CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday. Up next: The SWAC Tournament.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference has been competitive the entire season as the top six teams are separated by three games or less. Grambling and Alcorn State are the favorites going into this year’s SWAC Tournament, but Texas Southern and Southern could be dark horses for the championship.
2024 SWAC Awards
Player of the Year: Jeremiah Kendall, Alcorn State
Freshman of the Year: Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt, Alcorn State
Transfer of the Year: Tai’Reon Joseph, Southern
Coach of the Year: Donte’ Jackson, Grambling
First Team:
- G: Kintavious Dozier, Grambling (13.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 45.9 FG%)
- G: PJ Henry, Texas Southern (15.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.0 SPG)
- G: Tai’Reon Joseph, Southern (20.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.6 BPG)
- G: Ken Evans, Jackson State (18.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 40.1 3P%)
- F: Jeremiah Kendall, Alcorn State (16.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, 52.9 FG%)
Second Team:
- G: Rayquan Brown, Mississippi Valley State (18.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 SPG)
- G: Jonathan Cisse, Texas Southern (12.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 39.5 3P%)
- G: Brandon Davis, Southern (12.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 37.7 3P%)
- G: Kylen Milton, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (17.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 35.1 3P%)
- F: Brian Myles, Prairie View A&M (11.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 55.9 FG%)
SWAC Tournament Simulation
Quarterfinals – Wed., Mar. 13 – Thurs., Mar. 14
2. Alcorn State (14-17, 13-5) vs 7. Alabama A&M (10-21, 9-9) – Mar. 13 at 3 p.m. on ESPN+
Alcorn State won the only matchup by just three points, but that game was on the road in Huntsville. With this matchup being on a neutral court, I would expect the Braves to take care of business with ease in the first-round matchup.
Drew’s pick: Alcorn State
3. Texas Southern (14-15, 12-6) vs 6. Jackson State (15-16, 11-7) – Mar. 14 at 3 p.m. on ESPN+
Each of these teams won the regular season matchup on their home court as they finished three seeds apart with just one-game difference in their conference records. PJ Henry has been dominant all season, and I see that continuing in the SWAC Tournament.
Drew’s pick: Texas Southern
1. Grambling (17-14, 14-4) vs 8. Alabama State (13-18, 8-10) – Mar. 13 at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN+
It’s a rematch of the final round of the regular season, and Alabama State is going to be riding the high horse. Even though it went to double overtime, Grambling will still have a sour taste in its mouth after a disappointing end to the regular season and come out with a point to prove.
Drew’s pick: Grambling
4. Southern (18-13, 12-6) vs 5. Bethune-Cookman (16-15, 11-7) – Mar. 14 at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN+Â
Bethune-Cookman swept the regular season matchup against Southern as both matchups were decided by no more than two possessions. While momentum is on the Wildcats’ side, it’s hard to go against Tai’Reon Joseph and his 20.5 points per game.
Drew’s pick: Southern
Semifinals – Fri., Mar. 15
1. Grambling vs 4. Southern – 3 p.m. on ESPN+
The Tigers swept the regular season series against the Jaguars, and Southern will certainly be the underdog in this matchup. Even though it’s hard to beat a team three times in a row, I think Grambling State is the superior team and expect that to be shown in the semifinals.
Drew’s Pick: Grambling
2. Alcorn State vs 3. Texas Southern – 9:30 p.m. on ESPN+
Jeremiah Kendall and PJ Henry will be the prominent figures in this matchup after the visiting team came away victorious in the regular season. If any game in the tournament needs more than 40 minutes to decide a winner, this will more than likely be the one. I see Henry and the Tigers having a slight edge.
Drew’s pick: Texas Southern
Championship – Sat., Mar. 16
1. Grambling vs 3. Texas Southern – 9:30 p.m. on ESPNU
It’s a battle of the Tigers in the SWAC Championship and much like Texas Southern’s semifinal matchup, this one could possibly need more than extra basketball to determine which team cuts the net down. Dozier Kintavious will make his presence felt and lead Grambling to the big dance.
Drew’s pick: Grambling
[…] has wrapped up with Grambling winning the championship for the first time in school history. In the SWAC preview, I had Grambling knocking off Texas Southern in the title game. While I didn’t predict every […]