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FAMU men's basketball is entering a season-defining stretch with playoff implications
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- FAMU men's basketball is entering a season-defining stretch with playoff implications
Florida A&M men's basketball has reached the point of the season where every game is impactful.
Currently sixth out of 12 teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings , the Rattlers' most challenging matchups are ahead.
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On Saturday, at the Al Lawson Center, FAMU (12-14, 9-6 in SWAC) hosts defending SWAC champions Grambling State (9-18, 6-8 in SWAC). Two days later, on Monday, this year's top SWAC team, Southern (18-9, 13-1 in SWAC), comes to Tallahassee for the Rattlers' home finale.
To conclude FAMU's regular season, the Rattlers will travel to Daytona Beach to face the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (13-15, 10-5 in SWAC) next Saturday, March 8.
FAMU lost to all those teams in its 0-3 start in SWAC play this January.
The Rattlers are on a two-game losing streak, being swept during last weekend's trip to Alabama State (60-59) and Alabama A&M (77-66).
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"It's a tough run," First-year FAMU head coach Patrick Crarey II told Tallahassee Democrat. "We've been playing well, though. But I'm not happy with what we did last weekend. But we're looking forward to trying to bounce back."
FAMU's recent losses at Alabama State and Alabama A&M dropped it from No. 2 to No. 6 in the SWAC's logjammed standings. Those shortcomings ended the Rattlers' four-game winning streak.
FAMU must finish in the SWAC's top ten to qualify for the league's tournament in Atlanta from March 11 to March 15.
FAMU senior guard Jordan Chatman tells his teammates that "winning cures everything" as the Rattlers look to rebound this week versus Grambling State and Southern.
Plus, the odds may be on the Rattlers side, as they hold an 8-2 record at home.
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"We're getting to a fresh renewal with a home game," Chatman said. "So, we got good spirits going into the game. We know what's at stake. We need to win."
FAMU men's basketball has enters critical final week in SWAC Tournament chase
Crarey prioritizes matchups over tournament seeding.
But the Rattlers aim to remain in the SWAC's top six to avoid the tournament's play-in round between the teams that rank seventh through tenth.
"The matchups are more important than the seeding. But you want to be in the top six," Crarey said. "I think we'll be tough to play in the tournament."
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The Rattlers haven't played postseason basketball since the 2021-2022 season. Furthermore, FAMU men's basketball hasn't won a postseason game since 2018, when it defeated Howard 88-78 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.
Nov 19, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida A&M Rattlers guard Sterling Young (4) dribbles the ball past Florida Gators guard Will Richer (5) during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
The Rattlers can end their two-year playoff absence if they stay the course. Then, it's on to ending the seven-year postseason victory drought.
"There's going to be highs and lows. And we just got to stay together," said Sterling Young , who leads the Rattlers with 16.7 points per game. "If we can stay together, we can do anything."
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The Rattlers have to finish the regular season playing their best basketball to reach the SWAC Tournament and have success in it.
Sweeping their final home games versus Grambling State and Southern this weekend, then getting a road rivalry win over Bethune-Cookman next Saturday would do the job.
"We want to put ourselves in a position where we're playing well going into the conference tournament. But at the same time, no matter what happens the next three games, that means nothing when you play in the conference tournament," Crarey said.
"You want your habits to be good, communicate at a high level, be accountable for mistakes, learn from them, and improve as a team. That's what's going to help you win a championship."
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Florida A&M Basketball's Remaining Schedule
Patrick Crarey II was hired as Florida A&M's 15th head men's basketball coach on April 17, 2024. The Washington D.C. native was previously the head men's basketball coach and assistant athletic director at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.
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Saturday, March 1: vs. Grambling State at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. (women's and men's doubleheader) ― Rattlers mobile application
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Monday, March 3: vs. Southern at 7 p.m. (men only) ― Rattlers mobile application
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Saturday, March 8: at Bethune-Cookman at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (women's and men's doubleheader) ― CatEye Network
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU men's basketball fighting for SWAC seeding vs Grambling, Southern, B-CU
