# 2022–23 Georgia Southern Eagles men's basketball team

The 2022–23 Georgia Southern Eagles men's basketball team represented Georgia Southern University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Eagles, led by second-year head coach Brian Burg, played their home games at Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Georgia as members of the Sun Belt Conference. They finished the season 17–16, 9–9 in Sun Belt play, to finish in a three-way tie for seventh place. As the No. 7 seed in the Sun Belt tournament, they defeated Louisiana–Monroe in the second round before losing to Louisiana in the quarterfinals.
On March 9, 2023, the school fired head coach Brian Burg. On March 29, the school named Alabama assistant coach Charlie Henry the team's new head coach.

## Previous season

The Eagles finished the 2020–21 season 13–16, 5–11 in Sun Belt play, to finish in 10th place. They defeated Coastal Carolina in the first round of the Sun Belt tournament before losing to Appalachian State in the quarterfinals.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Elijah McCadden | 2 | G | 6'4" | 205 | Senior | Rocky Mount, NC | Graduate transferred to Memphis |
| Tre Cobbs | 3 | G | 6'0" | 190 | RS Senior | Lima, OH | Graduated |
| Gedi Juozapaitis | 13 | G/F | 6'4" | 210 | Senior | London, England | Graduate transferred to Maine |
| Grant Weatherford | 23 | G | 6'2" | 195 | RS Senior | Cicero, IN | Graduated |
| Prince Toyambi | 24 | F/C | 6'7" | 230 | RS Junior | Kinshasa, DR Congo | Left the team for personal reasons |

### Transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous school |
| Jalen Finch | 2 | G | 6'1" | 165 | Senior | Raleigh, NC | Jacksonville State |
| Tyren Moore | 3 | G | 6'1" | 180 | Junior | Louisville, KY | Moberly Area CC |
| Tai Stickland | 13 | G | 6'2" | 180 | RS Senior | Tampa, FL | Temple |

### Recruiting classes
#### 2022 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Nate Brafford SF | Rabun Gap, GA | Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Apr 7, 2022 |
| Recruiting 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: "Georgia Southern 2022-23 Basketball Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022. "2022-23 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022. ||||||

#### 2023 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2023 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Eren Banks CG | Eatonton, GA | Putnam County High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | May 7, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Collin Kuhl PF | Holly Springs, NC | Holly Springs High School | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Aug 28, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Avantae Parker PF | Columbia, SC | Gray Academy | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Sep 7, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Luke Wilson C | Augusta, GA | Augusta Christian School | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | Nov 12, 2022 |
| Recruiting 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: "Georgia Southern 2023-24 Basketball Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022. "2023-24 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022. |||||||

## Preseason
### Preseason Sun Belt Conference poll

The Eagles were picked to finish in 11th place in the conference's preseason poll.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team (first-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 | Appalachian 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 |

## 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 8, 2022* 10:00 p.m., MWN | | at San Jose State | L 48–63 | 0–1 | 14 – Savrasov | 8 – Curry | 2 – Brown | Provident Credit Union Event Center (2,241) San Jose, CA |
| November 10, 2022* 10:00 p.m., WCC Network | | at Santa Clara | L 62–78 | 0–2 | 19 – Archie | 6 – Finch | 6 – Finch | Leavey Center (1,152) Santa Clara, CA |
| November 12, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Trinity Baptist | W 53–32 | 1–2 | 16 – Savrasov | 11 – Savrasov | 2 – tied | Hanner Fieldhouse (1,328) Statesboro, GA |
| November 18, 2022* 7:00 p.m., CUSATV | | at Rice Owl Invitational | L 71–88 | 1–3 | 15 – Strickland | 6 – Curry | 4 – tied | Tudor Fieldhouse (1,401) Houston, TX |
| November 19, 2022* 8:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | vs. Houston Christian Owl Invitational | W 84–77 | 2–3 | 15 – Savrasov | 6 – Finch | 8 – Finch | Tudor Fieldhouse (608) Houston, TX |
| November 20, 2022* 1:00 p.m. | | vs. Western Michigan Owl Invitational | W 63–57 | 3–3 | 16 – Curry | 8 – tied | 4 – Finch | Tudor Fieldhouse (1,267) Houston, TX |
| November 26, 2022* 1:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Oglethorpe | W 101–73 | 4–3 | 30 – Curry | 15 – Curry | 6 – Finch | Hanner Fieldhouse (512) Statesboro, GA |
| November 30, 2022* 7:30 p.m., ESPN+ | | Florida Gulf Coast | L 53–70 | 4–4 | 16 – Finch | 5 – tied | 3 – tied | Hanner Fieldhouse (1,423) Statesboro, GA |
| December 7, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Piedmont | W 91–47 | 5–4 | 20 – Curry | 12 – Curry | 3 – tied | Hanner Fieldhouse (724) Statesboro, GA |
| December 10, 2022* 3:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Wofford | W 79–57 | 6–4 | 16 – Finch | 7 – Savrasov | 2 – Moore | Hanner Fieldhouse (545) Statesboro, GA |
| December 14, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Morehead State | L 71–74 | 6–5 | 22 – Savasov | 12 – Savrasov | 3 – Finch | Hanner Fieldhouse (501) Statesboro, GA |
| December 17, 2022* 3:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Campbell | W 54–53 | 7–5 | 13 – Moore | 12 – Curry | 3 – Finch | Hanner Fieldhouse (573) Statesboro, GA |
| December 21, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Ball State | L 54–58 | 7–6 | 13 – tied | 11 – Curry | 1 – tied | Worthen Arena (3,288) Muncie, IN |
| Sun Belt Conference regular season |||||||||
| December 29, 2022 8:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | South Alabama | W 64–50 | 8–6 (1–0) | 14 – Finch | 12 – Brown | 5 – Finch | Hanner Fieldhouse (957) Statesboro, GA |
| December 31, 2022 2:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Coastal Carolina | W 73–64 | 9–6 (2–0) | 16 – tied | 8 – Savrasov | 4 – Finch | HTC Center (1,201) Conway, SC |
| January 5, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Marshall | W 81–76 | 10–6 (3–0) | 18 – Savrasov | 8 – Curry | 8 – Finch | Hanner Fieldhouse (1,009) Statesboro, GA |
| January 7, 2023 3:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Old Dominion | L 75–81 $^{OT}$ | 10–7 (3–1) | 18 – Archie | 9 – Savrasov | 4 – Finch | Hanner Fieldhouse (1,412) Statesboro, GA |
| January 12, 2023 6:30 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Appalachian State | W 67–65 | 11–7 (4–1) | 21 – Savrasov | 11 – Savrasov | 2 – tied | Holmes Center (1,651) Boone, NC |
| January 14, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at James Madison | L 71–83 | 11–8 (4–2) | 14 – Savrasov | 9 – Savrasov | 4 – Finch | Atlantic Union Bank Center (3,787) Harrisonburg, VA |
| January 19, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Louisiana–Monroe | L 59–72 | 11–9 (4–3) | 15 – Archie | 5 – tied | 4 – Savrasov | Hanner Fieldhouse (1,553) Statesboro, GA |
| January 21, 2023 3:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Georgia State Rivalry | W 58–52 | 12–9 (5–3) | 15 – Finch | 7 – Brown | 2 – tied | Hanner Fieldhouse (2,672) Statesboro, GA |
| January 26, 2023 8:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Texas State | L 67–70 | 12–10 (5–4) | 19 – Moore | 7 – Curry | 2 – tied | Strahan Coliseum (2,331) San Marcos, TX |
| January 28, 2023 8:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Louisiana | L 87–94 | 12–11 (5–5) | 16 – tied | 9 – Curry | 2 – tied | Cajundome (3,504) Lafayette, LA |
| February 2, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Georgia State Rivalry | L 60–64 | 12–12 (5–6) | 16 – Finch | 12 – Savrosov | 3 – tied | GSU Convocation Center (3,309) Atlanta, GA |
| February 4, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Old Dominion | L 58–64 | 12–13 (5–7) | 11 – tied | 13 – Curry | 5 – Finch | Chartway Arena (7,029) Norfolk, VA |
| February 9, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | James Madison | W 76–73 | 13–13 (6–7) | 22 – Savrasov | 10 – Savrasov | 7 – Finch | Hanner Fieldhouse (1,863) Statesboro, GA |
| February 11, 2023 3:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Arkansas State | W 68–53 | 14–13 (7–7) | 24 – Savrasov | 12 – Savrasov | 4 – Finch | Hanner Fieldhouse (1,727) Statesboro, GA |
| February 16, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Marshall | L 83–84 | 14–14 (7–8) | 20 – Savrasov | 10 – Brown | 3 – Finch | Cam Henderson Center (5,711) Huntington, WV |
| February 18, 2023 1:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Southern Miss | L 62–73 | 14–15 (7–9) | 14 – Moore | 7 – Curry | 4 – Finch | Reed Green Coliseum (488) Hattiesburg, MS |
| February 22, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Coastal Carolina | W 76–68 | 15–15 (8–9) | 14 – Brown | 11 – Savrasov | 6 – Finch | Hanner Fieldhouse (1,283) Statesboro, GA |
| February 24, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Appalachian State | W 73–64 | 16–15 (9–9) | 28 – Savrasov | 5 – tied | 6 – Archie | Hanner Fieldhouse (2,445) Statesboro, GA |
| Sun Belt tournament |||||||||
| March 2, 2023 8:30 p.m., ESPN+ | (7) | vs. (10) Louisiana–Monroe Second round | W 66–57 | 17–15 | 16 – Moore | 9 – Brown | 5 – Finch | Pensacola Bay Center (940) Pensacola, FL |
| March 4, 2023 8:30 p.m., ESPN+ | (7) | vs. (2) Louisiana Quarterfinals | L 49–67 | 17–16 | 15 – Savrasov | 7 – Savrasov | 1 – tied | Pensacola Bay Center Pensacola, FL |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern. |||||||||
Sources: