If there is a league in the NCAA that is disproportionately affected by APR sanctions, it is the SWAC. This year, two of the ten teams in this conference were ineligible for postseason play because of APR violations. One of these team, Grambling, happened to have won the conference this year. Though they won the regular season title, the Tigers will have no chance to play for an NCAA berth, nor even their reward for winning the regular season title in the NIT.
The remaining eight teams that are eligible will play in three rounds. The first round will take place at campus sites at the higher seed and the semifinals and final will take place at the Delmar Fieldhouse in Houston, Texas.
Quarterfinals-Tuesday, March 6th
#8 Mississippi Valley State vs. #1 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
#5 Jackson State vs. #4 Southern
#7 Alcorn State vs. #2 Prairie View A&M
#6 Alabama State vs. #3 Texas Southern
Semifinals-Friday, March 9th
#5 Jackson State vs. #1 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
#3 Texas Southern vs. #2 Prairie View A&M
Final-Saturday, March 10th
Texas Southern has had modest success as SWAC teams go in this decade, notching a couple of regular season wins against power conference teams a few years ago. However, the last time a SWAC team won an NCAA Tournament game was in the play in game in 2010 and the last time a SWAC team got a win in the Round of 64 was in 1993. With the SWAC champion bound for the First Four, a win is possible, a second is extremely unlikely. But for these low major conferences, just getting there is the ultimate goal.
Jackson State 74, Texas Southern 80
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