For the fifth consecutive season, the SWAC is rated as the worst conference in the land. The conference’s top seed is Texas Southern, who you may remember from such upsets as Michigan State and Kansas State in December. The Tigers also took Auburn and New Mexico State to the wire. But even though they went 16-2 in the SWAC, it wasn’t easy. Three of those wins were in overtime and the gap between TSU and second-seeded Alabama State is small.

The Tigers were without their dynamic shooting guard, Deverell Biggs, for about half of the conference season, so their rating may be depressed slightly now that he’s back. But this tournament is more open than Texas Southern’s non-conference work would lead you to believe. It wouldn’t be that surprising if Alabama State or Southern advances.

In a conference where getting a non-conference win over a Division-I team is newsworthy, these teams are playing for a spot in Dayton, and the winner will be an underdog in the play-in round. A SWAC team hasn’t won a round of 64 game since 1993.

Southwestern Athletic Conference

All-kenpom.com: Jamel Waters, Alabama State (kPOY); Chris Thomas, Texas Southern; Ladarius Tabb, Alabama A&M; Madarious Gibbs, Texas Southern; Treshawn Hagood, Prairie View A&M.

March 10-14 at Houston.

                  Qtrs Semis Final Champ
1 Texas Southern   100  91.4  66.4  42.8
2 Alabama St.      100  86.9  51.7  24.7
3 Southern         100  73.6  37.9  16.8
4 Prairie View A&M 100  53.6  17.8   7.6
5 Jackson St.      100  46.4  14.0   5.6
6 Alabama A&M      100  26.4   7.8   1.8
7 Miss. Val. St.   100  13.1   2.6   0.3
8 Alcorn St.      80.8   8.0   1.8   0.3
9 Grambling St.   19.2   0.7   0.04  0.002