Category: SWAC

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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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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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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Alabama A&M’s Kintavious Dozier Signs With SPD Radnički Kragujevac

Brandon King

Former Alabama A&M standout Kintavious Dozier is taking his talents overseas. Dozier has signed with SPD Radnički Kragujevac, continuing his professional basketball career in Serbia after spending the 2025-26 season with the Bulldogs. The Lanett, Alabama native transferred to Alabama A&M from Grambling State and quickly became one of the Bulldogs’ top offensive contributors. He averaged 14.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game across 33 games while shooting 43.1% from the field, 37.1% from three-point range and 84.0% from the free-throw line. Dozier also earned All-SWAC Preseason First…

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Alabama A&M and Alabama Set for Historic Women’s Basketball Matchup

Brandon King

A historic in-state matchup is set for Friday, November 6, 2026, as the Alabama A&M Lady Bulldogs travel to Coleman Coliseum to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. The matchup will feature Alabama A&M head coach Dawn E. Thornton going head-to-head with Alabama head coach Pauline Love, bringing two Black women head coaches together on the sidelines for a highly anticipated matchup between the HBCU and SEC programs. While the matchup represents an important moment for women’s basketball, the historical record surrounding Alabama’s program should also be accurately recognized. Wendell…

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FAMU Basketball Lands 6-9 Senegalese Forward Benjamin Ndour

Brandon King

Florida A&M is adding international experience and versatility to its frontcourt. Benjamin Ndour, a 6-foot-9 forward from Dakar, Senegal, has signed with FAMU, according to a source who spoke with The Field of 68. Ndour most recently played professionally for Etrusca Basket San Miniato in Italy’s Serie B Interregionale. The 22-year-old previously spent time in the Italian basketball system with Unieuro Forlì, where he was developed as both a power forward and center. Etrusca described Ndour as a physically gifted frontcourt player capable of playing both forward and center. He…

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Grambling State to Face Northern Illinois in Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon

Brandon King

Grambling State will help usher in the 2026-27 college basketball season in one of the most unique games on the opening-day schedule. The Tigers are slated to face Northern Illinois at 3:00 a.m. ET on Nov. 2 as part of The Field of 68’s Opening Day Marathon, a 24-hour event that will showcase college basketball from start to finish. The game will be played in Rock Hill, South Carolina, with fans across the country able to tune in during the overnight hours as the marathon keeps the opening day of…

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