SWAC MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:
- Bethune-Cookman
- Southern
- Jackson State
- Alabama State
- Texas Southern
- Alabama A&M
- Grambling
- Florida A&M
- Prairie View A&M
- Alcorn State
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- Mississippi Valley State
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SWAC 1ST TEAM:
-Michael Jacobs – Southern
-Daniel Rouzan – Bethune-Cookman
-Daeshun Ruffin – Jackson State (Preseason Player of the Year)
-Kintavious Dozier – Alabama A&M
-Doctor Bradley – Bethune-Cookman
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SWAC 2ND TEAM:
-Zaire Hayes – Texas Southern
-Dorian McMillian – Jackson State
-Jordan Chatman – Florida A&M
-Seneca Willoughby – Bethune-Cookman
-Micah Simpson – Alabama State
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
-Bethune-Cookman was one of the hottest teams in the SWAC in the home stretch of the season last year winning six straight before losing in the conference tournament. With three key starters back from that team, and the addition of Doctor Bradley, who averaged nearly 20ppg at Arkansas-Pine Bluff a year ago, Cookman is this year’s favorite to win the SWAC.
-Southern was last year’s 1st place team, but they were surprised in the conference tournament and their season suddenly ended. Just one starter returns from that team, and like a lot of teams in the conference they are having to rebuild their roster. They have some pretty solid JUCO transfers mixed in with some promising freshmen, so the expectations within the conference are high as usual.
-I like this Jackson State team. I think they are good enough to win the league. Three starters are back from a team that won ten out of eleven down the stretch last year before losing a close on to Alabama State in the SWAC Championship Game. Daeshun Ruffin is perhaps the best player in the conference, and he is joined by Dorian McMillan who also earned preseason all-conference honors.
-Alabama State had a phenomenal season last year where they won 20 games after only managing to win more than 10 once in the previous four years. They went on to win the SWAC Tournament and then won one of the most exciting games of the entire NCAA Tournament when they beat Saint Francis at the buzzer (www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBm8i7frBPg). Unfortunately they are now in a rebuild mode as just one starter is back. They do have six guys transferring in with D-1 experience, including Trey Miller who averaged double figures at UTRGV, so the cupboard is not entirely bare.
-Texas Southern is having to rebuild after losing four starters, but Zaire Hayes returns after averaging double figures a year ago and is someone they will be relying on this year. They do have several experienced upperclassmen on their roster, but they do not have a whole lot of guys who appear to be standout players at the D-1 level, so guys will have to step up if they are going to be successful.
-Alabama A&M had a rough season last year, and they are completely starting over this year as none of their starters are returning. Kintavious Dozier, who averaged double-figures for Grambling a year ago, earned preseason honors and appears to be one of their top players. Sami Pissis, who was a standout player for New Hampshire, also joins the roster, so AAMU does have some pieces. They should be better this year, and I think they can finish in the top half of the standings.
-Grambling is another team that is faced with replacing their entire starting lineup. After two 20+ win seasons in a row, they won just 12 games last year. Having said that, it does appear that they have some talent coming in. Derrius Ward averaged double figures at Coppin State last year and was a good outside shooter, Paul McMillan IV averaged 20ppg at Canisius (UPDATE: https://x.com/ThePortalReport/status/1975667083179659320), and they should get some help from guys that are transferring in from non-D-1 schools.
-Florida A&M has struggled in recent years, but did show signs of improvement last year winning 14 total games and managing a winning record in SWAC play. The problem is that just one starter is back, so it will be hard for them to build on that momentum. Charlie Ward takes over as head coach, and he will be relying on guys who are non-D-1 transfers to make contributions.
-Times were tough at Prairie View last year, and times do not look like they will get a whole lot better. They won just five total games a year ago, and only one scholarship player is back. They do not appear to have a whole lot of players with solid D-1 experience, so it will likely be a struggle.
-Alcorn State was a modest 11-7 in SWAC play last year, but like so many other teams not a single starter is returning and they will have to rely players with limited and unproven D-1 experience to fill out the roster. It could be a long year for the Braves.
-Arkansas-Pine Bluff was one of the worst teams in all of D-1 last year. No starters are back, and perhaps a roster overhaul is what they needed, but the expectations are not high. Like a lot of other teams that are picked to finish near the bottom, their roster is lacking in proven D-1 experience.
-Simply put, Mississippi Valley State is one of the worst D-1 programs in existence. In looking at their NET, they have finished 355th or worse for the last four years, and chances are they will be among the worst teams in the country again this year.
