# 2022–23 South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball team

The 2022–23 South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball team represented the University of South Alabama in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Jaguars, led by fifth-year head coach Richie Riley, played their home games at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Alabama as members in the Sun Belt Conference.

## Previous season

The Jaguars finished the 2021–22 season 21–12, 9–7 in Sun Belt play to finish in fifth place. In the Sun Belt tournament, they lost in the first round to Little Rock in the first round. They were invited to the 2022 The Basketball Classic where they Southeastern Louisiana in the first round and USC Upstate in the quarterfinals before losing to Sun Belt member Coastal Carolina in the semifinals.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Lance Thomas | 1 | F | 6'9" | 224 | GS Senior | Norcross, GA | Left the team for personal reasons |
| Andrew Anderson | 3 | G | 6'0" | 160 | Sophomore | Memphis, TN | Transferred to Copiah–Lincoln CC |
| Kayo Goncalves | 4 | F | 6'8" | 212 | GS Senior | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Graduated |
| Alex Anderson | 12 | F | 6'6" | 185 | Freshman | Memphis, TN | Transferred to Alabama State |
| Javon Franklin | 13 | F | 6'7" | 220 | Senior | Little Rock, AR | Graduate transferred to Georgia Tech |
| Charles Manning Jr. | 21 | G | 6'4" | 193 | Senior | Riverhead, NY | Graduated |
| Jay Jay Chandler | 22 | G | 6'4" | 180 | GS Senior | Katy, TX | Graduated |
| Jamal West | 25 | F | 6'5" | 224 | Sophomore | Baltimore, MD | Transferred to Clarendon College |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| Elijah Ormiston | 3 | F | 6'8" | 210 | Sophomore | Easley, SC | Concordia Saint Paul |
| Isaiah Moore | 4 | G | 5'11" | 163 | Senior | Temple Hills, MD | Franklin Pierce |
| Kevin Samuel | 21 | C | 6'11" | 255 | GS Senior | Codrington, Barbuda | Florida Gulf Coast |
| Owen White | 22 | G | 6'6" | 215 | GS Senior | Rhinelander, WI | Michigan Tech |
| Judah Brown | 25 | F | 6'6" | 205 | Junior | Bermuda Dunes, CA | Saint Mary's |

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

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Jamar Franklin CG | Rockledge, FL | Rockledge High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Nov 10, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ||||||
| Julian Margrave PF | New Hampton, NH | New Hampton School | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Nov 10, 2021 |
| 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: "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. ||||||

#### 2023 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2023 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| John Broom SG | Jacksonville, AL | Jacksonville School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Jul 28, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Smurf Millender PG | Friendswood, TX | Clear Brook High School | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Jun 10, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Ethan Kizer SF | Metamora, IL | Metamora High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Sep 9, 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: "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. |||||||

## Preseason
### Preseason Sun Belt Conference poll

The Jaguars were picked to finish in third place in the conference's preseason poll. Graduate center Kevin Samuel was named to the preseason All-SBC First Team. Graduate guard Greg Parham II was named to the conference preseason second team.
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 |

## 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 9, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Mobile | W 97–59 | 1–0 | 18 – Franklin | 12 – Samuel | 5 – Moore | Mitchell Center (2,019) Mobile, AL |
| November 11, 2022* 8:00 p.m., MW Network | | at New Mexico | L 74–80 | 1–1 | 19 – Moore | 7 – Tied | 13 – Moore | The Pit (9,466) Albuquerque, NM |
| November 15, 2022* 9:00 p.m., ESPNU | | No. 18 Alabama | L 55–65 | 1–2 | 20 – Moore | 11 – Kearing | 1 – Tied | Mitchell Center (7,673) Mobile, AL |
| November 18, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Oklahoma | L 60–64 | 1–3 | 25 – Moore | 9 – Samuel | 3 – Parham II | Lloyd Noble Center (5,403) Norman, OK |
| November 25, 2022* 5:30 p.m. | | vs. Evansville Hostilo Hoops Community Classic | W 78–67 | 2–3 | 21 – Moore | 8 – Samuel | 9 – Moore | Enmarket Arena (219) Savannah, GA |
| November 26, 2022* 1:30 p.m. | | vs. Towson Hostilo Hoops Community Classic | L 60–62 | 2–4 | 18 – Moore | 9 – Samuel | 6 – Moore | Enmarket Arena (233) Savannah, GA |
| November 27, 2022* 1:30 p.m. | | vs. Robert Morris Hostilo Hoops Community Classic | W 84–70 | 3–4 | 28 – Moore | 12 – Samuel | 4 – Moore | Enmarket Arena (207) Savannah, GA |
| November 30, 2022* 6:00 p.m., CUSA.tv | | at Florida Atlantic | L 59–84 | 3–5 | 17 – Moore | 5 – Parham II | 5 – Moore | Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena (1,303) Boca Raton, FL |
| December 4, 2022* 1:00 p.m., ESPNU | | at UAB | L 68–76 | 3–6 | 30 – Parham II | 14 – Samuel | 3 – Parham II | Bartow Arena (3,833) Birmingham, AL |
| December 12, 2022* 6:00 p.m., YouTube | | at Alabama A&M | W 78–71 | 4–6 | 20 – Samuel | 8 – Tied | 5 – Tied | Alabama A&M Events Center (451) Huntsville, AL |
| December 19, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Spring Hill | W 82–53 | 5–6 | 18 – Parham II | 12 – Samuel | 4 – Moore | Mitchell Center (1,667) Mobile, AL |
| December 21, 2022* 1:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Jacksonville State | W 71–66 | 6–6 | 18 – Jones | 9 – Samuel | 4 – Tied | Mitchell Center (1,455) Mobile, AL |
| Sun Belt Conference regular season |||||||||
| December 29, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Georgia Southern | L 50–64 | 6–7 (0–1) | 15 – Moore | 7 – Samuel | 5 – Moore | Hanner Fieldhouse (957) Statesboro, GA |
| December 31, 2022 1:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Georgia State | L 58–68 | 6–8 (0–2) | 15 – Parham II | 11 – Samuel | 4 – Tied | GSU Convocation Center (1,306) Atlanta, GA |
| January 5, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Arkanasas State | W 63–45 | 7–8 (1–2) | 20 – Moore | 11 – Samuel | 3 – Tied | Mitchell Center (1,451) Mobile, AL |
| January 7, 2023 2:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Texas State | L 58–64 | 7–9 (1–3) | 16 – Samuel | 13 – Samuel | 5 – Moore | Mitchell Center (1,812) Mobile, AL |
| January 12, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | James Madison | W 63–62 | 8–9 (2–3) | 16 – Moore | 9 – Samuel | 5 – Moore | Mitchell Center (1,725) Mobile, AL |
| January 14, 2023 3:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Louisiana | L 76–79 | 8–10 (2–4) | 21 – Moore | 7 – Kearing | 6 – Moore | Mitchell Center (2,246) Mobile, AL |
| January 19, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Southern Miss | L 72–76 | 8–11 (2–5) | 22 – Moore | 11 – Samuel | 4 – Jones | Reed Green Coliseum (4,128) Hattiesburg, MS |
| January 21, 2023 1:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Coastal Carolina | L 81–85 $^{OT}$ | 8–12 (2–6) | 25 – Jones | 10 – Samuel | 9 – Moore | HTC Center (1,459) Conway, SC |
| January 26, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Old Dominion | L 64–66 | 8–13 (2–7) | 19 – Moore | 7 – Brown | 3 – Tied | Mitchell Center (1,894) Mobile, AL |
| January 28, 2023 3:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Troy | W 77–60 | 9–13 (3–7) | 23 – Moore | 13 – Samuel | 3 – Jones | Mitchell Center (2,779) Mobile, AL |
| February 2, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Arkansas State | W 82–62 | 10–13 (4–7) | 23 – Moore | 7 – Tied | 4 – Jones | First National Bank Arena (1,341) Jonesboro, AR |
| February 4, 2023 2:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Louisiana–Monroe | W 72–64 | 11–13 (5–7) | 31 – Moore | 6 – Tied | 4 – Moore | Fant–Ewing Coliseum (3,023) Monroe, LA |
| February 9, 2023 7:15 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Troy | L 57–61 | 11–14 (5–8) | 16 – Brown | 13 – Samuel | 4 – Moore | Trojan Arena (4,014) Troy, AL |
| February 11, 2023 5:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Appalachian State | W 74–57 | 12–14 (6–8) | 16 – Moore | 9 – Samuel | 3 – Tied | Mitchell Center (1,955) Mobile, AL |
| February 13, 2023* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Hartford | W 77–53 | 13–14 | 20 – Moore | 10 – Samuel | 5 – Moore | Mitchell Center (1,404) Mobile, AL |
| February 16, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Southern Miss | W 85–54 | 14–14 (7–8) | 16 – Moore | 6 – Samuel | 6 – Moore | Mitchell Center (2,398) Mobile, AL |
| February 18, 2023 3:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Louisiana–Monroe | W 81–45 | 15–14 (8–8) | 19 – Parham II | 9 – White | 5 – Parham II | Mitchell Center (1,702) Mobile, AL |
| February 22, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at Texas State | W 76–67 | 16–14 (9–8) | 22 – Moore | 10 – Samuel | 7 – Moore | Strahan Coliseum (1,776) San Marcos, TX |
| February 24, 2023 8:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | at Louisiana | L 64–74 | 16–15 (9–9) | 22 – Moore | 7 – Brown | 3 – Moore | Cajundome (3,494) Lafayette, LA |
| Sun Belt tournament |||||||||
| March 2, 2023 11:30 a.m., ESPN+ | (8) | vs. (9) Appalachian State Second Round | W 68–61 | 17–15 | 20 – Moore | 15 – Samuel | 7 – Moore | Pensacola Bay Center (718) Pensacola, FL |
| March 4, 2023 11:30 a.m., ESPN+ | (8) | vs. (1) Southern Miss Quarterfinals | W 78–61 | 18–15 | 23 – White | 6 – White | 7 – Moore | Pensacola Bay Center Pensacola, FL |
| March 5, 2023 5:00 p.m., ESPN+ | (8) | vs. (4) James Madison Semifinals | W 75–66 | 19–15 | 18 – Moore | 12 – Samuel | 5 – Moore | Pensacola Bay Center Pensacola, FL |
| March 6, 2023 6:00 p.m., ESPN2 | (8) | vs. (2) Louisiana Championship | L 66–71 | 19–16 | 33 – Moore | 10 – Jones | 4 – Jones | Pensacola Bay Center Pensacola, FL |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central. |||||||||
Sources