The SWAC men's basketball tournament (popularly known as the SWAC tournament) is the conference championship tournament in basketball for the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The tournament has been held every year since 1978. It is a single-elimination tournament and seeding is based on regular season records. The winner, declared conference champion, receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. On seven occasions, the SWAC champion has won an NCAA Division I tournament game (two being in the first round and five in preliminary rounds).

The 1977–78 season was the SWAC's first as an NCAA Division I basketball conference, but it was not until 1980 that the champion went to the Division I tournament; most notably, the 1979 champion was Alcorn State, who went 27–0 but only received an NIT bid (where they lost in the second round) as they had "not yet completed the three years of adherence to a 2.00 average entrance requirement."

The semifinal and championship SWAC basketball tournament games are held at the Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. As of the 2017 tournaments, they feature an eight-team, three-day layout with the quarterfinal rounds hosted on campus sites. This changes the previous 10-team, five-day tournament format. The higher seeded teams will host a combined eight games leaving two days for travel and practice rounds. The tournament concludes with the semifinals and championship rounds inside Birmingham's Bill Harris Arena. Winners of the tournaments earn automatic bids to their respective NCAA Division I tournaments. The championship games are nationally televised live annually on an ESPN network. In 2017, the trophy was named to honor Davey Whitney, the legendary coach that had won twelve regular season SWAC championships and seven SWAC tournaments, both of which being the most in conference history.

List of champions (pre-tournament) 1956–57Texas SouthernEdward H. Adams1957–58Texas SouthernEdward H. Adams1958–59Grambling StateFred Hobdy1959–60Grambling StateFred Hobdy1960–61Prairie View A&MLeroy Moore Jr 1961–62Prairie View A&MLeroy Moore Jr 1962–63Grambling StateFred Hobdy1963–64Grambling StateJackson StateFred HobdyHarrison Wilson1964–65SouthernRichard Mack1965–66Alcorn StateGrambling StateE.E. SimmonsFred Hobdy1966–67Alcorn StateArkansas–Pine BluffGrambling StateBob HopkinsHubert O. ClemmonsFred Hobdy1967–68Alcorn StateJackson StateBob HopkinsPaul Covington1968–69Alcorn StateBob Hopkins1969–70Jackson StatePaul Covington1970–71Grambling StateFred Hobdy1971–72Grambling StateFred Hobdy1972–73Alcorn StateDavey Whitney1973–74Jackson StatePaul Covington1974–75Jackson StatePaul Covington1975–76Alcorn StateDavey Whitney1976–77Texas SouthernRobert Moreland

List of champions (tournament era) 1978SouthernCarl StewartSouthern86-74Alcorn StatePaul Covington1979Alcorn StateDavey WhitneyAlcorn State108–89SouthernDavey Whitney1980Alcorn StateDavey WhitneyAlcorn State83–61Grambling StateDavey Whitney1981Alcorn StateSouthernDavey WhitneyCarl StewartSouthern69–63Jackson StateCarl Stewart1982Alcorn StateJackson StateDavey WhitneyPaul CovingtonAlcorn State87–77Jackson StateDavey Whitney1983Texas SouthernRobert MorelandAlcorn State81–69Texas SouthernDavey Whitney1984Alcorn StateDavey WhitneyAlcorn State78–69Texas SouthernDavey Whitney1985Alcorn StateDavey WhitneySouthern85–70Alcorn StateBob Hopkins1986Alcorn StateSouthernDavey WhitneyBob HopkinsMississippi Valley State75–58Prairie View A&MLafayette Stribling1987Grambling StateBob HopkinsSouthern105–55 Grambling StateBen Jobe1988SouthernBen JobeSouthern78–62Grambling StateBen Jobe1989Grambling StateSouthernTexas SouthernBob HopkinsBen JobeRobert MorelandSouthern86–81Texas SouthernBen Jobe 1990SouthernBen JobeTexas Southern94–89SouthernRobert Moreland1991Jackson StateAndy StoglinJackson State70–66Texas SouthernAndy Stoglin1992Texas SouthernMississippi Valley StateRobert MorelandLafayette StriblingMississippi Valley State85–77 SouthernLafayette Stribling1993Jackson StateAndy StoglinSouthern101–80Jackson StateBen Jobe1994Texas SouthernRobert MorelandTexas Southern70–67Jackson StateRobert Moreland1995Texas SouthernRobert MorelandTexas Southern75–62Mississippi Valley StateRobert Moreland1996Jackson StateMississippi Valley StateAndy StoglinLafayette StriblingMississippi Valley State111–94Jackson StateLafayette Stribling1997Mississippi Valley StateLafayette StriblingJackson State81–74Mississippi Valley StateAndy Stoglin1998Texas SouthernRobert MorelandPrairie View A&M59–57Texas SouthernElwood Plummer1999Alcorn StateDavey WhitneyAlcorn State89–83 SouthernDavey Whitney2000Alcorn StateDavey WhitneyJackson State76–61SouthernAndy Stoglin2001Alabama StateRob SpiveryAlabama State64–52Alcorn StateRob Spivery2002Alcorn StateDavey WhitneyAlcorn State70–67Alabama StateDavey Whitney2003Prairie View A&MJerome FrancisTexas Southern77–68Alcorn StateRonnie Courtney2004Mississippi Valley StateLafayette StriblingAlabama State63–58Alabama A&MRob Spivery2005Alabama A&ML. Vann PettawayAlabama A&M72–53Alabama StateL. Vann Pettaway2006SouthernRob SpiverySouthern57–44Arkansas–Pine BluffRob Spivery2007Mississippi Valley StateJames GreenJackson State81–71Mississippi Valley StateTevester Anderson2008Alabama StateLewis JacksonMississippi Valley State59–58Jackson StateJames Green2009Alabama StateLewis JacksonAlabama State65–58Jackson StateLewis Jackson2010Arkansas–Pine BluffGeorge IvoryArkansas–Pine Bluff50–38Texas SouthernGeorge Ivory2011Texas SouthernTony HarveyAlabama State 65–48Grambling StateLewis Jackson2012Mississippi Valley StateSean WoodsMississippi Valley State 71–69Texas SouthernSean Woods2013Texas SouthernMike DavisSouthern45–44Prairie View A&MRoman Banks2014SouthernRoman BanksTexas Southern78–73Prairie View A&MMike Davis2015Texas SouthernMike DavisTexas Southern62–58SouthernMike Davis2016Texas SouthernMike DavisSouthern54–53Jackson StateRoman Banks2017Texas SouthernMike DavisTexas Southern53–50Alcorn StateMike Davis2018Grambling StateDonte JacksonTexas Southern84–69Arkansas–Pine BluffMike Davis2019Prairie View A&MByron SmithPrairie View A&M92–86Texas SouthernByron Smith2020Prairie View A&MByron SmithCanceled due to the coronavirus pandemic2021Prairie View A&MByron SmithTexas Southern80–61Prairie View A&MJohnny Jones2022Alcorn StateLandon BussieTexas Southern87–62Alcorn StateJohnny Jones2023Alcorn StateLandon BussieTexas Southern61–58Grambling StateJohnny Jones2024Grambling StateDonte JacksonGrambling State75–66Texas SouthernDonte Jackson2025SouthernKevin JohnsonAlabama State60–56Jackson StateTony Madlock2026Bethune–CookmanReggie TheusPrairie View A&M72–66SouthernByron Smith

Men's basketball tournament performance by school Texas Southern 1990, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 Southern 1978, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2006, 2013, 2016 Alcorn State 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1999, 2002 Alabama State 2001, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2025 Jackson State 1978, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2007 Mississippi Valley State 1986, 1992, 1996, 2008, 2012 Prairie View A&M 1998, 2019, 2026 Alabama A&M 2005 Arkansas–Pine Bluff 2010 Grambling State 2024 Bethune–Cookman Florida A&M

Coaches with multiple championships Regular season Davey Whitney121973, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2000, 2002Fred Hobdy 81959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972Robert Moreland71977, 1983, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998Bob Hopkins61967, 1968, 1969, 1986, 1987, 1989Paul Covington51968, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1982Lafayette Stribling41992, 1996, 1997, 2004Mike Davis42013, 2015, 2016, 2017Ben Jobe31988–1990Andy Stoglin31991, 1993, 1996Byron Smith32019, 2020, 2021Edward H. Adams21957, 1958Leroy Moore Jr 21961, 1962Rob Spivery22001, 2006Carl Stewart21978, 1981Lewis Jackson22008, 2009Landon Bussie22022, 2023Donte Jackson22023, 2024

SWAC tournament Davey Whitney71979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1999, 2002Ben Jobe41987, 1988, 1989, 1993Mike Davis42014, 2015, 2017, 2018Johnny Jones32021, 2022, 2023Lafayette Stribling31986, 1992, 1996Robert Moreland31990, 1994, 1995Andy Stoglin31991, 1997, 2000Rob Spivery3 2001, 2004, 2006Roman Banks22013, 2016Lewis Jackson22009, 2011

NCAA Tournament appearances Year SWAC Team Opponent Result 1980 (8) Alcorn State (9) South Alabama(1) LSU W 70–62L 88–98 1981 (11) Southern (6) Wichita State L 70–95 1982 (11) Alcorn State (6) Houston L 84–94 1983 (12) Alcorn State (12) Xavier(5) Georgetown W 81–75L 63–68 1984 (12) Alcorn State (12) Houston Baptist(5) Kansas W 79–60L 56–57 1985 (16) Southern (1) St. John's L 59–83 1986 (16) Mississippi Valley State (1) Duke L 78–85 1987 (15) Southern (2) Temple L 56–75 1988 (15) Southern (2) Kentucky L 84–99 1989 (15) Southern (2) North Carolina L 79–93 1990 (14) Texas Southern (3) Georgetown L 52–70 1991 No appearance, Jackson State lost a play-in against Coastal Carolina 1992 (16) Mississippi Valley State (1) Ohio State L 56–83 1993 (13) Southern (4) Georgia Tech(12) George Washington W 93–78L 80–90 1994 (15) Texas Southern (2) Duke L 70–82 1995 (15) Texas Southern (2) Arkansas L 78–79 1996 (15) Mississippi Valley State (2) Georgetown L 56–93 1997 (16) Jackson State (1) Kansas L 64–78 1998 (16) Prairie View A&M (1) Kansas L 52–110 1999 (15) Alcorn State (2) Stanford L 57–69 2000 (16) Jackson State (1) Arizona L 47–71 2001 (16) Alabama State (1) Michigan State L 35–69 2002 (16b) Alcorn State (16a) Siena L 77–81 2003 (16b) Texas Southern (16a) UNC Asheville L 84–92OT 2004 (16) Alabama State (1) Duke L 61–96 2005 (16) Alabama A&M (16) Oakland L 69–79 2006 (16) Southern (1) Duke L 54–70 2007 (16) Jackson State (1) Florida L 69–112 2008 (16) Mississippi Valley State (1) UCLA L 29–70 2009 (16) Alabama State (16) Morehead State L 43–58 2010 (16a) Arkansas–Pine Bluff (16b) Winthrop(1) Duke W 61–44L 44–73 2011 (16) Alabama State (16) UTSA L 61–70 2012 (16) Mississippi Valley State (16) Western Kentucky L 58–59 2013 (16) Southern (1) Gonzaga L 58–64 2014 (16) Texas Southern (16) Cal Poly L 69–81 2015 (15) Texas Southern (2) Arizona L 72–93 2016 (16) Southern (16) Holy Cross L 55–59 2017 (16) Texas Southern (1) North Carolina L 64–103 2018 (16) Texas Southern (16) North Carolina Central W 64–46L 83–102 2019 (16) Prairie View A&M (16) Fairleigh Dickinson L 76–82 2021 (16) Texas Southern (16) Mount St. Mary's(1) Michigan W 60–52L 66–82 2022 (16) Texas Southern (16) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi(1) Kansas W 76–67L 56–83 2023 (16) Texas Southern (16) Fairleigh Dickinson L 61–84 2024 (16) Grambling State (16) Montana State(1) Purdue W 88–81OTL 50–78 2025 (16) Alabama State (16) Saint Francis(1) Auburn W 70–68L 63–832026(16) Prairie View A&M(16) Lehigh(1) FloridaW 67–55L 55–114 2020 NCAA tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.

See also SWAC women's basketball tournament

References

Notes