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SWAC Basketball: 2021 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

By Daniel Benjamin

NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Byron Smith of the Prairie View A&M Panthers in action against the Seton Hall Pirates during a college basketball game at Prudential Center on December 22, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Byron Smith of the Prairie View A&M Panthers in action against the Seton Hall Pirates during a college basketball game at Prudential Center on December 22, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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SWAC Basketball
SWAC Basketball Damion Baugh (10) Jackson State Tigers guard Tristan Jarrett Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

Key Players

Jayveous McKinnis, Jackson State

The 6-7 junior forward is a force to reckon with as he is the only player in the league to average a double-double while also providing rim protection. McKinnis, who has posted seven double-doubles, is averaging 12.2 points along with 12.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while shooting 55.4% from the field. He ranks 60th in the nation in offensive rebound percentage (12.5%), fifth in defensive rebound percentage (32.5%), and 86th in block percentage (8.5%).

Tristan Jarrett, Jackson State

When the 6-4 senior guard has the ball in his hands, you know he is going to fire away.  Jarrett has the highest usage percentage in the SWAC and leads the league in scoring at 20.1 points while also draining 3.0 3-pointers at a 35.8% clip. A good free-throw shooter, he also draws a lot of fouls.

Cam Mack, Prairie View

The 6-2 point guard is the table-setter for the Panthers on both ends of the floor. Mack ranks sixth in the nation with a 41.6% assist rate and 16th nationally in steal rate at 4.5%. He also has a 2.47 assist-to-turnover rate and has topped 10 dimes in a game five times.  The former Nebraska Cornhusker is averaging 12.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.1 caroms.

Shaun Doss, UAPB

Doss is the catalyst for the Golden Lions. The 6-5 senior guard, who has topped the 20-point mark nine times, is averaging 16.5 points and 5.7 rebounds. He is a good defensive rebounder and draws a lot of fouls, as a result, he gets to the line often.

Michael Weathers, Texas Southern

The 6-3 senior guard does a little bit of everything for the Tigers. Weathers, who has scored in double-figures in 17 of 19 games, including scoring 20 points on seven occasions, averages 16.2 points along with 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks.

Troymain Crosby, Alcorn State

Crosby is an excellent defensive rebounder and strong free throw shooter who gets to the line frequently as he draws 7.3 fouls per 40 minutes. The 6-4 guard, who is the conference’s second-leading scorer, has recorded one double-double and topped the 20-point mark eight times.

Jawun Daniels, Prairie View A&M

Daniels is very efficient and can score from the inside and perimeter. The 6-7 guard is on a nine-game double-figure scoring streak, which includes posting a career-high 30 points against Alcorn State in his last outing, and has scored 20 or more points in three of the last six games. He is averaging 14.6 points, 5.3 boards while shooting 55.3% from the field as well as 43.3% from beyond the arc.