Small Conference Game of the Day – February 8

Southern at Grambling, 6:00 PM Eastern, No TV

The Bayou Classic.  One of the best college football rivalries, held annually Thanksgiving weekend in New Orleans between the Southern University Jaguars and the Grambling State Tigers.  And as college basketball heads into “Rivalry Week”, what better way to start it off than with the basketball version tonight.

Tonight’s game is also a battle between the best team in the SWAC and the worst.  Southern is the defending SWAC tournament champion and enters tonight’s game at 8-1 in league and 12-10 overall, being the only postseason-eligible SWAC team with a record over .500 and RPI, BPI and KenPom ratings in the top 200.  While Texas Southern was expected to be the team to beat in the SWAC this year, the Jaguars have a three game lead over TSU and appear to be well on their way to a #1 seed in the SWAC tourney.

Grambling, on the other hand, has not won a game against a Division I opponent since March 2012.  They are 0-9 in the SWAC and 1-17 overall this year, with their RPI, BPI and KenPom ratings all being dead last in Division I (though only narrowly worse than the ratings for Southern Utah).  The Tigers are a strong contender to repeat as Centenary Award winners, the award given annually by HoopsHD to the worst team in Division I.  While a win in today’s SCGD will certainly be a major upset, never count out the home team in a rivalry game.  After all, that is why they play the games.