As we enter the final month of the HBCU Division I basketball regular season, first place in the MEAC and SWAC seem to be defined at the moment, but the leaders should be wary of teams getting hot at the right time.
Here are some of the takeaways from last week’s Division I action.
Delaware State men are on an MEAC hot streak
Last year’s surprise MEAC men’s finalists appear to be gearing up for another March Madness-style run.
Delaware State has won four straight games, including an 84-82 heartstopper at home against Morgan State on Feb. 3. The Hornets will welcome the defending MEAC champion to Memorial Hall this weekend, and with the Bison already owning a 100-94 victory over DSU, this weekend’s game will be a true test for their championship potential.
The Hornets are led by the trio of senior Robert Smith (16.5 points per game), sophomore Kaseem Watson (15.6 ppg), and grad student Martaz Robinson (15.5 ppg).
Texas Southern women winning streak up to 11
The Texas Southern women’s basketball team continues to lead the SWAC with a Florida sweep of Bethune-Cookman (64-57) and Florida A&M (77-70) this past weekend.
The Lady Tigers have won 11 in a row, all of those coming within conference play. They’ll look to make it a baker’s dozen this weekend when they visit Southern on Thursday and Grambling on Saturday.
Tennessee State women improving under WNBA champion
In their first season with 16-year WNBA veteran Candice Dupree as their head coach, the Tennessee State women’s basketball has made their way out of the OVC cellar with a 2-1 stretch over the previous week’s games.
The Lady Tigers defeated Southeast Missouri (70-62) and Western Illinois (70-66) before falling to conference co-leader Lindenwood 81-70 on Feb. 8.
TSU will look to start a new streak this weekend at Eastern Illinois and SIU Edwardsville.
Southern men still unbeaten in SWAC play
It hasn’t been easy for the Jaguars, but ahead of Monday’s game at Alabama State, Southern is 10-0 in SWAC play, including a 91-89 overtime thriller against Jackson State on Feb. 3.
Southern will face Alabama State on Monday, then return home for games against Prairie View and Texas Southern. The latter will be televised nationally on ESPNU on Monday, Feb. 17.
Cardiac Spartans pace MEAC men
The Norfolk State men continue to win in the MEAC, even if it means raising the heart rates of their coaches and the Spartan faithful.
After holding off an improved South Carolina State team 67-65 in overtime on Feb. 1, Brian Moore Jr.’s SportsCenter Top 10 halfcourt buzzer-beater helped NSU defeat North Carolina Central 81-78 on Feb. 3.
Norfolk State is 16-8 overall and 6-1 in conference play, and they’ll return to action this weekend at Maryland-Eastern Shore, then will get a visit from Delaware State on Feb. 17.