2024 Preview
Superlatives:
Best Overall Team: Jackson State
Best Overall Player: Daeshun Ruffin, JSU
Best Shooter: Daeshun Ruffin, JSU
Best Defenseman: Shannon Grant, JSU
Sleeper Team (Conference): Alabama State
Sleeper Team (March): Jackson State
Grambling Guard Kintavious Dozier; Grambling Athletics
1. Grambling Tigers
2023 Record: 21-15
Guard Kintavious Dozier is one of the SWAC’s best athletes and all-around scorers. His return along with fellow backcourt mate Antwan Burnett will aid the Tigers in its title defense, as the two hope to shore up the offensive struggles — particularly the turnovers — that plagued the Tigers last season. Grambling’s slow style of play neutralizes teams playing at a moderate pace, evident from a 14-4 conference record from 2023, but Alabama A&M and Arkansas Pine-Bluff, the notorious rim-runners of the SWAC, handed Grambling losses of 10 and 16 points, respectively. Crushing its kryptonite will be paramount for the Tigers if they seek a second straight bid to the NCAA Tournament.
2. Jackson State Tigers
2023 Record: 15-17
The Tigers assembled a trio of dangerous threats across each level of the offense to bolster its roster in search of a SWAC title. Ole Miss transfer Daeshun Ruffin averaged double-digits for the Rebels last year, and Florida A&M transfer big Shannon Grant is a legitimate threat on the block. Jayme Mitchell is a solid third option due for a break out this season. JSU was one of the best rebounding teams in the conference last season, but with the progression of its backcourt, a perimeter-centric attack seems likely for the Tigers.
3. Alabama A&M Bulldogs
2023 Record: 12-23
Big guard Dailin Smith will return this season after a devastating injury cut his 2023 season short. His return will be vital for Bulldog success, as without Smith the team’s fast-paced tempo fell flat faced en route to the Bulldogs’ worst season in five years. Finding structure around him will be tough with three starters being lost this off season. Compliment Chad Moodie will be looked towards as a second option down low, as the Bulldogs search for guard play to aid the nation’s 338th ranked eFG% in 2023.
4. Alabama State Hornets
2023 Record: 13-19
The Hornets may have the best player in the SWAC on its roster with guard TJ Madlock. Although not a tremendous deep threat, Madlock’s efficiency around the rim pulverizes defenses, oftentimes leaving CJ Hines open behind the arc or big man D’Ante Bass open across the paint. The Hornets finished 310th in KenPom’s rankings and were ousted in the first round of the SWAC tournament last season, but with coach Tony Madlock’s focus on defensive toughness, expect the Hornets to contend among the top of the SWAC.
5. Texas Southern Tigers
2023 Record: 16-17
The Tigers’ throne was taken over by Grambling last season, as Texas Southern’s three year streak of NCAA Tournament appearances was snapped by a championship game loss. Coach Johnny Jones’ notorious non-conference schedule philosophy will continue this season, with the team’s first three games being matchups with Power conference foes. Zytarious Mortle and Kenny Hunter will be key pieces early for the Tigers as transfers acclimate to Jones’ coaching style.
6. Alcorn State Braves
2023 Record: 14-18
Jeremiah Kendall is an all-league candidate and the Braves have burrowed their way into the upper-half of the SWAC on a yearly basis. Alcorn State was by far and away the best rebounding team in the conference last season (39% OR%) and played at the SWAC’s slowest tempo. Still, the Braves lost three of its top four scorers and will look to new faces to produce alongside Kendall early. Consistency will be key for a team that started 1-13 just to lose four games the final two months of the regular season.
7. Southern Jaguars
2023 Record: 18-14
The Jaguars wore the league’s toughest defensive outfit in 2023, blocking 12.3% of shots and sporting a turnover percentage of over 22%. McNeese State transfer Dionjahe Thomas brings a winning pedigree to the program, and returning experience in the backcourt brings immediate optimism to Baton Rouge. The Jaguars must improve offensively, particularly on the boards, if they wish to find success in a competitive SWAC.
8. Florida A&M Rattlers
2023 Record: 6-23
The Rattlers are coming off a program worst season since its 2017 campaign, opting to move on from staff to staff and hire Patrick Crarey II from the NAIA level. Crarey brought with him multiple high-profile D-II and D-III players, but over 30 points per game departs Tallahassee as the Rattlers search for a new identity in 2024. Look for lone returner Jordan Chatman to lead early.
9. Bethune Cookman Wildcats
2023 Record: 17-17
The Wildcats finished dead even last year and were ousted in the SWAC tournament by eventual champion Grambling State. Three starters depart and with them most of the defensive prowess that lead Bethune Cookman to the nation’s 8th ranked steal percentage. Reggie Ward is probably the go-to scorer for the Wildcats — at least early — as BC looks to rebuild after losing over half of its scoring from last season.
10. Prairie View A&M Panthers
2023 Record: 10-21
PVAMU hit its low point under coach Byron Smith, totaling just 10 wins and failing to qualify for its conference tournament. Similarly to Florida A&M, the Panthers will rely on a bevy of non-D-I transfers to produce early. The problem? These transfers were bench players — at non-D-I schools. PVAMU forced turnovers at a decent rate last year and will rely on its defense to succeed early.
11. Arkansas Pine-Bluff Golden Lions
2023 Record: 13-18
The Golden Lions finished a modest 13-18 last season, its best since 2019, but lost every starter and over 80% of its scoring and rebounding. APBU was one of the nation’s worst rebounding teams last season and seldom helped that problem in the off season, opting to remain small and go with the run-and-gun philosophy.
12. Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
2023 Record: 1-30
Statistically the worst offense in all of college basketball, the Delta Devils’ lone win came against Prairie View A&M in a late February contest. MVSU has finished in the bottom three of the SWAC standings in nine of the last ten seasons. There isn’t much help this year, either. Expect the Delta Devils to finish in the cellar of college basketball yet again.