Texas Southern Basketball: 3 keys to a First Four victory on Wednesday

The Texas Southern Tigers aim to escape the First Four and make school history when they face North Carolina Central on Wednesday.

Texas Southern is quickly becoming a recognizable face in an NCAA Tournament that demands parity and change year after year. Just last year, they popped up in the first round of the Big Dance, succumbing to the eventual champions, North Carolina.

This year, they’re out to avenge their loss against another school from the state of North Carolina – North Carolina Central. The Eagles are familiar to the tournament themselves, going one-and-done in the First Four last season.

But the Tigers have become the dominant force in the SWAC. They have now advanced to four of the last five NCAA Tournaments, representing the conference’s best chance at capturing just the second NCAA Tournament victory in league history since 1985, when the field expanded to 64 teams.

A win would also be Texas Southern’s first in their NCAA Tournament history, and first in their Division I postseason history.

For the record, the Tigers have competed in seven NCAA Tournament games. Last year’s loss to the Tar Heels was the most lopsided result, but they did force overtime in a play-in game against UNC Asheville in 2003. They also lost to No. 2 seed Arkansas by just a single point in 1995.

The Tigers will get their opportunity to change their history on Wednesday evening, when they face the Eagles in Dayton, Ohio. The game is set to tip at 6:40 p.m. ET, and will air on truTV.

Here are three keys to a Texas Southern victory.