College Basketball 2011 SWAC Tournament

Many didn't expect Tony Harvey to be back in basketball, let alone with a head-coaching job. The former assistant at Missouri was out of the game for a few years after Quin Snyder was fired in Columbia. But here he is at Texas Southern, leading the team to a 16-2 record in the SWAC. His team is the overwhelming favorite to win the conference tournament.

The league is rated as the worst or second-worst by all major ranking systems. The SWAC isn't sexy, but it will be getting a bid and does provide a gritty, rough brand of basketball.

The key question with this year's conference tournament: will history be repeated?

Last year, the Tigers were favored as well but got clipped by Arkansas Pine-Bluff in the finals. Pine Bluff is a 7-23 team this year, so don't expect that to happen again. Plus, Harvey's team is older, more developed and much improved, defensively. Traditionally, defense is what wins this tournament. Read More >>