By Shaquille Hill
The SWAC Conference continue their struggles midway through the season, as none of the teams have winning records. In addition, several games were canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Image credit: © www.AAMUSports.com
The SWAC Conference continue their struggles midway through the season, as none of the teams have winning records. In addition, several games were canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The last game for any men’s SWAC basketball team was Alabama A&M vs Lipscomb, which A&M lost, 66-63. Conference play will begin Jan. 3.
Texas Southern seems to be story of the season so far after upsetting then No. 20 Florida. Several other games against major Division I programs were close, many games being decided by ten points or less. Since then however, the Tigers have won just one game. They are now 2-7.
Image credit: © Mississippi Valley State Athletics
They start conference play against Southern, who has the best record in the SWAC at 7-7. The Jaguars defeated Tulane November 13th, 73-70. They gave Kentucky a scare on December 7th, before losing, 76-64. They defeated Kent State 78-76 on December 19th. They also have wins against Ecclesia, Tennessee State and Southeastern Louisiana. The Jaguars are led by Tyrone Lyons, who averages 14.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Damien Sears leads the team in rebounds, averaging 5.5 rebounds a game.
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Unfortunately, every other team in the conference has a losing record, and no team besides Southern looks strong as we approach mid-January. Add in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – Prarie View A&M was forced to forfeit against the Jaguars – and the SWAC is in dire straits for conference representatives outside Baton Rouge come March Madness.
Speaking of the COVID-19 pandemic, several games have either been canceled or postponed because of the virus. Prarie View A&M and Grambling was canceled. Alcorn State and Jackson State was scheduled for Monday January 3, but will play on January 5.
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The schedule for January 5 is listed as such: Alabama A&M (2-9) takes on Mississippi Valley State (0-11), Alabama State (2-11) takes on Arkansas Pine-Bluff (2-12), Grambling State hosting (3-10) Texas Southern ( 2-8), and the aforementioned Alcorn State (1-11) against Jackson State (2-9).Barring a superb run in conference play or an early Cinderella run in SWAC Conference Tournament, the poor records and battle against COVID-19 could mean one thing: the Big Dance clock could strike midnight for the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Shaquille Hill - Sports Writer for HBCUGO.TV
