2017–18 South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball team

The 2017–18 South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball team represented the University of South Alabama during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Jaguars were led by fifth-year head coach Matthew Graves and played their home games at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Alabama as members in the Sun Belt Conference. They finished the season 14–18, 7–11 in Sun Belt play to finish in a tie for ninth place. They lost in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament to Troy.

2017–18 South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
2017–18 record14–18 (7–11 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Darnell Archey
  • Russ Willemsen
  • Brock Morris
Home arenaMitchell Center
2017–18 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Louisiana16–2 .889  27–7  .794
Georgia State †12–6 .667  24–11  .686
Georgia Southern11–7 .611  21–12  .636
Texas–Arlington10–8 .556  21–13  .618
Louisiana–Monroe9–9 .500  16–16  .500
Troy9–9 .500  16–17  .485
Appalachian State9–9 .500  15–18  .455
Coastal Carolina8–10 .444  14–18  .438
South Alabama7–11 .389  14–18  .438
Texas State7–11 .389  15–18  .455
Arkansas State6–12 .333  11–21  .344
Little Rock4–14 .222  7–25  .219
† 2018 Sun Belt Conference Tournament winner

On March 8, South Alabama fired head coach Matthew Graves.[1] He finished at South Alabama with a five-year record of 65–96.

On March 15, South Alabama hired Nicholls State head coach Richie Riley as their new head coach.[2]

Previous season

The Jaguars finished the 2016–17 season 14–18, 7–11 in Sun Belt play to finish in ninth place. They lost to Coastal Carolina in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament.

Off-season

Departures
NamePos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Georgi BoyanovF6'7"205SeniorBulgariaGraduated.
Ken WilliamsG6'3"198SeniorHouston, TXGraduated.
Nick StoverF6'6"198SeniorLos Angeles, CAGraduated.
Dan MuepoKellyF6'7"236SeniorFontana, CAGraduated.
Nikola MarijanF7'1"242SophomoreSerbiaTransferred to Tampa.

Incoming transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Rodrick Sikes14G6'1"170JuniorOcean Springs, MSJunior college transferred from Southwest Mississippi CC.
R.J. KellyF6'7"195SophomorePowder Springs, GATransferred from Savannah State. Under NCAA transfer rules, Kelly will have to sit out for the 2017–18 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Rozelle Nix34F6'11"300SeniorCincinnati, OHGraduate transfer from Pittsburgh. Under NCAA transfer rules, Nix will play immediately in the 2017–18 season. Will have one year of remaining eligibility.

Incoming recruits
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Joe Thompson
F		 Kenner, Louisiana Alfred Bonnabel High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
A.J. Caldwell
G		 Sarasota, Florida Riverview High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 75
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:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

    Roster
    2017–18 South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Shaq Calhoun 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) JrIowa Western CC Rome, GA
    G 2 Herb McGee 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)195 lb (88 kg) FrRiverside Academy Reserve, LA
    G 3 Ethan Haslam 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)182 lb (83 kg) RS FrAcademy at the Lakes Lithia, FL
    G 5 Dederick Lee 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)162 lb (73 kg) JrIndian Hills CC Clarksville, AR
    G 14 Devin Epps 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)167 lb (76 kg) RS JrOakland HS Murfreesboro, TN
    F 20 Kevin Morris 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)265 lb (120 kg) FrDothan HS Dothan, AL
    G 21 Nick Davis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)191 lb (87 kg) JrAlabama State Mount Vernon, AL
    G 22 John Pettway 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS FrKeith HS Safford, AL
    G 25 Jordan Andrews 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS SoYoungstown State Abita Springs, LA
    F 33 Josh Ajayi 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)244 lb (111 kg) RS FrSan Gabriel Academy El Monte, CA
    F 34 Rozelle Nix 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)300 lb (136 kg) RS SrPittsburgh Cincinnati, OH
    F 42 Trhae Mitchell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)189 lb (86 kg) RS FrPebblebrook HS Austell, GA
    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 Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    Oct 24, 2017*
    7:30 pm    		 at Spring Hill W 77–55 
    		Arthur Outlaw Recreational Center 
    Mobile, AL
    Nov 3, 2017*
    7:35 pm    		 North Alabama L 80–82 
    		Mitchell Center (2,146)
    Mobile, AL
    Regular season
    Nov 10, 2017*
    8:00 pm, FCS    		 at Texas Tech
    Hall of Fame Tip Off    		 L 50–75  0–1
    		 United Supermarkets Arena (8,865)
    Lubbock, TX
    Nov 13, 2017*
    7:05 pm    		 Mobile W 71–49  1–1
    		 Mitchell Center (1,990)
    Mobile, AL
    Nov 16, 2017*
    6:00 pm    		 at La Salle
    Hall of Fame Tip Off Classic    		 L 73–81  1–2
    		 Tom Gola Arena (1,488)
    Philadelphia, PA
    Nov 18, 2017*
    4:00 pm, ESPN3    		 vs. Maine
    Hall of Fame Tip Off Springfield Bracket    		 W 68–46  2–2
    		 Mohegan Sun Arena 
    Uncasville, CT
    Nov 19, 2017*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 vs. Saint Peter’s
    Hall of Fame Tip Off Springfield Bracket    		 W 54–49  3–2
    		 Mohegan Sun Arena 
    Uncasville, CT
    Nov 22, 2017*
    7:05 pm    		 Stetson L 77–81 OT 3–3
    		 Mitchell Center (1,737)
    Mobile, AL
    Nov 26, 2017*
    3:05 pm    		 New Orleans W 55–52  4–3
    		 Mitchell Center (1,548)
    Mobile, AL
    Nov 29, 2017*
    7:05 pm    		 Southern Miss W 69–58  5–3
    		 Mitchell Center (2,353)
    Mobile, AL
    Dec 2, 2017*
    6:00 pm    		 at FIU L 58–87  5–4
    		 FIU Arena (653)
    Miami, FL
    Dec 10, 2017*
    2:00 pm, FSMW    		 at SIU Edwardsville L 75–76  5–5
    		 Vadalabene Center (1,155)
    Edwardsville, IL
    Dec 16, 2017*
    3:05 pm    		 Eastern Illinois W 63–52  6–5
    		 Mitchell Center (1,901)
    Mobile, AL
    Dec 21, 2017*
    12:00 pm    		 at Tulane L 73–77  6–6
    		 Devlin Fieldhouse (1,187)
    New Orleans, LA
    Dec 29, 2017
    7:05 pm    		 Georgia State W 86–64  7–6
    (1–0)    		 Mitchell Center (1,788)
    Mobile, AL
    Dec 31, 2017
    3:05 pm    		 at Georgia Southern W 69–67  8–6
    (2–0)    		 Mitchell Center (1,612)
    Mobile, AL
    Jan 4, 2018
    7:30 pm    		 at Texas State L 69–72  8–7
    (2–1)    		 Strahan Coliseum (1,407)
    San Marcos, TX
    Jan 6, 2018
    4:15 pm    		 at Texas–Arlington L 67–91  8–8
    (2–2)    		 College Park Center (1,914)
    Arlington, TX
    Jan 9, 2018*
    7:05 pm    		 Trinity Baptist W 99–34  9–8
    		 Mitchell Center (1,924)
    Mobile, AL
    Jan 13, 2018
    3:05 pm    		 Troy L 64–79  9–9
    (2–3)    		 Mitchell Center (3,014)
    Mobile, AL
    Jan 18, 2018
    7:05 pm    		 Coastal Carolina W 60–57  10–9
    (3–3)    		 Mitchell Center (2,098)
    Mobile, AL
    Jan 20, 2018
    3:05 pm    		 Appalachian State W 83–77  11–9
    (4–3)    		 Mitchell Center (3,877)
    Mobile, AL
    Jan 25, 2018
    7:15 pm    		 at Louisiana L 57–76  11–10
    (4–4)    		 Cajundome (5,036)
    Lafayette, LA
    Jan 27, 2018
    2:00 pm    		 at Louisiana–Monroe L 74–83  11–11
    (4–5)    		 Fant–Ewing Coliseum (1,635)
    Monroe, LA
    Feb 3, 2018
    4:15 pm, ESPN3    		 at Troy L 63–80  11–12
    (4–6)    		 Trojan Arena (3,266)
    Troy, AL
    Feb 8, 2018
    7:05 pm    		 Little Rock W 73–56  12–12
    (5–6)    		 Mitchell Center (1,541)
    Mobile, AL
    Feb 10, 2018
    3:05 pm    		 Arkansas State W 87–67  13–12
    (6–6)    		 Mitchell Center (1,983)
    Mobile, AL
    Feb 15, 2018
    6:30 pm, ESPN3    		 at Appalachian State W 77–66  14–12
    (7–6)    		 Holmes Center (w)
    Boone, NC
    Feb 17, 2018
    2:30 pm    		 at Coastal Carolina L 70–72  14–13
    (7–7)    		 HTC Center (1,311)
    Conway, SC
    Feb 22, 2018
    7:05 pm    		 Louisiana–Monroe L 62–66  14–14
    (7–8)    		 Mitchell Center (2,011)
    Mobile, AL
    Feb 24, 2018
    7:05 pm    		 Louisiana L 71–88  14–15
    (7–9)    		 Mitchell Center (1,946)
    Mobile, AL
    Mar 1, 2018
    6:30 pm    		 at Georgia Southern L 74–81  14–16
    (7–10)    		 Hanner Fieldhouse (1,526)
    Statesboro, GA
    Mar 3, 2018
    1:15 pm, ESPN3    		 at Georgia State L 75–90  14–17
    (7–11)    		 GSU Sports Arena (1,649)
    Atlanta, GA
    Sun Belt Tournament
    Mar 7, 2018
    5:00 pm, ESPN3    		 (10) vs. (7) Troy
    First round    		 L 62–69  14–18
    		 Lakefront Arena (986)
    New Orleans, LA
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    See also

    References
    1. "South Alabama head basketball coach Matthew Graves fired". WKRG-TV. March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
    2. "Nicholls State's Richie Riley hired as South Alabama's head coach". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
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