 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
- Opp FGM Per Poss (Opp FG Makes Per Possession (%)): Currently ranked 333 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
Delaware State
Record: 5-9 | Elo: 1404.5 (ranked 309 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -27.20 (ranked 350 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Off Reb Pct (Offensive Rebounding): Currently ranked 349 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
- Adj Off Eff (Adjusted Offensive Efficiency): Currently ranked 365 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
Defensive Trends:
- Def Reb Pct (Defensive Rebounding): Currently ranked 229 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
- Opp Off Tempo (Opp Offensive Possessions Per Game): Currently ranked 317 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
Howard
Record: 9-5 | Elo: 1463.3 (ranked 238 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -8.25 (ranked 227 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Off Reb Pct (Offensive Rebounding): Currently ranked 155 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
- Adj Off Eff (Adjusted Offensive Efficiency): Currently ranked 284 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp Shooting (Opp Shooting): Currently ranked 179 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
- Opp FGM Per Poss (Opp FG Makes Per Possession (%)): Currently ranked 134 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
MD-E Shore
Record: 4-12 | Elo: 1313.1 (ranked 364 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -22.32 (ranked 331 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 227 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp Turnovers (Opp Turnovers): Currently ranked 265 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
- Def Reb Pct (Defensive Rebounding): Currently ranked 286 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
Morgan State
Record: 2-10 | Elo: 1348.2 (ranked 356 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -30.78 (ranked 357 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Turnovers (Turnovers): Currently ranked 280 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
- Off Reb Pct (Offensive Rebounding): Currently ranked 205 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp Shooting (Opp Shooting): Currently ranked 355 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
- Opp FT Rate (Opp FTA/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 363 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
NC Central
Record: 4-10 | Elo: 1374.4 (ranked 337 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -27.35 (ranked 352 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Adj Off Eff (Adjusted Offensive Efficiency): Currently ranked 347 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
- 2Pt Pct (2 Point FGM/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 338 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp 2Pt Rate (Opp 2 Point Attempts/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 17 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
- Opp 2PA Per Poss (Opp 2 Point Attempts Per Possession (%)): Currently ranked 21 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🟢.
Norfolk State
Record: 6-8 | Elo: 1520.2 (ranked 154 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -14.88 (ranked 277 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Adj Off Eff (Adjusted Offensive Efficiency): Currently ranked 332 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
- FGM Per Poss (Field Goal Makes Per Possession (%)): Currently ranked 231 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp 2PM Per Poss (Opp 2 Point Makes Per Possession (%)): Currently ranked 162 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
- Opp 2Pt Pct (Opp 2 Point FGM/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 284 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🔴.
S Carolina St
Record: 1-12 | Elo: 1402.9 (ranked 311 of 365) | Efficiency Margin: -37.97 (ranked 364 of 365)
Offensive Trends:
- Off Reb Pct (Offensive Rebounding): Currently ranked 191 of 365 in D1. Trending up strongly 🟢.
- FT Rate (FTA/FGA (%)): Currently ranked 145 of 365 in D1. Trending down strongly 🔴.
Defensive Trends:
- Opp Shooting (Opp Shooting): Currently ranked 321 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.

