Men's Basketball 10/27/2022 12:00:00 AM

Trevecca Men's Basketball | 2022-23 Trojan Season Preview

NASHVILLE – The Great Midwest Athletic Conference released its 2022 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' poll today and the Trevecca Nazarene University Men's Basketball team is picked to finish last in the 12-team field.

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW

ROSTER

Despite returning five from last year's roster, the returning Trojans only represent 17 games started. The returners are led by Elon Smallwood and Caleb Terry. Both saw time in the starting lineup. Smallwood, a transfer from Tusculum, joined the program at the break and played in 14 games, starting 12. Terry played in all 27 games last season as a sophomore and looks to provide leadership in the post this season. Trey McClure also started in two games while playing in 10. Zeke Grier and Seth Thomas gained experience behind last year's veteran squad and look to earn more opportunities this season.

The returners are joined by 11 new faces who are a mixture of freshmen and transfers. The 11 newcomers and five returners make up the 16-person roster.

The newcomers include two seniors, one junior, and eight freshmen.

The talented freshmen are Drew Blackston, Gus Davenport, Isaiah Davis, Josh Goings, Connor Martin, Jake Mulder, Jose Waring, and Aiden Williams. Check their online bios for details of their high school careers. Blackston is the son of Andy Blackston who was a standout at Lipscomb University. The elder Blackston recently moved from coaching a high school program in Madison, Alabama to Brentwood Academy.

The transfers include Lawrence Brazil III, Peter Lambesis, and Jaden Smallwood.

Jaden Smallwood is the younger brother of fellow Trojan Elon Smallwood. They are from Brentwood and played at Ravenwood High School. Peter Lambesis transfers from Illinois Wesleyan and Brazill comes to Trevecca after a successful run at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.

Combined, the roster now includes three seniors and three juniors. That is six in the upper class. There are two strong sophomores and eight true freshmen.

2022 SCHEDULE

Full Schedule Preview

The schedule includes 30 games – 27 regular season games, 20 in Great Midwest play. The six non-conference games start the season including three exhibitions. The season opener is at home on the Hill when Ferris State University visits on November 11 in the Robert Garrett Classic. The conference opener is December 1 when the Trojans visit conference newcomer Northwood. Then the Purple and White face two non-conference opponents in exhibition games when they travel to Lipscomb and Belmont December 5 and 6. Trevecca plays nine teams twice on the 20-game conference slate. The teams Trevecca faces twice include Lake Erie, Walsh, Kentucky Wesleyan, Ashland, Tiffin, Findlay, Ohio Dominican, Hillsdale, and Northwood. Senior day is February 25 when Ashland visits, when they will close out the regular season.

The conference tournament starts on February 28 with the semifinals and finals on March 3 and 4.

2021 SEASON

Trevecca started the season 3-1 with wins over Missouri S&T, Birmingham Southern, and Shorter. The last Trevecca team with a better overall start than the 2021 team's 3-1 start is the 2011-2012 team that started 4-0. Trevecca picked up two more conference wins, both at home, against Cedarville and Walsh.

2022 GREAT MIDWEST MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1	WALSH (11)	121
2	FINDLAY (1)	109
3	HILLSDALE	94
4	ASHLAND	87
5	KY. WESLEYAN	76
6	LAKE ERIE	69
7	CEDARVILLE	68
8	MALONE	53
9	TIFFIN	43
10	OHIO DOMINICAN	33
11	NORTHWOOD	25
12	TREVECCA NAZARENE	14