Southern faces Alabama State in SWAC opener

• By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 14, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:15 a.m.

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The Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament returns today to Southern’s Lee-Hines Field for the first time since 2003, but the Jaguars are far from the dominant favorite they were with Rickie Weeks tearing up the basepaths.

This one, with a new format concluding with a single, TV-friendly championship game, features teams with plenty to prove.

Western Division champion Southern is trying to regain the feel of its recent run of eight titles in 10 years, ending in 2005. … Prairie View is the two-time defending champion. … Grambling, which once dominated the conference with Jackson State and SU, is in its first tournament since 2002. … And Eastern Division champ Jackson State is looking for its first championship since 2000.

Plus, Mississippi Valley State, Alabama State and Alcorn State, with an explosive offense, are looking for a breakthrough tournament title, which Texas Southern notched in 2004.

“We’re all ready to go,” Southern coach Roger Cador said.

The tournament will be divided into two four-team brackets of double-elimination play. The survivors of those brackets meet at 1 p.m. Sunday for a single, winner-take-all game on ESPNU.

“It’s the old College World Series bracket,” second-year Jackson State coach Omar Johnson said. “We’re excited.”

Southern (26-16) plays Alabama State (13-20), the No. 4 seed from the Eastern Division, at 7 p.m. today.

Also in that bracket are Alcorn State (28-14), the Eastern Division’s second seed, and Prairie View (21-24), the No. 3 seed from the Western Division.

Grambling (21-25), the No. 2 seed from the Western Division, and Valley (17-23), the No. 3 seed from the Eastern Division, open the tournament with a 10 a.m. meeting.

In the bracket with Grambling and Valley, Jackson State (35-20), which has the school’s most wins since 1982 and last won the SWAC tournament in 2000, faces Texas Southern (12-32), the No. 4 seed from the Western Division.

“Jackson State has had a lot of good teams, some outstanding teams,” Johnson said. “We’re proud we’ve reached those numbers to represent the university.”

Grambling has made strong strides in two seasons under second-year coach Barrett Rey, a former Southern player and assistant coach. Making the tournament is another milestone.