SWAC Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

DAYTON, OHIO - MARCH 19: Gary Blackston #3 of the Prairie View A&M Panthers is helped up by teammates during the second half against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in the First Four of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 19, 2019 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 16: Trayvon Reed #5 of the Texas Southern Tigers (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

First Round

1) Prairie View vs 8) Alabama A&M

Although Prairie View is coming into the tourney ice-cold after losing their final 2 games of the season, there’s no way they get upset here. They handled A&M fairly easily in the team’s 2 meetings this year, winning by double digits both times and also forcing double-digit turnovers both times against that had the 2nd fewest turnovers in the league this year. A&M prides itself on defense and taking care of the ball on the offensive end, something the failed to do in both games against the Panthers. Prairie View will once again beat them by double digits.

Prediction: Prairie View 71 – Alabama A&M 59

2) Southern vs 7) Alabama State

Though Southern has 5 losses in conference, they all came against top-tier SWAC teams, so I don’t see an upset happening here either. And while State’s offense looked pretty good the first time these 2 teams played, Southern’s conference-best defense absolutely smothered State the 2nd time, holding them to just 44 points on an abysmal 25% shooting as a team. I expect this game to go similarly.

Prediction: Southern 62 – Alabama State 48

3) Texas Southern vs 6) Grambling St

For those of you who were wondering if I was going to go all chalk with my predictions, I give u the first upset of the SWAC tourney. Although Texas Southern swept the season series between these 2, March Madness is all about getting hot at the right time, and Texas Southern is colder than a December in Canada.

Losers of 3 of their last 5, the Gamelogs fumbled away the 2 seed and are a prime target to be sent packing in the first round. Grambling, on the other hand, won 3 of their last 4 games, shooting above 40% in each of those games. Texas Southern had extremely high hopes coming into this season, but their recent cold streak will send them home utterly disappointed.

Prediction: Texas Southern 78 – Grambling St 82

4) Jackson St vs 5) Alcorn St

In what should be the most intriguing match in the first round, both Jackson and Alcorn St come into the tourney red hot. While Jackson State has ridden the momentum created by Snacks into a 4 games win streak, Alcorn St knocked off both Prairie View AND Texas Southern to close out their season.

While Alcorn State’s conference-leading offense is scorching hot, Jackson State’s stud Tristan Jarret lit Alcorn up for 24 points on 50% shooting en route to a 30 point blowout the last time these two teams played. While I expect this game to be a lot closer and even come down to the wire given the way Alcorn’s offense looks right now, Jarret’s heroics will be enough to carry his Tigers onto the next round.

Prediction: Jackson St 73 – Alcorn St 71