Not one, but two SWAC basketball programs are now on pause due to COVID-19. And it is impacting nearly half of the league.
Both Texas Southern and Alabama A&M are on pause due to positive COVID-19 test and the quarantining of student-athletes. This has caused four other schools to have games postponed.
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The men’s basketball games scheduled between Alcorn State and Texas Southern along with Southern and Texas Southern initially slated to be played on Saturday, January 2 and Monday, January 4 respectively, have been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test and subsequent quarantining of student-athletes among the TSU program.
Texas Southern is 2-5 on the season. It had its final three non-conference games– at USC, at LSU and at TCU– canceled. It last played against BYU on Dec. 19.
Alabama A&M was supposed to start SWAC play on Jan. 2 against Jackson State and then again on Jan. 4 against Grambling State. AAMU has played just two games this season, beating both Samford and South Alabama to remain a perfect 2-0. At one point, AAMU ranked atop college basketball RPI.
Make-up dates for the games have not been determined at this time. These actions follow the guidelines and protocols set for SWAC basketball by the league and its COVID-19 Advisory Committee, according to The SWAC.
Meanwhile, another SWAC program is set to make its highly-anticipated season debut. Alabama State is set to open up the season at home against Grambling State and follow it up with a game against Jackson State on Monday Jan. 4. ASU elected not to participate in non-conference basketball games due to COVID-19 concerns.
Saturday’s game is set to mark the coaching debut of former NBA All-Star Mo Williams at Alabama State. Williams was hired back in May, bringing plenty of excitement to the program and the conference.
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