SWAC: Conference tournament preview

SWAC

BEGINS: Tuesday

CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU

WHERE: Houston

OVERVIEW: Conference-champion Texas Southern is the favorite to take home its third consecutive tournament title. The Tigers have four players scoring in double figures, including freshman forward Derrick Griffin, who is averaging a double-double (13.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game). One of Texas Southern’s biggest challengers, Alcorn State, might participate in the tournament but is ineligible to advance to the NCAA tournament because of APR issues. With the Braves out of the picture, Jackson State, Southern and Alabama State figure to be the Tigers’ biggest roadblocks. Keep an eye out on Alabama A&M’s Ladarius Tabb, though, if you want to see scoring. The senior guard leads the conference in scoring, averaging 19.3 points per game, and has scored 20 or more points in 13 games. If the Bulldogs are to make a run in the tournament, it will be through Tabb.

STANDINGS

Texas Southern (16-2, 17-13)

*Alcorn State (13-5, 15-14)

Jackson State (12-6, 17-14)

Southern (11-7, 19-12)

Alabama State (9-9, 14-16)

Prairie View A&M (7-11, 7-23)

Mississippi Valley State (6-12, 6-26)

Alabama A&M (6-12, 10-17)

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-12, 8-24)

Grambling State (4-14, 7-23)

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