# 2022–23 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team

The 2022–23 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team represented Drexel University during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Dragons, led by seventh-year head coach Zach Spiker, played their home games at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Colonial Athletic Association.

## Previous season

The Dragons finished the 2021–22 season 15–14, 10–8 in CAA play to finish in sixth place. They lost to Delaware in the CAA tournament quarterfinals.
On May 10, 2022, following the end of the season, it was announced that assistant coach Rob O'Driscoll would be leaving Drexel after seven seasons to become an assistant basketball coach at Maine.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| Melik Martin | 2 | G/F | 6'6" | 220 | RS Senior | York, PA | Graduated |
| Trevion Brown | 3 | G | 6'2" | 173 | RS Junior | Tacoma, WA | Transferred to Old Dominion |
| Xavier Bell | 4 | G | 6'3" | 185 | Sophomore | Wichita, KS | Transferred to Wichita State |
| Camren Wynter | 11 | G | 6'2" | 185 | Senior | Hempstead, NY | Transferred to Penn State |
| Matej Juric | 15 | G | 5'11" | 190 | RS Senior | Toronto, ON, Canada | Graduated |
| Ata Can Atsüren | 23 | G | 6'3" | 192 | Freshman | Nilüfer, Turkey | Transferred to Salem |
| James Butler | 51 | F | 6'8" | 235 | 6th Year Sr | Fairfax Station, VA | Graduated |

### Incoming transfers

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Garfield Turner PF | Gaithersburg, MD | Odessa | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | May 20, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ||||||
| Yame Butler SG | Greenbelt, MD | Fordham | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Jun 10, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ||||||
| Jamie Bergens PG | Almere, Netherlands | Oral Roberts | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jun 12, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ||||||
| 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: "Drexel 2022 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022. "Drexel Dragons". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022. "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022. "Drexel 2022 Basketball Commits". 247sports.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022. ||||||

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

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Kobe Magee SG | Allentown, PA | Executive Education Academy Charter School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | N/A | Jun 23, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ||||||
| Justin Moore PG | Wyncote, PA | Archbishop Wood | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Sep 28, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ||||||
| Shane Blakeney PG | Rock Hill, SC | Legion Collegiate Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Oct 1, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ||||||
| Maximus Fuentes SG | Boca Raton, FL | North Broward Preparatory School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Apr 17, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ||||||
| Cole Hargrove SF | Norristown, PA | Methacton High School | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | May 22, 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: "Drexel 2022 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 5, 2021. "Drexel Dragons". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 5, 2021. "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 5, 2021. "Drexel 2022 Basketball Commits". 247sports.com. Retrieved October 5, 2021. ||||||

#### 2023 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2023 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Horace Simmons SF | Wyndmoor, PA | La Salle College High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Aug 25, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| 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: "Drexel 2023 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021. "Drexel Dragons". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021. "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021. "Drexel 2023 Basketball Commits". 247sports.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021. |||||||

## Preseason

In a poll of the league coaches at the CAA's media day, Drexel was picked to finish in seventh place in the CAA. Junior Amari Williams was selected to the Preseason CAA All-Conference Second Team.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| August 9, 2022 12:30 pm | | at A.S. Stella Azzurra | W 78–47 | | 19 – Tied | – | – | Arena Altero Felici Rome, Italy |
| August 11, 2022 12:30 pm | | at Orange1 Basket Bassano U19 | W 84–52 | | 19 – Turner | – | – | Palazzetto Sandro Pertini Ponte Buggianese, Italy |
| August 13, 2022 | | at Bakken | | | | | | Palasampietro Casnate, Italy |
| August 14, 2022 1:00 pm | | at Lombardia All Stars | | | | | | Costa Masnaga, Italy |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| November 11, 2022* 7:00 pm, NBCSPHI | | Old Dominion | W 71–59 | 1–0 | 16 – Williams | 11 – Williams | 5 – Moore | Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,919) Philadelphia, PA |
| November 15, 2022* 7:00 pm, NBCSPHI | | Penn Battle of 33rd Street | L 59–64 | 1–1 | 20 – Williams | 7 – Williams | 3 – Moore | Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,324) Philadelphia, PA |
| November 18, 2022* 6:00 pm | | Arcadia | W 85–45 | 2–1 | 13 – Oden Jr. | 10 – 3 Tied | 5 – Okros | Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,007) Philadelphia, PA |
| November 21, 2022* 5:00 pm | | vs. UT Arlington Gulf Coast Showcase quarterfinal | W 59–38 | 3–1 | 22 – Washington | 10 – Williams | 4 – Williams | Hertz Arena (654) Estero, FL |
| November 22, 2022* 7:30 pm | | vs. Florida Gulf Coast Gulf Coast Showcase semifinal | L 59–67 | 3–2 | 20 – Williams | 9 – Williams | 2 – Okros | Hertz Arena (952) Estero, FL |
| November 23, 2022* 5:00 pm | | vs. Indiana State Gulf Coast Showcase 3rd place game | L 81–85 | 3–3 | 16 – Oden Jr. | 9 – Turner | 3 – Moore | Hertz Arena (265) Estero, FL |
| November 27, 2022* 2:00 pm, ESPN+ | | at Temple City 6 | L 61–73 | 3–4 | 18 – Williams | 6 – Williams | 3 – Moore | Liacouras Center (4,102) Philadelphia, PA |
| November 30, 2022* 7:00 pm | | Lafayette | W 64–56 | 4–4 | 18 – Washington | 7 – Williams | 2 – Oden Jr. | Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,346) Philadelphia, PA |
| December 3, 2022* 2:00 pm, NBCSPHI+ | | Princeton | L 63–83 | 4–5 | 16 – Oden Jr. | 3 – 4 Tied | 4 – Bergens | Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,412) Philadelphia, PA |
| December 10, 2022* 12:00 pm, USA | | at La Salle City 6 | W 65–58 $^{OT}$ | 5–5 | 21 – Washington | 11 – Williams | 4 – Williams | Tom Gola Arena (1,781) Philadelphia, PA |
| December 14, 2022* 7:00 pm, FS1 | | at Seton Hall | L 49–66 | 5–6 | 14 – Williams | 11 – Williams | 3 – 2 Tied | Prudential Center (8,433) Newark, NJ |
| December 17, 2022* 2:00 pm | | Delaware State | W 85–52 | 6–6 | 25 – House | 12 – Williams | 6 – 2 Tied | Daskalakis Athletic Center (977) Philadelphia, PA |
| December 22, 2022* 7:00 pm, ESPN+ | | at Fairfield | Postponed due to COVID-19 | Postponed due to COVID-19 | Postponed due to COVID-19 | Postponed due to COVID-19 | Postponed due to COVID-19 | Leo D. Mahoney Arena Fairfield, CT |
| CAA regular season |||||||||
| December 29, 2022 4:00 pm | | Elon | W 62–50 | 7–6 (1–0) | 12 – Washington | 14 – Williams | 6 – Williams | Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,033) Philadelphia, PA |
| December 31, 2022 2:00 pm | | William & Mary | W 66–56 | 8–6 (2–0) | 18 – Williams | 9 – Williams | 4 – Moore | Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,002) Philadelphia, PA |
| January 5, 2023 7:00 pm, CBSSN | | at Towson | L 58–64 | 8–7 (2–1) | 14 – Okros | 6 – Turner | 3 – Washington | SECU Arena (1,265) Towson, MD |
| January 7, 2023 2:00 pm | | Monmouth | W 67–35 | 9–7 (3–1) | 13 – Williams | 8 – Williams | 4 – 2 Tied | Daskalakis Athletic Center (984) Philadelphia, PA |
| January 12, 2023 7:00 pm, CBSSN | | at Stony Brook | L 66–67 | 9–8 (3–2) | 14 – Williams | 6 – Williams | 5 – Moore | Island Federal Arena (2,840) Stony Brook, NY |
| January 14, 2023 12:00 pm | | at Northeastern | W 76–55 | 10–8 (4–2) | 12 – 2 Tied | 6 – 2 Tied | 5 – Bergens | Matthews Arena (912) Boston, MA |
| January 19, 2023 7:00 pm, NBSPHI+ | | Hampton | W 79–73 | 11–8 (5–2) | 19 – Oden Jr. | 11 – Williams | 7 – Moore | Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,173) Philadelphia, PA |
| January 21, 2023 2:00 pm, NBCSPHI+ | | Delaware | W 77–74 $^{OT}$ | 12–8 (6–2) | 21 – Moore | 6 – Williams | 3 – 2 Tied | Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,407) Philadelphia, PA |
| January 26, 2023 7:00 pm | | at North Carolina A&T | L 55–68 | 12–9 (6–3) | 14 – 2 Tied | 9 – 2 Tied | 6 – Oden Jr. | Corbett Sports Center (2,456) Greensboro, NC |
| January 28, 2023 4:00 pm | | at Elon | L 58–72 | 12–10 (6–4) | 23 – Williams | 8 – Williams | 3 – 3 Tied | Schar Center (1,911) Elon, NC |
| February 2, 2023 7:00 pm, NBCSPHI | | College of Charleston | W 70–69 | 13–10 (7–4) | 19 – Williams | 12 – Williams | 4 – Moore | Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,009) Philadelphia, PA |
| February 4, 2023 2:00 pm, NBCSPHI/SNY | | at Monmouth | L 67–69 | 13–11 (7–5) | 18 – House | 16 – Williams | 5 – Moore | OceanFirst Bank Center (1,562) West Long Branch, NJ |
| February 8, 2023 7:00 pm, NBCSPHI | | at Delaware | W 58–54 | 14–11 (8–5) | 17 – Y. Butler | 9 – Williams | 3 – 2 Tied | Bob Carpenter Center (2,685) Newark, DE |
| February 11, 2023 2:00 pm | | Towson | W 73–66 $^{OT}$ | 15–11 (9–5) | 19 – Oden Jr. | 12 – Oden Jr. | 4 – Williams | Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,448) Philadelphia, PA |
| February 13, 2023 7:00 pm | | at Hofstra | L 52–66 | 15–12 (9–6) | 13 – Williams | 8 – Tied | 3 – Tied | Mack Sports Complex (1,784) Hempstead, NY |
| February 16, 2023 7:00 pm, NBCSPHI | | UNC Wilmington | L 71–72 $^{2OT}$ | 15–13 (9–7) | 25 – Y. Butler | 9 – Tied | 2 – House | Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,118) Philadelphia, PA |
| February 18, 2023 4:00 pm | | at Hampton | L 72–75 | 15–14 (9–8) | 30 – Y. Butler | 10 – Oden Jr. | 3 – Washington | Hampton Convocation Center Hampton, VA |
| February 23, 2023 7:00 pm, NBCSPHI | | Northeastern | W 75–48 | 16–14 (10–8) | 22 – Y. Butler | 11 – Williams | 5 – Tied | Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,410) Philadelphia, PA |
| CAA Tournament |||||||||
| March 4, 2023 2:30 pm, FloHoops | (5) | vs. (13) Monmouth Second Round | W 64–45 | 17–14 | 16 – Williams | 11 – Williams | 8 – Moore | Entertainment and Sports Arena (2,031) Washington, D.C. |
| March 5, 2023 2:30 pm, FloHoops | (5) | vs. (4) UNC Wilmington Quarterfinals | L 68–73 | 17–15 | 16 – Moore | 7 – Williams | 4 – Moore | Entertainment and Sports Arena (1,821) Washington, D.C. |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||

## Awards
### Yame Butler

* Samuel D. Cozen Award (team's most improved player)

### Luke House

* Donald Shank Spirit & Dedication Award

### Justin Moore

* CAA All-Rookie Team
* CAA Rookie of the Week
* Assist Award (team leader in assists)

### Mate Okros

* Team Academic Award

### Amari Williams

* Lefty Driesell Award Finalist
* CAA Defensive Player of the Year
* CAA All-Conference First Team
* CAA All-Defensive Team
* CAA Player of the Week
* Preseason CAA All-Conference Second Team
* Team Most Valuable Player
* Dragon "D" Award (team's top defensive player)
* "Sweep" Award (team leader in rebounds)