SWAC changing up conference hoops tourney to include host sites

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference is switching up its men's and women's basketball conference tournament.

The league announced Thursday it is moving from a five-day, 10-team tournament held at the Toyota Center in Houston, home of the Rockets, to a three-day, eight-team event that will feature host sites for the quarterfinal round.

Instead of making a week-long event out of it, SWAC officials will save money by holding the semifinals and finals in Houston for two days while the top four seeds host the quarterfinals.

League officials, presidents and athletic directors, among others, for the 10 members schools met Thursday in Birmingham, Alabama, to approve the changes. The league also announced a three-year extension for the SWAC football championship and SWAC basketball championship to remain in Houston.

The changes will go into effect for 2017 when the tournament starts Tuesday, March 7, 2016, with four quarterfinal games. The No. 1 seed will host the No. 8 seed, the No. 2 seed will host the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seed.

CONTINUE READING