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SWAC basketball: After a chaotic weekend Texas Southern rises and Jackson State falls in our 2nd Power Rankings.

By Charles Wells

Jackson State Tigers' guard Chase Adams (10) tries to maneuver around Texas Southern Tigers' forward
Jackson State Tigers' guard Chase Adams (10) tries to maneuver around Texas Southern Tigers' forward / Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY
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9. Prairie View A&M (Last Week: 10) (Last Weekend’s record: 1-1) SWAC: 3-4 (upcoming games: 2/03 vs TSU 2/05 vs UAPB)

The Panthers were able to salvage a weekend split with a victory over AAMU. Statistically the Alabama State game was even but PVU could never catch the Hornets. One common theme of the lower-ranked teams is inconsistency. The Panthers have shown the ability to hang around but they can't knock teams out. Texas Southern awaits in a huge rivalry match-up. The Panthers have a makeup game against UAPB on Monday (weather 1/15), giving them a much tougher weekend. Sitting at 3-4 PVU is only one game from a tournament spot. We will see if they can make the jump.

8. Jackson State (Last Week: 2) (Last Weekend’s Record: 0-2) SWAC: 4-3 (upcoming games: 2/03 vs GSU 2/05 vs SU)

The award for biggest drop (if I had one) goes to the Tigers. An 0-2 Florida trip drops the Tigers from 2 to 8. Not only did they drop in my rankings, they also dropped out of first place in the SWAC. Right now the Tigers are bruised and battered, can the Tigers find a way to survive? Chase Adams scoring 35 points could not help JSU avoid the upset by FAMU. I'm not quite worried yet about Jackson State. But a huge home weekend series against Grambling State and Southern could seriously damage their title homes. This is a talented team, can they survive the adversity?

7. University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (Last Week: 6) (Last Weekend’s Record: 1-1) SWAC: 4-3 (upcoming games: 2/03 @MVSU 2/05 @PVU)

16 was an important number for the Golden Lions, as they lost to Southern by 16. And then on Monday UAPB defeated Grambling State by 16. UAPB is the definition of an offensive team, when they're on they're on. And when they're off, they're really off. This weekend proved this fact, against SU. UAPB shot 20% from deep. Monday against Grambling they hit 43% (including 75% in the first half). Milton and French torched the Tigers for 49 combined points. A road trip to MVSU (never easy) and a make up game (weather 1/15) can help the Golden Lions strengthen their hold on a tournament spot.

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