Jackson Free Press

In the http://www.espn.com/ncw/recap?gameId=400945531">championship game of this year’s SEC Women’s Tournament, the University of South Carolina bested Mississippi State University 59-49. The Gamecocks earned the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Women’s Tournament, but the http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/bracketology">Bulldogs will get an at-large bid.

This week is when the SEC, Conference USA and SWAC men’s tournaments will happen. The women’s tournaments this week are in C-USA and SWAC.

Starting Tuesday, March 7, is the men’s and women’s SWAC Tournament. A change this year is that the higher seeds will host the lower seeds in the quarterfinals, and only the top eight teams made it. All women’s quarterfinal games in the SWAC Tournament will tip off at 5:30 p.m.

In the http://www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=211514417">SWAC women’s tournament, No. 1 seed Grambling State University hosts No. 8 seed Mississippi Valley State University. If MVSU wins, it will face the winner of No. 4 seed Southern University versus No. 5 seed Alcorn State University, which will be on Friday, March 10, at noon.

Jackson State University didn’t make the women’s tournament after finishing ninth in the league with a 12-16 overall record and 6-12 SWAC record.

Alcorn State enters the tournament with a 9-20 overall record and a 9-9 mark in conference play. At the end of the regular season, MVSU is 10-19 overall and 7-11 in the SWAC. Neither team will make the http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/bracketology">NCAA Tournament unless they get the automatic bid by winning this tournament.

In the http://www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=211514417">SWAC Men’s Tournament, No. 2 seed Alcorn State hosts No. 8 seed Mississippi Valley State at 6 p.m. The winner of the ASU/MVSU game, which will be on Friday, March 10, at 8:30 p.m., will face the winner of No. 3 seed Southern versus No. 6 seed Jackson State game that tips off at 7:30 p.m.

The Braves enter the tournament with a 16-13 overall record and 13-5 SWAC record. JSU comes into the SWAC Tournament with a 14-17 overall record and a 10-8 conference record. The Delta Devils finished the regular season with a 7-24 overall record and 7-11 SWAC record.

None of the men’s http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology">SWAC teams are going to the postseason unless they win this tournament. Alcorn State might have an outside chance at the Men’s Postseason National Invitation Tournament. Fans can hear the SWAC games on the respective universities’ radio stations.

The University of Southern Mississippi is the third seed in the http://conferenceusa.com/news/2017/3/4/WBK_0304173159.aspx">C-USA Women’s Tournament. The team enters the conference tournament with a 21-9 overall record and a 13-5 record in C-USA play.

On Thursday, March 9, No. 3 seed Golden Eagles will face the winner of the No. 6 seed Old Dominion University versus No. 11 seed University of Texas at El Paso game. Fans can stream all the games on Campus Insiders.

Experts say USM isn’t in the http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/bracketology">NCAA Women’s Tournament. But a strong showing in the C-USA Tournament and having the other bubble team slip up might open the door for the Golden Eagles. USM would be a lock to make the Women’s Postseason NIT.

The Southern Miss men’s team will begin play in the http://conferenceusa.com/news/2017/3/4/MBK_0304172935.aspx">C-USA Tournament on Wednesday, March 8, as the No. 12 seed against the No. 5 seed Rice University. Fans can stream the game on Campus Insiders.

USM enters the http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology">men’s tournament with a 9-21 overall record and a 6-12 C-USA record. If the Golden Eagles win, they will face No. 4 seed UTEP, and that game will be on the American Sports Network.

In the http://www.secsports.com/bracket/mens-basketball">SEC Men’s Tournament, No. 12 seed Mississippi State will face No. 13 Louisiana State University on Wednesday, March 8, at 6 p.m. If MSU wins, it will face Alabama in the second round at 3 p.m..

In the second round of the http://www.secsports.com/article/11037442/championship-men-basketball">SEC Men’s Tournament, No. 6 seed University of Mississippi will await the winner of No. 11 seed Auburn University and No. 14 University of Missouri. That game will be played around 9 p.m.

MSU enters the SEC Men’s Tournament with a 15-15 overall record and a 6-12 conference record. The Rebels come into the tournament with a 19-12 overall record and a 10-8 SEC record.

The Bulldogs must win the SEC Men’s Tournament to reach the http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology">Big Dance, but a good showing might earn them a Men’s Postseason NIT bid. The Rebels have an outside shot at the http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology">NCAA Men’s Tournament with a deep run in the SEC Tournament and some bubble teams to fall in their tournaments, but an NIT bid seems possible.