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SWAC Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

By Bryan Mauro

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 22: Chase Cormier
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 22: Chase Cormier /
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DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 17: Eddie Reese #3 of the Southern University Jaguars battles Gary Trent Jr #2 and Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils for a rebound during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 17, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 78-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 17: Eddie Reese #3 of the Southern University Jaguars battles Gary Trent Jr #2 and Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils for a rebound during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 17, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 78-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

5. Southern Jaguars

The Jaguars had a tough year a season ago by their standards. Southern has always been known as the most successful SWAC conference program in history. Their struggles can be traced back to one key factor. Two seasons ago long-time head coach Roman Banks decided to take the Athletic Director position at Southern leaving the basketball team without a coach.

A season ago the head coach of the Jaguars program was just given the interim tag knowing that he would be replaced by seasons end. Southern hired Sean Woods to be their coach. Woods has had previous success in the league-leading Mississippi Valley State to a 17-1 conference record. It won’t take long for the Jaguar program to get back to relevance with Woods in charge.

Woods will have his work cut out for him in year one, as long time Jaguar star Jared Sam is no longer in College. Sam was able to do everything for the Jaguars and was one of the better players in the SWAC. His loss is going to hinder what the Jaguars are trying to do on offense. The new coaching staff is hoping senior guard Eddie Reese can carry this team this year. Reese and big man Sidney Umude are the two players returning who are going to have to carry the load.

When Woods took over the Southern program, he lost a lot of players to transfers. The Jaguar program is in good hands with Woods. The new head coach is going to need a few years to bring this program back up to the top of the conference.

When Southern is good and able to infuse their program with talent they are always a tough out in any tournament and any game. They have a few NCAA tournament wins under their belt and have given many top seeds a good game. Jaguar fans wont have to wait long for a winner.