From the Press Box

No matter how you slice it, Southern men’s and women’s basketball teams will be fierce competitors this year.
The women, full of youth and energy look nothing like last years team which finished (5-22) before being blown out of the first round of last years Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament by eventual champion Prairie View A&M, 49-80.
In fact, last years squad began the season (0-8) before knocking off Texas Southern 55-44, only to lose its next five SWAC games. Plus, that squad never won back-to-back games until late February.
The difference between those teams is that this year the Jaguars are (5-10, 3-3 SWAC) and have already put together back-to-back wins against Texas Southern and Grambling.
Plus, this unit has scored quality non-conference victories over Norfolk State, 70-57 and McNeese State, 58-55.
Also, the Jaguars scored a 46-60 road defeat over Mississippi Valley State on Monday which meant more than most may think with the Devilettes being (8-7, 3-2) and only losing to Southern and Alcorn State, 59-71 at home this season.
Then there is coach Spivery’s unit.
Just a year removed from going (10-21, 9-9 SWAC) and being defeated in the first round of March’s SWAC tournament by eventual champion Jackson State, 65-74, the men are using youth and depth to turn the corner just like the ladies.
Last season the men started (0-10) before defeating Louisiana Tech, 62-47 in the F.G. Clark Activity Center. In fact, Spivery’s bunch saw a stretch where it dropped three consecutive conference games to Alabama State, Alabama A&M and Alcorn before finally hitting its grove in the ladder half of the season, sweeping its last four conference games against Alabama A&M, Alcorn, Texas Southern and Prairie View.
Plus, similar to the ladies the men didn’t win back-to-back games until late February as well.
What’s good is that half way through this season, the Jaguars are (5-11, 3-2 SWAC) and have won back-to-back games twice already (something it never did last season) while proving it can compete with the conference’s elite.
Despite losing to Texas Southern, 65-54 the Jaguars are above .500 in the SWAC standings and have served notice as a contender by knocking off defending league champion Jackson State, 85-69 when the Tigers visited F.G. Clark Activity Center earlier this month.
Also in its most recent three game winning streak, the Jaguars put together impressive victories defeating Grambling 76-56, Jackson State 85-69 and Arkansas-Pine Bluff 70-60.
Keep in mind this team never won three consecutive games last season.
What’s even more of a shock is that if it weren’t for loses to Texas Southern and Mississippi Valley State, the Jaguars would be (6-0) undefeated in SWAC play headed into the ladder part of its season with a three game home stretch against Alabama A&M, Alabama State and Alcorn approaching.
Plus with its veteran leadership at the guard position by Chris Davis and Steffon Wiley, and depth coming off the bench Valley at (5-11, 3-2 SWAC), Alabama State (8-7, 4-1), Jackson State (6-13, 4-2), and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7-9, 3-2) are probably the only teams which actually pose a threat at this point.
Both teams have shown progression from last year and both have promise heading into February. A huge test for both squads will be this three game home stretch. Let the games begin.