Under the Radar Game of the Day – Wednesday, December 16: Alabama A&M at Western Kentucky

Under the Radar Game of the Day: Alabama A&M at Western Kentucky, 9:00 PM Eastern, Hilltopper Sports Network/Fox College Sports-Pacific

In 1980, shortly after becoming a Division I conference, SWAC teams won 15 true road non-conference games against Division I opponents.  In 1986, they won 14.  In 1988, it was 11 and in 1990 it was 10.  In the 25 years since then, the most wins was only 7.  The lower number was partly the conference becoming one of the lower rated leagues in Division I, but also a sign of the changing times.  In the early 80s, SWAC teams would play road games against similar competition — smaller conference schools or independents that were not expected to challenge for NCAA Tournament berths.  Today, SWAC teams need to schedule the majority of their road games at the “big boys” in order to cash the check that comes with playing these “buy games”.  Despite the changed landscape, entering play tonight, the SWAC has already picked up 9 non-conference road wins against D1 opponents, and had a chance to equal or best the 1990 mark (though the all-time mark from 1980 is probably going to be safe this year).

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day involves a team that has picked up two of those road wins already this year, at Tulane and at Jacksonville State.  The Alabama A&M Bulldogs enter play tonight with a record of 4-2.  The Bulldogs started out 4-0, but have lost at Murray State and at Saint Louis in their last two games.  They will try to stop that losing streak at Western Kentucky tonight and help the SWAC extend its best overall season in 25 years.  The Bulldogs are led by senior Ladarius Tabb.  Tabb has scored 20 or more points in all but one game so far this season.  He is not alone in leading this team though, as junior Rakiya Battle has been in double figures every game and senior Nick West in all but one game.  Having these three veterans leading the way is one of the reasons that AAMU was our preseason pick to win the SWAC.  Although Southern University has looked really good so far this season (including narrowly losing at Memphis last night), there is still no reason to doubt that the Bulldogs will be right in the hunt for the conference’s automatic bid.

Tonight’s opponent for Alabama A&M is the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.  WKU enters tonight’s game with a record of 5-4, having alternated wins and losses every game so far this season (they won at home over Indiana State on Sunday, so if that streak continues, it could be a tough night).  Their best win to date came over a Central Michigan team that we expected to contend for the MAC championship, though that team has been dealing with injuries all season long.  The Hilltoppers will look to Justin Johnson to help lead the way tonight.  Johnson scored 24 points while grabbing 10 rebounds and picking up 3 assists in the Indiana State win.  They may also be looking for Fredrick Edmond to help offensively.  Edmond scored in double figures in 5 of the team’s first 6 games, including a double-double against Belmont, but has been almost a non-factor in the last three outings, with his production and playing time having been cut back.  Perhaps that is in part due to a few other players having stepped up, including Nigel Snipes who is averaging 12.4 points per game.