I’m leaving Thursday for my trip to Louisiana, and I’ll touch on that later, but I also wanted to check in on the competitors for a game I will be heading to 3 weeks later in Montgomery, Alabama. So let’s check in on the teams I’ll be seeing on March 9th, the Jackson State Tigers and the Alabama State Hornets.
The SWAC is the lowest rated conference in all of college basketball, which is really saying something, however these two teams are at or near the top of the conference. Jackson State, presently at 7-4 in the conference after a win tonight against Southern, good enough for second place in the SWAC. They have the veteran experience, having made a trip to the Big Dance last year and losing soundly to Florida in the first round. This year, they have muddled through their non-conference schedule, with their only non-conference wins coming at Iona and at home against Cal-Davis. They were unimpressive in games against their other opponents ranging from Southeastern Louisiana to Baylor, but were made to play their first 6 games on the road.
Grant Maxey a sophomore forward, and Darrion Griffin a junior guard are the leading scorers on a team that likes to consistently put up 80 points. When they score fewer, they have won only twice in conference games. On their player pages for the team site, Jackson State helpfully informs us that “Maxey is a talented basketball player.” Additionally, it says that Head Coach Tevester Anderston coached Charles Barkley and someone named Church Person. It’s unclear if they mean Chuck Person or simply someone who goes to church. Perhaps he coached a priest. Additionally, 7 foot freshman Brandon Baker takes a frightening photograph. Lastly, guard Catraiva Givens has the best name of any player on the roster. Plowing through this roster, Jackson State definitely has the size advantage for their game in May.
On the other side of the ball, Alabama State looks to be in the SWAC drivers seat at 9-2. They actually have pulled off a few non-conference wins, winning at SMU and at home against a frisky Oakland team, and against a couple of D-II squads. They only lost by 3 at home against Auburn and played competitively with Miami. Since then, they’ve been rolling through the SWAC with relative ease, losing only 2 road games, the first at Jackson State in January and last Friday at Mississippi Valley State. The Hornet’s up tempo attack is predicated more on speed and quickness, but their center, Chief Kickingstallionsims is a force to be reckoned with both in the lane and at the DMV. Kickingstallionsims isn’t the only delightfully named Hornet, either. There is the somewhat ironically named Ivory White, a Tramaine and a Tramayne, and a fellow named Andrew Hayles. Hayles doesn’t fit the delightfully named category, no, but I figured I should mention him, since he is the leading scorer. Head coach Lewis Jackson has a good history with the squad, taking them at least to the SWAC championship game every year he played for them, and now as the coach has them poised to reach that game again this year. Fun fact: Jackson is married to the coach of the women’s team at Alabama State.
In the first game the two teams played, Jackson States slower, size oriented attack won out, 81-71. Center Jeremy Coldwell had a double double, while 5 players scored in double digits. For the Hornets, guard Brandon Gordon led the way with 23 points and ten boards. I should be in for a good game, particularly from the Hornets who will have revenge on their mind and a hot streak to ride. This time, the running style of Alabama State should win out over Jackson State’s inside game.
(Baseball post tomorrow, I PROMISE)
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