Helena Frye
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is a collegiate athletic conference that has been holding an annual men's basketball tournament since 1978. The winner of the tournament is crowned the conference champion and receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The SWAC women's basketball tournament also takes place annually, alongside other sports including baseball, football, and tennis. The 2025 tournament winner was Alabama State, and Florida A&M won the 2023 SWAC Championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2025 |
| Winner | Alabama State |
| Tournament dates | March 11–15, 2025 |
| Location | Gateway Center Arena, College Park, Georgia |
| Tournament format | Single-elimination tournament |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Seeding | Based on regular season records |
| Conference | Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) |
| Trophy | Named after Davey Whitney |
| Automatic qualification | NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament |
| Previous format | 8 teams over 3 days with quarterfinal rounds hosted on campus sites |
| Previous tournament location | Bill Harris Arena, Birmingham, Alabama |
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What You'll Learn
- The 2025 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament winner was Alabama State
- The 2023 SWAC Championship was won by Florida A&M
- The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is an NCAA Division I basketball conference
- The SWAC men's basketball tournament has been held annually since 1978
- The SWAC tournament games are held at the Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Alabama
The 2025 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament winner was Alabama State
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is a collegiate athletic conference composed of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the Southern United States. The 2025 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament was the postseason men's basketball tournament for the 2024–25 season in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The tournament was held from March 11–15, 2025, at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. Alabama State emerged as the winner of the tournament, earning an automatic invitation to the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
The SWAC men's basketball tournament, popularly known as the SWAC tournament, is the conference championship tournament in basketball for the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The tournament has been held annually since 1978 and follows a single-elimination format, with seeding based on regular-season records. The winner is crowned the conference champion and receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. On seven occasions, the SWAC champion has gone on to win an NCAA Division I tournament game.
Alabama State's victory in the 2025 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament adds to the rich history of the tournament and the accomplishments of the HBCUs that participate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The tournament is a highly anticipated event in the world of college basketball, with the semifinals and championship rounds attracting national attention as they are televised live annually on an ESPN network.
The SWAC tournament not only showcases the talent and competitiveness of the participating teams but also contributes to the prestige and legacy of the conference. The 2025 victory by Alabama State is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team, coaches, and the entire university. It reinforces the reputation of the Southwestern Athletic Conference as one of the premier HBCU conferences in the nation, producing alumni who go on to excel in professional sports teams across various disciplines.
The SWAC continues to be a platform for HBCUs to showcase their athletic prowess and a source of pride for the participating institutions and their alumni. The conference has fostered intense rivalries and produced memorable moments in the history of college athletics. The 2025 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament is yet another chapter in the rich narrative of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, with Alabama State claiming the title and solidifying their place in the annals of SWAC basketball.
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The 2023 SWAC Championship was won by Florida A&M
The 2023 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship was won by Florida A&M, who clinched the title on October 28, 2023. The SWAC is a highly regarded and competitive basketball tournament that has been held annually since 1978. The tournament is single-elimination, with seeding based on regular-season records. Florida A&M's victory in the 2023 championship is a testament to their skill and determination.
Florida A&M's road to the championship began with their success in the SWAC East division. Their divisional victory set them on a path to face off against the top teams in the conference, with the ultimate goal of claiming the SWAC title. The structure of the tournament ensures that only the most deserving teams advance, making Florida A&M's achievement all the more impressive.
The SWAC Championship game is more than just a sporting event; it is an opportunity for the winner to gain national recognition and exposure. The championship game is aired on ESPN, providing a platform for the teams to showcase their talent and hard work. This exposure can lead to increased support, sponsorship opportunities, and a boost in the team's reputation.
Florida A&M's victory in the 2023 SWAC Championship not only brought pride and celebration to their school and fans but also earned them an automatic bid to the prestigious NCAA Division I tournament. This accomplishment solidifies Florida A&M's place among the top basketball programs and sets a new benchmark for future teams to aspire to.
The 2023 SWAC Championship was a testament to the talent and competitiveness within the conference. Florida A&M rose to the challenge and claimed the title, joining a long line of distinguished SWAC champions. Their success serves as a reminder that hard work, dedication, and skill can lead to remarkable achievements.
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The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is an NCAA Division I basketball conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is a collegiate athletic conference that participates in the NCAA's Division I for most sports, including basketball. SWAC is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and is made up of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the Southern United States.
The SWAC men's basketball tournament, popularly known as the SWAC tournament, is the conference championship tournament for the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The tournament has been held annually since 1978 and is a single-elimination format with seeding based on regular-season records. The winner of the SWAC tournament is declared the conference champion and receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. On seven occasions, the SWAC champion has gone on to win an NCAA Division I tournament game.
The semifinal and championship games of the SWAC tournament are held at the Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. Since the 2017 tournaments, the format has featured an eight-team, three-day layout, with the quarterfinal rounds hosted on campus sites. This changed the previous format, which included ten teams playing over five days. The higher-seeded teams host a combined eight games, leaving two days for travel and practice rounds. The tournament concludes with the semifinal and championship rounds inside the Bill Harris Arena, with the winner earning a place in the NCAA Division I Tournaments.
The 2025 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament winner was Alabama State, who received an automatic invitation to the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
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The SWAC men's basketball tournament has been held annually since 1978
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) men's basketball tournament has been held annually since 1978. It is a single-elimination tournament, with seeding based on regular-season records. The winner of the tournament is declared the conference champion and receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The tournament usually features a ten-team, five-day format, with quarterfinal rounds hosted on campus sites. However, in 2017, the format changed to an eight-team, three-day layout, with the top eight teams hosting quarterfinal games on their home courts. The semifinal and championship games are then held at the Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, and are nationally televised live on an ESPN network.
The SWAC men's basketball tournament has a rich history, with the 1977-78 season being the conference's first as an NCAA Division I basketball conference. However, it wasn't until 1980 that the SWAC champion went on to compete in the Division I tournament. Notably, the 1979 champion, Alcorn State, who went undefeated with a 27-0 record, only received an NIT bid. Since then, the SWAC champion has won an NCAA Division I tournament game on seven occasions, with two of those wins coming in the first round and five in the preliminary rounds.
The tournament has also honoured legendary coaches and their achievements. In 2017, the championship trophy was named after Davey Whitney, a coach who won twelve regular-season SWAC championships and seven SWAC tournaments, the most in conference history.
The SWAC men's basketball tournament continues to be a highly anticipated and competitive event, with teams vying for the chance to represent their conference on the national stage of the NCAA Division I tournament. The tournament's format, seeding process, and partnership with ESPN ensure that the competition remains exciting and accessible to basketball fans across the country.
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The SWAC tournament games are held at the Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Alabama
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) men's basketball tournament has been held annually since 1978. It is a single-elimination tournament, and seeding is based on regular-season records. The winner of the tournament is crowned the conference champion and receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Notably, the SWAC champion has won an NCAA Division I tournament game on seven occasions.
The semifinal and championship games of the SWAC tournament are held at the Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. This arena is a 5,000- to 6,000-seat, multipurpose indoor facility located at the Birmingham CrossPlex, formerly known as the Alabama State Fairgrounds. It is named after W. F. "Bill" Harris, the longtime athletics director for Birmingham City Schools. The arena has a floor space of 20,000 square feet and is equipped with multiple seating configurations, allowing it to accommodate various event layouts.
Bill Harris Arena has a rich history of hosting basketball games and other sporting events. It has served as the home arena for several basketball teams, including the Birmingham Bandits (formerly the Pensacola Tornados), the Birmingham Power of the National Women's Basketball League, and the Magic City Court Kings of the World Basketball Association. The arena has also hosted championships for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
In addition to basketball, the Bill Harris Arena has been utilised for other sports such as wrestling, volleyball, and cheerleading competitions. It was the venue for the artistic roller skating and inline hockey competitions during the 2022 World Games. The arena underwent a $3 million renovation in 2014, which included the installation of a modern LED display scoreboard and a new basketball floor.
While the SWAC tournament games culminate at the Bill Harris Arena, the earlier rounds of the tournament are hosted on campus sites. As of the 2017 tournaments, the SWAC adopted an eight-team, three-day format, with quarterfinal rounds held on campuses. This format change provides more opportunities for higher-seeded teams to host games and allows for travel and practice days before the semifinals and championship rounds in Birmingham.
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Frequently asked questions
Florida A&M won the 2023 SWAC Basketball Championship.
Alabama State won the 2024-25 SWAC Basketball Championship.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is a collegiate athletic conference made up of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the Southern United States.
Since 1999, the SWAC has used a conference championship game to decide its champions. Prior to this, the SWAC determined its champions by winning percentage against conference opponents in regular season play.
