Tag: SWAC 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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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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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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Alcorn State Offers 2028 3-Star Guard Monta Ellis Jr., Son of New GM Monta Ellis

Brandon King

Alcorn State has extended a scholarship offer to one of the nation’s emerging backcourt prospects. According to a post on his Instagram account, 2028 three-star guard Monta Ellis Jr. has received an offer from the Braves. The Texas native is coming off a productive sophomore campaign at Walnut Grove High School, where he averaged 14.5 points per game, establishing himself as one of the top players in the 2028 recruiting class. The offer is particularly noteworthy given Ellis Jr.‘s family ties to the program. His father, former NBA standout Monta…

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Texas Southern Set to Hire Seton Hall Assistant Corey Lowery as Next Head Basketball Coach

Brandon King

Texas Southern appears poised to name its next leader on the sidelines. Pending approval by the university’s board, Texas Southern intends to finalize a deal to hire Corey Lowery as its next head men’s basketball coach, according to multiple reports. Lowery joins the Tigers after spending the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Seton Hall. During his tenure in South Orange, he was part of a coaching staff that recorded 42 victories over its first two seasons together—the most wins by a first-year coaching staff through its initial…

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Alcorn State Hires Former NBA Guard Monta Ellis as Men’s Basketball General Manager

Brandon King

Alcorn State has added an accomplished NBA veteran to its basketball program, hiring Monta Ellis as the men’s basketball general manager. Ellis, who enjoyed a 12-year NBA career, brings extensive experience at the highest level of the game to the Braves. His hiring reflects the growing trend of Division I programs adding general managers to oversee roster management, recruiting, NIL strategy, and player personnel in the modern era of college athletics. Working alongside head coach Jake Morton, Ellis will help shape the program’s roster, evaluate talent, and provide mentorship to…

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