Tag: 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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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: 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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Robert Covington Joins Nolan Smith’s Staff as Chief Basketball Officer

Brandon King

Tennessee State University has announced that former NBA standout Robert Covington is joining head coach Nolan Smith’s staff as the program’s Chief Basketball Officer, adding another accomplished basketball mind to a program coming off one of the most historic seasons in school history. Covington announced the move through Tennessee State men’s basketball, marking a significant homecoming for one of the most decorated players in program history. The former Tiger brings an impressive professional résumé to the position. Covington played more than a decade in the NBA, appearing in more than…

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Kevin Durant Gifts Tennessee State Basketball Team His Latest Nike KD 19 Signature Sneaker

Brandon King

It appears that Tennessee State’s new Nike partnership is already paying high profile dividends. Kevin Durant is making sure the Tennessee State Tigers are stepping onto the court in style. 🐅🔥 The NBA superstar has gifted the Tennessee State men’s basketball team pairs of his latest signature sneaker, the Nike KD 19, giving the HBCU program an early look at one of Nike Basketball’s newest performance models. Photos shared by Tennessee State basketball show the Tigers rocking the KD 19, adding another connection between Durant and the HBCU basketball community.…

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Morgan State Announces Challenging 2026-27 Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule

Brandon King

BALTIMORE, Md. — Morgan State men’s basketball is set for a challenging start to the 2026-27 season. The Bears have officially announced a 15-game non-conference schedule that includes six home games at Hill Field House, the inaugural 410 Invitational, and marquee road matchups against Maryland and Auburn. (Morgan State University Athletics⁠) Head coach Kevin Broadus, the reigning MEAC Coach of the Year, will lead Morgan State into a schedule designed to test the Bears early and prepare them for Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. Morgan State opens the season at home…

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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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