Category: Hbcu basketball

2026 SWAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll: Bethune-Cookman Leads the Way

Brandon King

image via the Southwestern Athletic Conference The 2026-27 SWAC men’s basketball season is approaching, and the conference’s preseason poll has officially set the expectations. The votes are in. Bethune-Cookman has been selected as the 2026-27 Southwestern Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball preseason favorite, but the Wildcats aren’t the only team generating plenty of attention. The conference’s annual predicted order of finish features several familiar programs near the top, while a few of last season’s results make some of the preseason placements particularly interesting. 🏀 2026 SWACMBB Preseason Poll Rank Team Points…

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SWAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll Is Out: Southern Picked No. 1, But Alabama A&M Is Right Behind Them

Brandon King

image via Alexis Blue/SWAC The votes are officially in. The Southwestern Athletic Conference has released its 2026-27 Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish, and the preseason race already has plenty of intrigue. Southern has been picked to finish first, but the reigning SWAC regular-season champion Alabama A&M is right on its heels. The Lady Jaguars received 234 points and 10 first-place votes, while Alabama A&M collected 229 points and eight first-place votes — just a five-point difference between the top two teams. That sets up an intriguing season between the…

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BREAKING: Tuskegee Football Launches National Search for New Head Coach

Brandon King

TUSKEGEE, Ala. — Tuskegee University has relieved Aaron James of his duties as head football coach and launched a national search for the next leader of the Golden Tigers football program. The university announced the decision Sunday, October 4. Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach Keith Higdon will serve as Tuskegee’s interim head coach while the university conducts its search. Tuskegee Athletic Director Reginald S. Ruffin thanked James for his service to the university and football program, noting that James is a Tuskegee alumnus who represented his alma mater…

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Daeshun Ruffin Is BACK at Jackson State

Brandon King

Reigning SWAC Player of the Year Daeshun Ruffin will return to Jackson State for the 2026–27 season, the school announced Thursday. Ruffin is coming off one of the most productive individual seasons in the country, averaging 23.3 points, 5.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 42.6% from the field and 84.3% from the free-throw line. His 23.3 points per game ranked fourth nationally during the 2025–26 season. He also scored at least 30 points eight times and became one of only three Division I players nationally…

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Florida A&M Men’s Basketball Set for 2026 Showdown in St. Pete

Brandon King

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M men’s basketball is heading to St. Petersburg this November for the 2026 Showdown in St. Pete, giving the Rattlers another opportunity to compete on a national stage. The four-day event is scheduled for Nov. 11–14 at the McArthur Center on the campus of Eckerd College and features five NCAA Division I programs: Florida A&M, George Mason, Bradley, Kansas City and Coppin State. FAMU’s Showdown Opener The Rattlers will open the event on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, against Kansas City. Date Time Matchup Location Nov.…

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BREAKING: Senate Passes Protect College Sports Act, 77-22; Bill Now Heads to House

Brandon King

The U.S. Senate has taken a major step toward creating a national framework for college sports. The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, 77-22, on Monday, sending legislation designed to establish federal rules governing NIL, athlete compensation, transfers, eligibility and other aspects of college athletics to the House of Representatives. The bipartisan bill was introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and has advanced through the Senate after months of negotiations. Now comes the more uncertain part of the process: the House. The House is not…

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Senate Rejects $5 Million Salary Cap for College Coaches

Brandon King

The U.S. Senate has rejected an amendment that would have placed a $5 million annual salary cap on college coaches, leaving the issue of escalating coaching compensation outside the current version of the college sports legislation. The amendment was introduced by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) as part of the debate surrounding the Protect College Sports Act. The proposal would have prohibited an institution from providing more than $5 million per year in compensation to a coach of a varsity sports team.  The proposed cap would have…

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Aminata Seck Was Supposed to Be Traveling With Her Team. Instead, She Has Spent More Than Six Weeks in ICE Custody.

Brandon King

Kentucky State University women’s basketball player Aminata Seck was supposed to be on a team trip to New York. Instead, the 26-year-old senior from Senegal has spent more than six weeks in federal immigration custody after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Aug. 7, 2026. Seck was traveling with the Kentucky State basketball team when she was detained, according to her attorney and multiple reports. What has happened since has raised questions about her immigration case, her access to medical care…

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BREAKING: Rust College Names Former NBA Lottery Pick Darius Miles General Manager

Brandon King

Rust College has added former NBA lottery pick Darius Miles to its men’s basketball program. The HBCU announced that Miles, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, has been named General Manager of Rust College Men’s Basketball. Miles went directly from high school to the NBA, where he was selected third overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2000. He went on to play for the Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies during a nine-year NBA career. He was also named to the NBA…

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BREAKING: SWAC TV Expands National Reach With Dedicated FAST Channel Across Major Streaming Platforms

Brandon King

The Southwestern Athletic Conference is taking another major step in expanding the national audience for HBCU sports. The SWAC has announced the launch of a dedicated free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel for SWAC TV, bringing conference programming to a broader audience across several major streaming platforms. The new SWAC TV FAST channel will be available through Prime Video, Plex, Xumo Play, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV and Dingo TV, with additional distribution platforms expected to be announced later. Unlike traditional subscription-based streaming services, FAST channels allow viewers to access…

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