In college basketball, March is the month of opportunity.

For historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), conference tournaments offer a chance to earn automatic bids to the NCAA tournament, college basketball’s biggest stage.

The SWAC tournament will tip off Monday at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, while the MEAC tournament will begin Wednesday at Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.

Here are the teams and players to watch during this week’s SWAC and MEAC basketball tournaments.

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

The reigning champions

Women’s basketball: Norfolk State

The Norfolk State women’s basketball team has dominated the MEAC for the past three seasons, capturing three consecutive conference tournament titles. Despite having a new head coach this season, the Spartans (16-13 overall, 11-3 MEAC) finished third in the MEAC standings. Norfolk State has the conference’s top No. 2 and No. 3 scorers in junior guard Da’Brya Clark, who averages 14.4 points per game, and senior guard Jasha Clinton, who averages 13.3 points. The Spartans have the No. 1 scoring defense and the No. 2 scoring offense in the conference.

Norfolk State, the No. 3 seed, will look to extend its MEAC tournament win streak when it plays No. 6 seed Morgan State on Thursday.

Men’s basketball: Norfolk State

Norfolk State (15-16 overall, 8-6 MEAC) has continued its tradition of excellence after capturing the MEAC crown in three of the past five seasons. Despite the transfer of last season’s leading scorer, Brian Moore Jr., the Spartans found a replacement in Anthony McComb III, who arrived from New Hampshire and led the team this season with 17.0 points per game as one of the conference’s most consistent offensive threats. Norfolk State ended the regular season winning five of its last seven games, and it ranks among the top five teams in the MEAC in scoring offense (No. 2) and scoring defense (No. 4).

The No. 4 seed Spartans will play South Carolina State, the No. 5 seed, on Thursday.

Top contenders

Women’s basketball: Howard

The Howard women’s basketball team (23-7 overall, 13-1 MEAC) has sat atop the MEAC standings this season, fueled by senior forward Zennia Thomas. Thomas has emerged as one of the league’s most complete players this season, leading the MEAC in scoring (15.2 points per game) and rebounds (7.9 per game).

A regular-season sweep of Norfolk State indicates the Bison could be ready to avenge their three consecutive MEAC championship game losses to the Spartans. Howard enters the tournament on a 11-game winning streak and is looking to capture its first conference crown since 2022.

Howard, the No. 1 seed, will play South Carolina State, the No. 8 seed, on Wednesday.

Men’s basketball: Howard

Howard (21-10 overall, 11-3 MEAC) has won two of the past three MEAC tournament championships. Despite losing last year’s leading scorer, Blake Harper, to the transfer portal, Howard head coach Kenneth Blakeney and the Bison are stronger this season than they were a year ago. Howard sits atop the MEAC this season as the No. 1-ranked team in conference play, largely on the strength of graduate senior Bryce Harris. The 6-foot-4 guard has been one of the MEAC’s premier scorers, averaging a conference-high 17.5 points per game. Harris also averages 6.7 rebounds, and he has championship experience as a member of the 2023 and 2024 championship teams.

Top-seeded Howard will receive a first-round bye in the MEAC tournament and will play the winner of No. 4 Norfolk State and No. 5 South Carolina State on Friday.

Upset watch

Women’s basketball: University of Maryland Eastern Shore

The Maryland Eastern Shore women’s basketball team may not be the No. 1 seed, but the Hawks are a team to watch for a potential upset in the MEAC tournament. UMES (18-13 overall, 11-3 MEAC) had victories over defending champion Norfolk State and top-seeded Howard this season and is led by senior guard Ashanti Lynch, who ranks No. 5 in the MEAC in scoring (12.6 per game) and No. 3 in field goal percentage (43.6%)

UMES hasn’t won a conference title in program history, but under head coach Malikah Willis, the team has a strong enough roster to make a deep tournament run.

The No. 2 seed Hawks will face No. 7 seed Delaware State on Wednesday.

Men’s basketball: Morgan State

Morgan State (14-15 overall, 10-4 MEAC) owns quality wins over defending champion Norfolk State and top seed Howard in the regular season. The Bears have the No. 3-ranked scoring offense thanks to Alfred Worrell Jr. (No. 4), and Elijah Davis (No. 9), who rank in the top 10 in the conference in points per game. The ability to compete with top teams in the league, especially in tight matchups, puts Morgan State on the radar as a dangerous draw in the postseason.

Morgan State, the No. 2 seed, hasn’t won a conference title since 2010 but will face No. 7 seed Delaware State on Wednesday with hopes of ending that drought.

Southwestern Athletic Conference

The reigning champions

Women’s basketball: Southern

The Southern women’s basketball team continues to set the standard in the SWAC, having won two of the past three conference tournament championships. Last year, the Jaguars secured the program’s first NCAA tournament win, defeating UC San Diego.

Southern head coach Carlos Funchess has built a program defined by two-way efficiency, as his team ranks in the top five in the conference in scoring offense (No. 4) and scoring defense (No. 3). The Jaguars (16-13 overall, 12-6 SWAC) enter postseason play with a championship pedigree and the expectation of another deep run.

Southern, the No. 4 seed, will face No. 5 seed Jackson State on Thursday.

Men’s basketball: Alabama State

Last year, Alabama State won the SWAC tournament for the first time since 2011 and secured an NCAA tournament win over Saint Francis in the First Four.

This season’s Hornets (10-21 overall, 7-11 SWAC) looked drastically different after leading scorer Amarr Knox transferred to Eastern Kentucky and key players CJ Hines and TJ Madlock Jr. graduated. Senior guard Micah Simpson, who was a member of last year’s championship team, has been a reliable scorer for Alabama State this season, averaging 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

Alabama State, the No. 10 seed, will face No. 11 seed Alcorn State in the opening round of the SWAC tournament on Monday.

Top contenders

Women’s basketball: Alabama A&M

The Alabama A&M women’s basketball team sits at No. 1 in the SWAC standings, continuing a remarkable ascent under head coach Dawn Thornton. In just two seasons, Thornton has led the Bulldogs (21-9 overall, 17-1 SWAC) to the top of the conference. This season, they secured the program’s first regular-season championship.

Alabama A&M has dominated the SWAC all season, registering only one loss in conference play, and the team enters the SWAC tournament riding a 17-game win streak. The Bulldogs are led by SWAC Player of the Year Kaila Walker, who averages 14.0 points per game, which ranks fourth in the conference in scoring.

Alabama A&M, the No. 1 seed, will play the winner of Game 3 between No. 8 seed Florida A&M and the winner of Game 1 on Thursday.

Men’s basketball: Bethune-Cookman

The Bethune-Cookman men’s basketball team (17-14 overall, 14-4 SWAC) is the No. 1 team in the conference standings, powered by dynamic guard Jakobi Heady. The 6-foot-6 senior averages 18.1 points and 5.0 rebounds, and he shoots 52.5% from the field this year. The Wildcats rank in the top five in the conference in scoring offense (No. 4) and scoring defense (No. 4). Since joining the SWAC in 2021, the Wildcats haven’t won a men’s basketball tournament championship.

On Wednesday, Bethune-Cookman will face the winner of Game 3 between No. 8 seed Prairie View A&M and the winner of Game 1.

Upset watch

Women’s basketball: Alcorn State

Alcorn State, ranked No. 2 in the conference standings, is firmly in the title conversation. Heading into the tournament, the Braves (17-12 overall, 14-4 SWAC) do have a signature win in conference play after defeating Southern in January. Alcorn State’s offense is spearheaded by Nakia Cheatham, who averages 13.0 points and 7.5 rebounds. The Braves haven’t won a conference tournament championship since 2005, but as the No. 2 seed, they have the opportunity to leave College Park with a title.

On Wednesday, Alcorn State will face the winner of Game 4 between No. 7 seed Arkansas Pine-Bluff and the winner of Game 2.

Men’s basketball: Florida A&M

Under first-year head coach Charlie Ward, Florida A&M has quickly become one of the league’s most dangerous teams in March. The Rattlers (14-15 overall, 11-7 MEAC) enter tournament play ranked No. 2 in the conference standings and boast the SWAC’s No. 3 scoring defense, a testament to Ward’s emphasis on discipline and physicality. The Rattlers are led by forward Tyler Shirley, who averages 11.9 points and 5.1 rebounds.

On Wednesday, No. 2 seed Florida A&M will face the winner of Game 4 between No. 7 seed Jackson State and the winner of Game 2.

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