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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MADISON, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 22: Axel Mpoyo #11 of the Grambling State Tigers (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Semifinals

1) Prairie View vs 4) Jackson St

As much as I would love for an upset to happen here so I can watch Tristan Jarrett play more, I can’t see his firepower being enough to beat the Panthers. Jarrett was hurt for one of the team’s two matchups against Prairie View, but in the game he played he struggled mightily against coach Byron Smith’s press, turning the ball over a season-high 8 times. Unfourtantly for Jackson St, Prairie View’s press is the perfect kryptonite to their Superman Jarrett. The Panthers move on to the finals.

Prediction: Prairie View 76 – Jackson St 65

2) Southern vs 6) Grambling St

Now, this matchup would be very interesting. Though Southern is playing the best basketball in the SWAC right now by far, they were swept in the season series by Grambling. Southern was unable to impose their defense in both tilts, as Grambling shot over 40% from the field while their force-in-the-post Devante Jackson had his way, combining for 36 points on 14-21 shooting between both games. While I have no doubt coach Sean Woods will come up with a strategy to slow Jackson down, I’m just not sure Southern has the athletes to keep him in check for a full 40 minutes. We may have a cinderella in the Grambling St Tigers, folks.

Prediction: Southern 60 – Grambling 66

Finals

1) Prairie View vs 6) Grambling

And now here’s where the Tigers turn back into a pumpkin. Unlike Southern, Prairie has both the athletes and the defense to make Devante Jackson’s life miserable. Byron Smith’s press never let Jackson or his sidekick Ish Smith get into a rhythm, as they combined to shoot just 17 of 42 from the field between both matchups. Grambling’s defense could also do nothing to stop Prairie View’s senior captain Gerad Andrus, as he got 20 points in both games, slashing up the Tigers respectable defense.

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I predict another stellar game for Andrus, in which he scores at will and wreaks havoc on Grambling’s stars Jackson and Smith at the frontline of the press. For the 2nd year in a row, Prairie View will win both the SWAC regular season and postseason titles and get another shot to win its first-ever NCAA tournament game.

Prediction: Prarie View 77 – Grambling 71