Texas Southern Tigers
SWAC (23-11, 16-2)
Coach Mike Davis has turned Texas Southern into the dominate team in the SWAC and this year has been no different. The Tigers cruised to another conference regular season title and managed to do some damage during their traditional massive November and December road trip. There were the usual big losses to teams like Arizona, Louisville, Cincinnati and Baylor, but TSU managed to win four non-conference contests against Delaware State, Rice, La Salle and James Madison.
Big Wins: 11/16 at Rice (71-68), 11/19 at La Salle (77-76), 11/21 at James Madison (67-56)
Bad Losses: 12/17 at LSU (80-88), 1/23 at Mississippi Valley State (89-103), 2/13 at Jackson State (62-71)
Coach: Mike Davis
Why They Can Surprise:
This group has won games by taking care of the ball and being aggressive attacking the basket. Zach Lofton makes a living at the charity stripe and about 30 percent of his scoring comes from the line. The 6-3 junior leads the team with 17.0 points per game and will always put points on the board even if the offense is struggling to make shots. Demontrae Jefferson was thrown into the mix as a freshman and responded extremely well. On top of his 14.9 points, Jefferson also dishes out 3.3 assists per game. His individual turnover number is a bit high, as one would expect from a freshman on the highest scoring team in the SWAC, but the team as a whole is very efficient in the turnover department thanks to competent ball handlers like Dulani Robinson, Kevin Scott and Jalan McCloud.
Why They Can Disappoint:
This team took a big hit when forward Derrick Griffin left the team to pursue his NFL dreams. Griffin was a receiver with the Texas Southern football team before being dismissed from the football program in September. That allowed him to play during the early portion of the basketball season, but it only last 13 games. At the time of his departure, he was averaging 11.3 points and 10.9 rebounds. Marvin Jones, a seven-footer, has had to pick up the slack. He has done an admirable job, but is just not the physical presence that Griffin was over the last year and a half. With or without Griffin the Tigers had the talent to dominate the SWAC, but without Griffin those early season wins may never have happened and it will be a big change for this group to play against a physical non-conference opponent in the tournament.
Probable Starters:
Demontrae Jefferson, Freshman, Guard, 14.9 ppg, 3.3 apg
Jalan McCloud, Junior, Guard, 8.7 ppg, 1.2 apg
Zach Lofton, Junior, Guard, 17.0 ppg, 2.5 apg, 3.9 rpg
Kevin Scott, Junior, Guard, 9.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Marvin Jones, Senior, Center, 8.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Key Role Players:
Stephan Bennett, Senior, Forward, 4.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Lamont Walker, Junior, Forward, 3.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Dulani Robinson, Senior, Guard, 6.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.5 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.1 (129th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 72.9 (198, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 43.1 (244, 4)
Field-Goal Defense: 45.2 (248, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.0 (297, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 29.8 (335, 8)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.5 (66, 1)
Rebound Margin: -1.9 (263, 5)
Assists Per Game: 11.8 (282, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.3 (32, 1)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2016 NIT First Round loss to Valparaiso
2015 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Arizona
2014 NCAA Opening Round loss to Cal Poly'
2011 NIT First Round loss to Colorado
2003 NCAA Opening Round loss to UNC-Asheville
1995 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Arkansas
1994 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Duke
1990 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Georgetown
*all team stats through 3/5
