DIVISION I:
MURRAY STATE:
2021 Record - 31-3 (1st in OVC)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2022 (Beat #10-seed San Francisco, Lost to #15-seed St. Peter's in Round of 32)
Conference - Missouri Valley
The Racers enter the 22-23 season coming off a dominant season in which they went a perfect 18-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Now former head coach Matt McMahon was led by All-OVC conference first teamers KJ Williams and Tevin Brown who carried the bulk of the scoring for the Racers. With Williams following McMahon to LSU and Brown leaving for the NBA, the Racers are in for a major overhaul of talent as they enter their first season in the Missouri Valley Conference. This will also be the start of Steve Prohm's second stint as head coach of the Racers and will look to cement his spot as one of the best young head coaches in Division I basketball. Look for returning starters DJ Burns and Trae Hannibal to take big steps forward along with production from incoming transfers Marlon Lestin and Braxton Stacker.
WOFFORD:
2021 Record - 19-13 (3rd in Southern)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2019 (Beat #10-seed Seton Hall, Lost to #2-seed Kentucky in Round of 32)
Conference - Southern
The Wofford Terriers have cemented their spot over the last couple of years as being one of the top mid-major programs in the country, who have consistently finished in the top 5 of the Southern Conference and going on major runs in the conference tournament. We're just three years removed from their last NCAA tournament berth in 2019 where the leading scorer in the country Fletcher Magee was terrorizing Seton Hall and Kentucky in the opening weekend of the best collegiate basketball tournament in the world. Wofford is destined to bounce back to the top with leading scorer DJ Mack returning for his junior season and Virginia transfer Carson McCorkle looking to make an immediate impact for the Terriers.
THE CITADEL:
2021 Record - 13-18 (9th in Southern)
Last NCAA Tournament - N/A
Conference - Southern
The Bulldogs from The Citadel are looking to get back in the hunt of the Southern Conference in the 22-23 season. With new head coach Ed Conroy who will be beginning his second stint as Bulldogs head coach, the tide should begin to turn sooner rather than later. Conroy was most recently the top assistant for Jerry Stackhouse at Vanderbilt and helped the Commodores to their first winning season since 2016-17. The Bulldogs are looking to senior big man Hayden Brown to continue his great work along with highly ranked recruit Jason Roche.
JACKSONVILLE STATE:
2021 Record - 21-11 (1st in Atlantic Sun)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2022 (Lost to #2-seed Auburn in Round of 64)
Conference - ASUN
Coming off their first-ever berth to the NCAA tournament, the Gamecocks look to return to the dance without the shadow of their controversial bid looming over them. The Atlantic Sun conference tournament was won by the transitioning Division II school Bellarmine, but since the NCAA ruled that programs transitioning from DII to DI Were ineligible to play in the NCAA tournament, the bid ultimately went to the A-SUN regular season champions… the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. It's a tough situation to be in, but this opportunity was massive for the Jacksonville State program, and they gave Auburn all they could handle in the Round of 64. The Gamecocks leading scorers Jalen Gibbs and Darian Adams signed deals to play professionally in Germany, so the team will have to be led by junior guard Demaree King and 4-star freshman Amandze Ngumezi.
HOLY CROSS:
2021 Record - 9-22 (7th in Patriot League)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2016 (Beat Southern in First Four, Lost to #1-seed Oregon in Round of 32)
Conference - Patriot League
The most prestigious basketball program under the Peak banner resides in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Crusaders have made two Final Four appearances in 1947 and 1948 and look to get back to the top of the mountain as we enter the 22-23 season. After a disappointing 2021 season where the Crusaders finished 7th in the Patriot League, graduate senior Gerrale Gates is determined to lead his team back to the NCAA tournament with the help of Bo Montgomery, who shot 37% from the 3-point line last year which ranked 65th in all of college basketball (per ESPN stats). Losing Patriot League Freshman of the Year Kyrell Luc to St. Bonaventure is a tough blow but the athletic department has done a good job replacing his production with a slew of talented incoming freshmen.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL:
2021 Record - 16-15 (3rd in MEAC)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2019 (Lost to North Dakota State in First Four)
Conference - MEAC
Eagles' head Coach Levelle Moton looks to parlay his 2017-18 MEAC Coach of the Year honors with a MEAC championship as he returns all 5 starters from his 2021 squad. Upperclassmen Justin Wright, Kris Monroe, and Randy Miller Jr. will lead the Eagles into another season of competitive play in the MEAC. Finishing 3rd last year, the Eagles showed lots of inconsistencies down the stretch that kept them from their postseason aspirations. Following multiple 4-game winning streaks with 3-game losing streaks curbed their momentum before they could get over the hump. However, with rival Norfolk State losing players to the transfer portal, this could be the year that the Eagles reclaim their throne.
DELAWARE STATE:
2021 Record: 2-26 (8th in MEAC)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2005 (Lost to #1-seed Duke in Round of 64)
Conference - MEAC
In head coach Stan Waterman's second season at the helm of Hornets basketball, he needed a full offseason to revamp his program with talent after a disappointing 21-22 season. This offseason, coach Waterman brought in three new recruits that are due to help the Hornets regain a stake in the MEAC title picture. Brandon Stone, a 6 '11 big man transferred from Robert Morris and gives the Hornets some much-needed size in the front court. Also, with leading scorer Myles Carter graduating this past spring, the Hornets brought in young guards Arion Lewis and Corey Lewis to add some new blood. The wildcard for this Hornets squad that could alter their season is the improvements of sophomore guard Khyrie Staten. If he breaks out, expect the Hornets to be much more competitive in 22-23.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
2021 Record - 11-20 (3rd in ASun - West)
Last NCAA Tournament - N/A
Conference - ASUN
The Bears of Central Arkansas have a storied past, with the likes of NBA Hall-of-Famer Scottie Pippen donning the Purple and Gray, and are trying to claim their first Atlantic Sun conference title and reach the NCAA tournament. Over the last few seasons, the Bears have been known to roll out one of the smallest lineups in Division I. They prioritize their pace and ability to shoot the long ball in order to take out the Atlantic Sun's best. Upperclassmen guard Colin Cooper and preseason All-ASun First Team Camren Hunter will lead the line for the Bears, with freshman phenom Johannes Kirisipuu looking to make an immediate impact.
NICHOLLS
2021 Record - 21-11 (1st in Southland)
Last NCAA Tournament - 1998 (Lost to #1-seed Arizona in Round of 64)
Conference - Southland
After a devastating loss in last season's Southland conference tournament semifinal to Texas A&M Corpus-Christi, the Colonels will look to parlay their regular season success and break through to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. Nicholls has been a force in the Southland conference as of late, winning three of the last five regular season titles. In order to get over the hump, the Colonels need to improve their shooting in big games and adding Indiana State transfer Micah Thomas will certainly help. Thomas will complement the Colonels' loaded backcourt with veteran leaders LaTrell Jones and Pierce Spencer. Along with their heavy conference schedule, head coach Austin Claunch has given the Colonels a lot of opportunities to prove themselves against Power 5 programs such as Arizona, BYU, Texas Tech, Mississippi State, and Baylor. Tune in to those nationally televised games if you're a fan of upsets.
NORTHWESTERN STATE
2021 Record - 9-23 (6th in Southland)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2013 (Lost to #3-seed Florida in Round of 64)
Conference - Southland
A new era of Demons basketball begins this season, as former Missouri State assistant coach Corey Gipson will take over for Northwestern State. Gipson has already made an impact in his first offseason as head coach, bringing Isaac Haney, JaMonta' Black, and Demarcus Sharp along with him from Missouri State. Expect this trio to carry the load early for the Demons as the rest of the squad gets used to Gipson's system. Gipson was known at Missouri State as a great player developer, turning Isiaih Mosley into a 20 ppg scorer. The first season under a new coach can have some rough patches, but keep an eye on this squad as the spring comes along.
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
2021 Record - 19-14 (3rd in Southland)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2005 (Lost to #2-seed Oklahoma State in Round of 64)
Conference - Southland
The Lions under second-year head coach David Kiefer were a big surprise to many pundits in the Southland conference last season. Nobody expected them to make postseason noise in Kiefer's first season, yet they shocked the conference and found themselves in the Southland conference tournament championship game. However, losing leading scorer Gus Okafor to the transfer portal is a big blow to this team. Kiefer needed to add some size, and he did so with freshman 6'11 290 pound center Brody Rowbury. Also, adding Austin Peay transfer Alec Woodard should help replace some of the graduating players' production. The Southland conference should be a bloodbath this year, with new programs rising to the top.
UTAH TECH
2021 Record - 13-18 (10th in WAC)
Last NCAA Tournament - N/A
Conference - WAC
The Trailblazers return four of their five starters from the 2021-22 season and look to vastly improve their stock in the WAC conference. In just their second season in Division I, long-time head coach Jon Judkins will rely on Cameron Gooden, a feisty guard out of Frisco, and hometown kid Noa Gonzales to carry the scoring load for the Trailblazers. Incoming transfer from Idaho Tanner Christensen will help protect the glass for the Trailblazers using his 6 '11 frame. This program is on the rise and ready to make noise early and often.
FLORIDA A&M
2021 Record - 13-17 (4th in SWAC)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2007 (Lost to Niagara in Play-In Game)
Conference - SWAC
A rebuilding year is in store for the Rattlers, as losing each of its four leading scorers is nearly impossible to recover from. However, we've seen the Rattlers overachieve before and this season may be no different. The team has a completely new look this season, with Jordan Chatman and Jordan Tillmon looking to assert themselves as the next great Rattlers basketball stars. Also, a Peak-on-Peak transaction took place this offseason, with SE Louisiana transfer Byron Smith coming down to Tallahassee in hopes to expand his role with the Rattlers.
ALABAMA STATE
2021 Record - 9-21 (9th in SWAC)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2011 (Lost to UTSA in First Four)
Conference - SWAC
Coming over from South Carolina State for his second head coaching position, Tony Madlock is handed the keys to the Hornet's nest in Montgomery, Alabama. Madlock is used to playing at a high level in college basketball through his playing years at Memphis, so expect him to set a new standard for Hornets basketball. Coming along with Madlock is his son TJ Madlock, a combo guard who averaged 13 ppg for South Carolina State as a freshman. Keyon Wesley is another transfer from Arkansas State that will help the Hornets on the glass along with extra scoring help. This may be one of the best father-son duos in college basketball since Georgia State with RJ Hunter.
PORTLAND STATE
2021 Record - 14-17 (7th in Big Sky)
Last NCAA Tournament - 2008 (Lost to #1-seed Kansas in Round of 64)
Conference - Big Sky
Jase Coburn, who took over as head coach last season after serving as an assistant coach for eight years, is rooted in Viking blood and will do anything to get his program back to the top of the Big Sky. In order to do so, he brought in multiple different transfers. Hunter Woods is a wing from Elon that will provide the Vikings with more shooting from the outside. Isaiah Kirby is a SE Louisiana transfer coming back from a season-ending injury before last year and looks to get his career back on track. Lastly, Keshaun Sanders is a Toledo transfer that is hard-nosed on the defensive end and will give the Viking's defense an extra edge.
NORTH ALABAMA
2021 Record - 9-21 (2-14 in ASun)
Last NCAA Tournament - N/A
Conference - Atlantic Sun Conference
The Lions entered last season as one of the youngest teams in the ASun, starting multiple freshmen and had to suffer through some growing pains at the end of the season. Tony Pujol now enters his fifth season as UNA's head coach and looks forward to seeing his young talent begin to blossom. Sophomore guards Daniel Ortiz and Will Soucie will take on much bigger responsibilities this year as scorers, and they have the makeup to embrace that challenge. Along with those two, Pujol brought Lipscomb transfer KJ Johnson to add some experience into their lineup. The ASun is always tough as the season goes along, but never count the Lions out.
DIVISION II
UTPB
2021 Record - 16-13 (8-8 in Lone Star)
Conference - Lone Star (D-II)
The Eagles coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss in the Lone Star Championship game last season are out for blood in the 22-23 season. Even though the Eagles finished middle of the pack during the regular season, first-year head coach Kyle Tolin rallied his troops all the way to the championship game. It was an incredible feat, and he looks to do more of the same with a much younger roster. Returning starters DaJuan James and Max Warren will lead the Eagle's starting unit, joined by transfers Jalen King and Azariah Seay. Another fun year in the Lone Star is shaping up and we all can't wait to see how it all unfolds.
PITTSBURG STATE
2021 Record - 8-20 (7-15 in MIAA)
Conference - MIAA (D-II)
The Gorillas enter the 22-23 season with a clean slate, as their top three scorers have graduated and seven new freshmen enter the program. Along with the new players came a new coach, Jeff Boschee, the former coach of the Gorillas' MIAA rival Missouri Southern State. It makes for great theater come time for those teams' matchup, so keep that in mind as the season goes along. The Gorillas will be led by junior forward Deshaun English II, Albert McBride, and R.J. Forney Jr.
ALBANY STATE
2021 Record - 10-19 (8-10 in SIAC)
Conference - SIAC (D-II)
The Golden Rams are returning two of the best three-point shooters in the SIAC conference for their senior seasons. Leading scorer Malik Parker averaged 16.6 ppg last season while shooting 37% from long range. His backcourt mate Joshua Jerome did much of the same averaging 11 ppg on 36% shooting from deep. Since the game is shifting towards shooting, the Golden Rams have the perfect combination of veteran leadership and marksmanship in order to do great things this year in the SIAC.
EASTERN NEW MEXICO
2021 Record - 7-17 (3-11 in Lone Star)
Conference - LSC (D-II)
The Greyhounds have been middling around .500 play over the last few years, and third-year head coach Brent Owen looks to use his player development skills to take ENM back to the top of the Lone Star Conference. Owen got a lot out of his players last year, including first-team All-Lone Star Kentrell Pullian who attributed a lot of his success to his time at ENM under Owen's tutelage. For the 22-23 season, Owen added impact transfers Grehlon Easter and Eze Dike to run the Greyhounds' backcourt. If the Greyhounds want to compete at the top of the conference, they need to find a way to win games on the road which they struggled with last season.
MISSOURI WESTERN
2021 Record - 14-17 (10-12 in MIAA)
Conference - MIAA (D–II)
In head coach Will Martin's second season as Griffon's head coach, he managed to get two ranked wins and remained competitive in the loaded MIAA conference. With one of the longest conference schedules, it can be understood if a young team runs out of gas by the end of the season, but Martin kept his team motivated and playing at a high level. His time at Kentucky as a manager under Coach Calipari is exemplified through his connection with the players. He returns impact starters Reese Glover and Will Eames to lead the Griffons. Martin was also able to secure transfers Ethan Kilgore and Matt Nunez from Division I schools in order to protect the glass and balance out the team.
FERRIS STATE
2021 Record - 22-9 (16-4 in GLIAC)
Conference - GLIAC (D-II)
Last but certainly not least, we will look at the #1 polled program in the GLIAC conference, the Ferris State Bulldogs. After finishing 16-4 in conference play last season, the Bulldogs were left with a sour taste in their mouth after a conference tournament semifinal loss to Hillsdale. Andy Brokema's squad has high expectations going into every season, and the 22-23 season is no different. Expect incoming freshman Owen Hardy and returning starter Ben Davidson to help Coach Bronks get the Bulldogs back to the promised land.
