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MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:
- Texas Southern
- Prairie View A&M
- Jackson State
- Grambling
- Southern
- Florida A&M
- Alcorn State
- Alabama State
- Alabama A&M
- Bethune Cookman
- Arkansas Pine Bluff
- Mississippi Valley State
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
-This is a league that always seems to struggle to get inside the First Four, and almost never seems to get above the #16 line. When it comes to OOC games, home games are a rarity. The majority of the league is on the receiving end of buy games, which means getting any sort of wins to collectively help with the metrics is tough.
-Texas Southern returns four key starters from a team that made the NCAA Tournament a year ago. If there is a SWAC team that can get above the #16 line it’s probably this one. Johnny Jones has done exceptionally well since taking over and I think that will continue this year.
-Prairie View ran the table last year in league play before losing in the championship game. They do return three starters, including Jawaun Daniels who averaged over 15ppg, and should be the nucleus of a very strong backcourt. There is reason for high expectations in Prairie View.
-Coach Donte Jackson has done really well in his four years at Grambling. This was a team that struggled to win any games at all, and he has put together an overall winning record during his tenure and really raised the expectations. With three starters back from a year ago they should once again be able to finish in the top half of the league.
-Jackson State is another team that ran the table during the regular season last year, and there were hopes that we’d see two undefeated teams in the conference championship game. They ended up losing in the semifinals but with three starters back the expectations are once again high. Unfortunately they will have to replace their leading scorer and one of the better players in the SWAC from a year ago in Tristan Jarrett, but if they can do that they can be in contention.
-Southern was a middle of the pack team a year ago…and looks to be a middle of the pack team again this year. Three starters are back, but even with that I don’t see them keeping pace with the top-three teams in the league.
-Florida A&M comes over from the MEAC, and I’m a little surprised the Rattlers aren’t getting a little more love. All five starters are back and with the nucleus of talent they have they could make some noise in this conference.
-Alcorn State will struggle this year. There starters are back…but they’re back from a team that went through a tough season last year, and that could very well continue into this year.
-Alabama State and Alabama A&M both return a majority of their starters. The question is whether or not that will translate into wins given how much both teams struggled a year ago.
-Bethune Cookman is new to the SWAC this year after coming over from the MEAC. They didn’t play at all a year ago so it’s hard to forecast just what they’ve got this year, but considering that they’re having to start over it will probably be a rather frustrating debut. Not nearly as frustrating as not getting to play at all, but frustrating nonetheless.
-Arkansas Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State are just not very good. I don’t want to pile on but I will say that both of them are solid Centenary Award candidates, particularly Mississippi Valley State.