2022–23 Troy Trojans men's basketball team

2022–23 Troy Trojans men's basketball
Zootown Classic champion
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Record20–13 (11–7 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Associate head coachKenneth Mangrum
Assistant coaches
  • Byron Jones
  • Mike Worley
Home arenaTrojan Arena (Capacity 6,000)
Seasons
2022–23 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Southern Miss 14 – 4   .778 25 – 8   .758
Louisiana † 13 – 5   .722 26 – 8   .765
Marshall 13 – 5   .722 24 – 8   .750
James Madison 12 – 6   .667 22 – 11   .667
Troy 11 – 7   .611 20 – 13   .606
Old Dominion 11 – 7   .611 19 – 12   .613
Georgia Southern 9 – 9   .500 17 – 16   .515
South Alabama 9 – 9   .500 19 – 16   .543
Appalachian State 9 – 9   .500 16 – 16   .500
Louisiana–Monroe 7 – 11   .389 11 – 21   .344
Texas State 6 – 12   .333 16 – 19   .457
Coastal Carolina 5 – 13   .278 11 – 20   .355
Arkansas State 4 – 14   .222 13 – 20   .394
Georgia State 3 – 15   .167 10 – 21   .323
† 2023 Sun Belt Tournament winner

The 2022–23 Troy Trojans men's basketball team represented Troy University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Trojans, led by fourth-year head coach Scott Cross, played their home games at Trojan Arena in Troy, Alabama as members of the Sun Belt Conference.

Previous season

The Trojans finished the 2021–22 season 20–12, 10–6 in SBC play to finish in fourth place. They defeated South Alabama in the quarterfinals of the SBC Tournament before losing to Louisiana in the semifinals. They were invited to the College Basketball Invitational where they lost to Abilene Christian in the first round.

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
TK Smith 1 G 6'5" 185 Junior Memphis, TN Graduate transferred
Desmond Williams 11 G 6'1" 165 Sophomore Montgomery, AL Transferred to UT Martin
Khalyl Waters 13 F 6'5" 190 Senior Douglasville, GA Graduated
Jakevan Leftridge 14 G 6'7" 180 Sophomore Dallas, TX Transferred
Nick O'Brien 20 G 6'0" 180 Freshman Troy, AL Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Duke Deen 21 G 5'8" 160 Freshman Shreveport, LA Transferred to Panola College
Rifen Miguel 22 F 6'8" 240 Junior Luanda, Angola Transferred to UT Martin
Efe Odigie 23 F 6'9" 240 Junior Houston, TX Graduate transferred to SMU
Nick Stampley 24 F 6'6" 210 Senior Broward County, FL Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Darius McNeill 1 G 6'3" 185 GS Senior Houston, TX UTSA
Aamer Muhammad 2 G 6'1" 190 Junior Rio Ranch, NM Lubbock Christian
Nelson Phillips 11 G 6'4" 190 RS Senior Waner Robins, GA Georgia State

Recruiting classes

2022 recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Randi Ovalle
SF 		Charlotte, NC Victory Christian Center School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Oct 16, 2021 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports:3/5 stars
Andre Young
PG 		Mableton, GA Pebblebrook High School 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Jun 20, 2022 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Jackson Fields
SF 		Houston, TX Elkins High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) N/A Apr 21, 2022 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

2023 recruiting class

College recruiting information (2023)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Myles Rigsby
CG 		Fort Worth, TX O.D. Wyatt High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sep 13, 2022 
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Preseason

Preseason Sun Belt Conference poll

The Trojans were picked to finish in 10th place in the conference's preseason poll.[1] Senior forward Zay Williams was named to the preseason All-SBC Third Team.[1]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish Team (1st place Votes)
1 Louisiana - 190 (10)
2 Texas State - 162 (1)
3 South Alabama - 150 (1)
4 James Madison - 149 (1)
5 Georgia State - 127 (1)
6 Marshall - 122
7 App State - 120
8 Coastal Carolina - 100
9 Old Dominion - 93
10 Troy - 76
11 Georgia Southern - 69
12 Arkansas State - 48
13 Southern Miss - 34
14 ULM - 30

Roster

2022–23 Troy Trojans men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Kieffer Punter 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sr All Hallows HS
Tyler JC 		Bronx, NY
G 1 Darius McNeill 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) GS Westfield HS
UTSA 		Houston, TX
G 2 Aamer Muhammad 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Cleveland HS
Lubbock Christian 		Rio Rancho, NM
G 3 Duke Miles 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) So Robert E. Lee HS Montgomery, AL
G 4 Andre Young 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Fr Pebblebrook HS Mableton, GA
G 5 Christyon Eugene 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Spring HS
East Florida State 		Spring, TX
F 10 Zay Williams 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Parker HS Birmingham, AL
G 11 Nelson Phillips 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS Sr Warner Robins HS
Georgia State 		Warner Robins, GA
G 12 Kirk Cole (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 160 lb (73 kg) So Southwest Covenant Yukon, OK
F 13 Randi Ovalle 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Success Unlimited Academy Santiago, DR
F 15 Jackson Fields 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Lawrence E. Elkins HS Missouri City, TX
F 21 Nate Tshimanga 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So North Central Texas Academy
Our Savior Lutheran Academy 		Montreal, QC
F 30 Christian Turner 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So South Grand Prairie HS Grand Prairie, TX
F 32 Lydell Geffrard 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Sr St. Raymond HS
Three Rivers College 		New York, NY
F 33 DJ Jamerson (W) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Montgomery Catholic Montgomery, AL
G 34 DJ Roberts 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) So Oakman HS Monroeville, AL
G 35 Remy Graham (W) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr South Walton HS Santa Rosa Beach, FL
G 55 Kamryn Mitchell (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Houston Academy Dothan, AL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 7, 2022*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Montevallo W 87–67  1–0
  17 – Phillips   9 – Tshimanga   4 – Miles  Trojan Arena (2,879)
Troy, AL
November 10, 2022*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		MUW W 96–42  2–0
  20 – Phillips   9 – Tied   3 – Tied  Trojan Arena (2,498)
Troy, AL
November 14, 2022*
6:00 p.m., ACCNX/ESPN+ 		at Florida State W 79–72  3–0
  23 – Muhammad   9 – Punter   6 – Tied  Donald L. Tucker Civic Center (4,973)
Tallahassee, FL
November 17, 2022*
6:00 p.m. 		vs. Merrimack
Zootown Classic 		W 73–54  4–0
  14 – Putner   7 – Fields   3 – Tied  Dahlberg Arena 
Missoula, MT
November 18, 2022*
6:00 p.m. 		vs. St. Thomas (MN)
Zootown Classic 		L 76–78  4–1
  19 – Miles   7 – Geffrard   4 – Miles  Dahlberg Arena (251)
Missoula, MT
November 19, 2022*
8:30 p.m. 		at Montana
Zootown Classic 		W 73–62  5–1
  14 – Phillips   8 – Williams   5 – Muhammad  Dahlberg Arena (2,644)
Missoula, MT
November 22, 2022*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Southern-New Orleans W 118–61  6–1
  22 – Tied   8 – Phillips   8 – Phillips  Trojan Arena (2,130)
Troy, AL
November 28, 2022*
7:00 p.m., SECN 		at No. 11 Arkansas L 61–74  6–2
  22 – Phillips   7 – Phillips   3 – Tied  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
December 3, 2022*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at SIU Edwardsville L 72–78  6–3
  13 – Muhammad   8 – Phillips   4 – Muhammad  Vadalabene Center (727)
Edwardsville, IL
December 5, 2022*
9:00 p.m. 		at No. 22 San Diego State L 55–60  6–4
  21 – Muhammad   7 – Punter   3 – Eugene  Viejas Arena (12,038)
San Diego, CA
December 10, 2022*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Tennessee Tech W 87–64  7–4
  17 – Eugene   8 – Williams   4 – Tied  Trojan Arena (2,987)
Troy, AL
December 17, 2022*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Southeastern Louisiana W 77–71  8–4
  19 – Punter   8 – Williams   5 – Punter  University Center (403)
Hammond, LA
December 21, 2022*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Mercer L 79–82  8–5
  20 – Williams   9 – Williams   4 – Eugene  Trojan Arena (2,081)
Troy, AL
Sun Belt Conference regular season
December 29, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Southern Miss L 60–64  8–6
(0–1) 		 19 – Williams   9 – Williams   3 – Tied  Reed Green Coliseum (3,265)
Hattiesburg, MS
December 31, 2022
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Texas State W 55–52  9–6
(1–1) 		 16 – Punter   5 – Williams   5 – Eugene  Strahan Coliseum (941)
San Marcos, TX
January 5, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Old Dominion W 78–71  10–6
(2–1) 		 17 – Phillips   7 – Tied   3 – Tied  Trojan Arena (2,322)
Troy, AL
January 7, 2023
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Arkansas State W 66–54  11–6
(3–1) 		 16 – Williams   7 – Phillips   4 – Tied  Trojan Arena (2,972)
Troy, AL
January 12, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Georgia State W 65–53  12–6
(4–1) 		 16 – Punter   6 – Phillips   5 – Eugene  GSU Convocation Center (1,673)
Atlanta, GA
January 14, 2023
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Appalachian State L 45–58  12–7
(4–2) 		 12 – Tied   11 – Phillips   2 – Tied  Holmes Center (2,377)
Boone, NC
January 19, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		James Madison L 87–89 OT 12–8
(4–3) 		 17 – Muhammad   7 – Tied   5 – McNeill  Trojan Arena (2,953)
Troy, AL
January 21, 2023
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Louisiana–Monroe W 77–53  13–8
(5–3) 		 20 – Muhammad   7 – Williams   4 – Muhammad  Trojan Arena (3,154)
Troy, AL
January 26, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Louisiana L 57–72  13–9
(5–4) 		 16 – Punter   9 – Williams   3 – Williams  Cajundome (3,148)
Lafayette, LA
January 28, 2023
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at South Alabama L 60–77  13–10
(5–5) 		 17 – Eugene   4 – Fields   2 – Tied  Mitchell Center (2,779)
Mobile, AL
February 2, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Southern Miss L 65–74  13–11
(5–6) 		 18 – Williams   9 – Williams   5 – Turner  Trojan Arena (3,314)
Troy, AL
February 4, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Texas State W 68–64  14–11
(6–6) 		 19 – Williams   7 – Williams   3 – Tied  Trojan Arena (3,192)
Troy, AL
February 9, 2023
7:15 p.m., ESPN+ 		South Alabama W 61–57  15–11
(7–6) 		 16 – Phillips   13 – Williams   3 – Eugene  Trojan Arena (4,014)
Troy, AL
February 11, 2023
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Louisiana W 80–65  16–11
(8–6) 		 26 – Williams   10 – Williams   4 – Tied  Trojan Arena (3,772)
Troy, AL
February 16, 2023
7:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Arkansas State W 67–62  17–11
(9–6) 		 22 – Phillips   9 – Williams   3 – Eugene  First National Bank Arena (1,026)
Jonesboro, AR
February 18, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Marshall L 78–88  17–12
(9–7) 		 22 – Phillips   8 – Williams   4 – McNeill  Cam Henderson Center (5,711)
Huntington, WV
February 22, 2023
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Louisiana–Monroe W 82–78 OT 18–12
(10–7) 		 17 – Eugene   12 – Williams   7 – Eugene  Fant–Ewing Coliseum (962)
Monroe, LA
February 24, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Coastal Carolina W 95–74  19–12
(11–7) 		 19 – Eugene   7 – Williams   5 – Phillips  Trojan Arena (4,232)
Troy, AL
Sun Belt tournament
March 2, 2023
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		(5) vs. (13) Arkansas State
Second Round 		W 63–59  20–12
  15 – Williams   14 – Phillips   3 – Eugene  Pensacola Bay Center 
Pensacola, FL
March 4, 2023
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		(5) vs. (4) James Madison
Quarterfinals 		L 72–75  20–13
  26 – Eugene   9 – Phillips   3 – McNeill  Pensacola Bay Center 
Pensacola, FL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central.

Source[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Louisiana Headlines Sun Belt Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  2. ^ "2022–23 Basketball (M) Schedule". Troy University Athletics. Retrieved November 2, 2022.