The SWAC Tournament tips off in Houston, Texas, this week, where the field of 10 HBCUs will face off for a chance at an NCAA Tournament automatic bid. No. 1 seed Texas Southern enters the tournament hoping to repeat as conference champions. At 16-3 in league play, the Tigers appear every bit ready to return to the Big Dance for the second year in a row.
SWAC basketball tournament 2016: Bracket, schedule and scores
Southern edged Jackson State to win the SWAC on Saturday.
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Chasing after TSU this year are Alcorn State, Jackson State and Southern, though Alcorn is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament and is playing solely for conference bragging rights. Southern and TSU are top in the conference in average scoring with 72.9 and 72.7 points per game, respectively.
Despite its No. 1 conference seed, Texas Southern could be vulnerable in Houston this week. The Tigers went just 1-11 in their non-conference schedule, with the lone win coming against UT-San Antonio at a neutral site. Southern, on the other hand, went 8-5 through their non-conference slate, with wins over Mississippi State, Tulane and Wyoming. Friday evening’s semifinal tilt thus becomes appointment viewing, should the Tigers and Jaguars clean up in their respective quarterfinal games.
The format
The SWAC Tournament tips off at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, for the third consecutive year this week, and a full 30 players across the conference’s 10 member squads all hail from the Lone Star State. The 10-team field is distributed across two halves of a bracket, and the Nos. 7-10 seeds will open the tournament’s first round Tuesday for a chance at the Nos. 1-6 seeds. No. 2 seed Alcorn State is unable to represent the conference in this year’s NCAA Tournament due to insufficient APR scores. Should the Braves win the tournament, the SWAC’s bid will be awarded to the highest remaining seed still in the field.
The teams
- Texas Southern
- Alcorn State
- Jackson State
- Southern
- Alabama State
- Prairie View A&M
- Mississippi Valley State
- Alabama A&M
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- Grambling State
Bracket
You can view the full bracket here.
Schedule and Results (all times Eastern)
Tuesday, March 8 (First Round)
Game 1: No. 7 Mississippi Valley State 87, No. 10 Grambling State 73
Game 2: No. 8 Alabama A&M def. No. 9 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Wednesday, March 9 (Quarterfinals)
Game 3: No. 7 Mississippi Valley State 64, No. 2 Alcorn State 61
Game 4: No. 1 Texas Southern 77, No. 8 Alabama A&M 69
Thursday, March 10 (Quarterfinals)
Game 5: No. 3 Jackson State 69, vs. No. 6 Prairie View A&M 51
Game 6: No. 4 Southern 83, No. 5 Alabama State 63
Friday, March 11 (Semifinals)
Game 7: No. 3 Jackson State 74, No. 7 Mississippi Valley State 68
Game 8: No. 4 Southern 81, No. 1 Texas Southern 73 (OT)
Saturday, March 12 (Finals)
Game 9: No. 4 Southern 54, No. 3 Jackson State 53
* * *
Greatest Cinderella: Was it the NC State Wolfpack or Butler Bulldogs?
Be sure to subscribe to SB Nation’s YouTube channel for highlight videos, features, analysis and more
See More:
