As the 2025 MEAC and SWAC tournaments begin, here are teams and players to watch

March is the best month of the year for college basketball fans. For historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), this week’s conference tournaments mean several teams will be vying for automatic bids to the NCAA tournament.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) tournament will kick off Tuesday at the Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, while the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament will begin Wednesday at Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Here are the teams and players to watch in this week’s SWAC and MEAC basketball tournaments.

MEAC

Reigning champions

Women’s basketball: Norfolk State University

After finishing the season perfect in conference play, Norfolk State (27-4, 14-0 MEAC) has proven all season it is the team to beat. Spearheaded by guard Diamond Johnson and forward Kierra Wheeler, the Spartans have the No. 1-ranked scoring offense and defense in the conference. Johnson led the conference in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game, and Wheeler (No. 4 in the MEAC) is averaging 15.2 points per game. Norfolk State is currently on a 16-game winning streak heading into the conference tournament.

For the second consecutive season, the Spartans finished the season undefeated at home, and with the MEAC tournament being in their backyard, expect Norfolk State to put up a strong title defense while seeking its third consecutive conference tournament title. The top-seeded Spartans will face the eighth-seeded South Carolina State Bulldogs on Wednesday.

Men’s basketball: Howard University

Head coach Kenneth Blakeney’s Bison (12-19, 7-7 MEAC) look very different from last year’s conference championship team after losing three of their top scorers from a season ago. Freshman guard Blake Harper and returning guards Marcus Dockery and Bryce Harris have been difference-makers in Howard’s pursuit of a conference tournament title three-peat.

Harper leads the conference in scoring, averaging 19.3 points per game. Howard enters the MEAC tournament leading the conference in total team 3-pointers made (264) and team 3-point shooting percentage (37.2%) this season. The fourth-seeded Bison will play the fifth-seeded Morgan State Bears on Thursday.

Top contenders

Women’s basketball: Howard University

Since the return of 2022-23 MEAC Player of the Year Destiny Howell from an ACL injury this season, Howard (19-10, 12-2 MEAC) has the No. 2-ranked scoring offense and defense in the conference. Howell and freshman guard Saniyah King have established themselves as three-point shooting threats, with Howell leading the conference in average three-point field goals made per game (2.4) and King finishing No. 2 in three-point shooting percentage (38.6%).

Howard strung together a nine-game winning streak in conference play before losing to Norfolk State in the regular-season finale. The last three MEAC women’s championships have come down to Howard versus Norfolk State for the conference title, with the Spartans taking a 2-1 edge. No. 2 seed Howard will play No. 7 seed Delaware State on Wednesday.

Men’s basketball: Norfolk State University

Norfolk State (21-10, 11-3 MEAC) has won three out of the last four regular-season MEAC titles but has fallen short in its quest for another conference tournament title the last two years. Despite losing leading scorer Jamarii Thomas to the transfer portal a season ago, Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones found Murray State transfer Brian Moore Jr., who has become a seamless addition to the Spartans’ offense. Moore is the No. 2 scorer in the conference, averaging 19.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Moore and graduate student Christian Ings helped the Spartans earn the No. 1-ranked field goal percentage offense (49.2%) and No. 1-ranked opponent field goal percentage (41.6%) in the conference. Top-seeded Norfolk State will play eighth-seeded University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday.

Upset watch

Women’s basketball: Coppin State University

After finishing under .500 a season ago, Coppin State (17-13, 8-6 MEAC) finished the season with a winning record for the first time since 2022. The Eagles have two of the conference’s top three scorers in senior Laila Lawrence (No. 2), who is averaging 16.8 points per game, and junior Angel Jones (No. 3), who is averaging 15.3 points per game. This season, Coppin State earned a Power 4 win over Arizona State and played two competitive games against No. 2 seed Howard, which would make for an interesting semifinal if both teams advance.

Coppin State hasn’t won a conference title since 2006 but has a strong enough roster to make a deep tournament run. No. 4 seed Coppin State will face No. 5 seed North Carolina Central on Thursday.

Men’s basketball: South Carolina State

After a nine-game winning streak to end the season, South Carolina State (18-12, 11-3 MEAC) enters the MEAC tournament with the most momentum after earning its first conference regular-season championship in two decades. In three seasons, South Carolina State head coach Erik Martin has lifted the men’s basketball program from basketball purgatory to conference championship contender. The Bulldogs have the No. 2-ranked scoring offense and scoring defense in the conference. Offensively, the Bulldogs are balanced, thanks to seniors Davion Everett, Wilson Dubinsky and Michael Teal, who were instrumental in regular-season wins over Norfolk State and Howard. Sophomore forward Drayton Jones is a vital piece of the Bulldogs’ defense and leads the conference in total blocks (45) and average blocks per game (1.5).

The Bulldogs have the opportunity to win their first conference tournament championship since 2003. No. 2 seed South Carolina State will face No. 7 seed Coppin State on Wednesday.

SWAC

Reigning champions

Women’s basketball: Jackson State University

The reigning SWAC champion in women’s basketball is looking to protect its title under a new coaching staff. After winning their ninth SWAC tournament championship – and third under former head coach Tomekia Reed – last season, the Jackson State Tigers have spent this year rebuilding under new head coach Margaret Richards. Richards is no stranger to the SWAC, having previously coached at Alabama A&M for eight years.

Jackson State posted a 15-14 overall, 13-5 SWAC record this season, compared with last year’s championship team, which went 26-7 overall and 18-0 in conference. Despite their current record, the Tigers have remained near the top of the conference standings, ranking fourth out of the 12 teams in the SWAC. Senior guard Taleah Dilworth, a transfer from Kentucky State, is averaging 16.4 points per game and leading the SWAC in scoring. No. 4 seed Jackson State will play No. 5 seed Grambling State on Thursday.

Men’s basketball: Grambling State

Last year, Grambling State won the SWAC tournament for the first time in school history. After losing Jourdan Smith, who led the Tigers with 20 points in the championship game, and Tra’Michael Moton, who was named tournament MVP, to graduation, Grambling State’s top scorers this season are senior Kintavious Dozier, who is averaging 12.1 points per game, and junior Antwan Burnett, who is averaging 10.6 points per game.

The Tigers have had a tough schedule this season, including playing four Power 4 schools, and their record (10-21 overall, 7-11 SWAC) reflects that. No. 8 seed Grambling State will play No. 9 seed Alabama A&M on Tuesday as the Tigers start their campaign to defend their title.

Top contenders

Women’s basketball: Southern University

Southern’s women’s basketball team (17-14 overall, 15-3 SWAC) sits atop the conference standings, with its only conference losses coming against Texas Southern, Alcorn State in overtime and Alabama A&M. Southern has the No. 1 scoring defense in the conference and expects senior guard Aniya Gourdine to be a presence on both sides of the ball. Gourdine currently leads the team in steals (65) and averages 12.0 points per game. On Wednesday, No. 1 seed Southern will play the winner of Game 2 between No. 8 seed Florida A&M and No. 9 seed Mississippi Valley State.

Men’s basketball: Southern University

No. 1 seed Southern (20-11 overall, 15-3 SWAC) is looking for its first conference tournament title since 2016 and is heading into the SWAC tournament with the top-ranked scoring offense and defense in the conference. Alabama State, which is responsible for two of Southern’s three conference losses this season, poses the biggest threat to the Jaguars in Atlanta. On Wednesday, the Jaguars will face the winner of Game 1 between No. 8 seed Grambling State and No. 9 seed Alabama A&M.

All season long Southern’s programs have proved their dominance in the SWAC, and the Tigers could win two conference tournament championships this week.

Upset watch

Women’s basketball: Alabama A&M University 

Alabama A&M (21-9 overall, 14-4 SWAC), led by first-year head coach Dawn Thornton, should be on your radar during the SWAC tournament. Thornton joined the Bulldogs in April after five seasons with Arkansas Pine-Bluff. She improved the Bulldogs’ winning percentage from a .484 in 2023-24 to .700 this season and led Alabama A&M to its first 20-win season since becoming a Division I program. Senior guard Kalia Walker is averaging 15.0 points per game and currently ranks No. 2 in scoring in the conference. No. 3 seed Alabama A&M will play No. 6 seed Alcorn State on Thursday.

Men’s basketball: Florida A&M University

This season, Florida A&M (13-16 overall, 10-8 SWAC) recorded its best conference finish since 2022. Senior guard Sterling Young ranks No. 2 in the SWAC in scoring, averaging 17.0 points per game. The Rattlers lead the conference in team 3-point field goal percentage (34.5%) and 3-pointers made (260), averaging 9.0 a game. No. 7 seed Florida A&M will play No. 10 seed Prairie View A&M on Tuesday.