2022–23 East Carolina Pirates men's basketball team

The 2022–23 East Carolina Pirates men's basketball team represented East Carolina University during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Pirates were led by first year head coach Michael Schwartz, and played their home games at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum as ninth-year members of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 15–16, 6–12 in AAC Play to finish in ninth place. They defeated South Florida in the first round of the AAC tournament before falling to Houston in the quarterfinals.

2022–23 East Carolina Pirates men's basketball
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record16–17 (6–12 AAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Jake Morton
  • Riley Davis
  • Nick Matson
Home arenaWilliams Arena
Seasons
2022–23 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 2 Houston 17 1   .944 33 4   .892
No. 24 Memphis 13 5   .722 26 9   .743
Tulane 12 6   .667 20 11   .645
Cincinnati 11 7   .611 23 13   .639
Temple 10 8   .556 16 16   .500
Wichita State 9 9   .500 17 15   .531
UCF 8 10   .444 19 15   .559
South Florida 7 11   .389 14 18   .438
East Carolina 6 12   .333 16 17   .485
SMU 5 13   .278 10 22   .313
Tulsa 1 17   .056 5 25   .167
2023 AAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

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The Pirates finished the 2021–22 season 15–15, 6–11 in AAC play to finish in ninth place. They lost in the first round of the AAC tournament to Cincinnati.

On March 11, 2022, ECU fired Dooley after four seasons.[1] On March 16, 2022, the Pirates hired former Tennessee assistant Michael Schwartz as their next head coach.

Offseason

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Departures

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Alexis Reyes 0 G/F 6'7" 195 Freshman Roxbury, MA Transferred to Quinnipiac
Tristen Newton 2 G 6'5" 190 Junior El Paso, TX Transferred to UConn
Brandon Suggs 4 G/F 6'6" 185 Junior Powder Springs, GA Transferred to UCF
J. J. Miles 11 G 6'7" 215 GS Senior Garysburg, NC Graduated
Tremont Robinson-White 12 G 6'1" 170 Senior Little Rock, AR Left the team for personal reasons
Vance Jackson 13 F 6'9" 230 GS Senior Pasadena, CA Graduated
Tay Mosher 15 F 6'7" 215 Freshman The Colony, TX Transferred to Bryant
Alanzo Frink 20 F 6'8" 270 RS Junior Jersey City, NJ Turn pro
Marlon Lestin 25 F 6'9" 200 Freshman Montreal, QC Transferred to Murray State
Brenden Kelly 44 G 5'9" 165 Sophomore Clark, NJ Walk-on; transferred

Incoming transfers

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Name Num Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Quetin Diboundje 4 G 6'5" 217 Sophomore Montpellier, France Tennessee
Benjamin Bayela 5 G 6'6" RS Junior France South Plains College
Jaden Walker 21 G 6'5" 200 Junior Lawrenceville, GA Iowa State

2022 recruiting class

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College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Saxby Sunderland
PG
Oakton, VA Flint Hill School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Apr 28, 2022 
Star ratings: RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Elijah Jones
PF
Baltimore, MD Mt. Zion Prep 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Apr 28, 2022 
Star ratings: RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Kalib LaCount
PG
Los Angeles, CA King Drew Medical Magnet 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Apr 28, 2022 
Star ratings: RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Ezra Ausar
PF
Charlotte, NC Liberty Heights Athletic Institute 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Apr 28, 2022 
Star ratings: RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A
Valentino Pinedo
PF
Spain Sunrise Christian School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) May 18, 2022 
Star ratings: RivalsN/A   247SportsN/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:

  • "East Carolina 2022 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  • "2022 East Carolina Pirates Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  • "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  • "2022 East Carolina Pirates Basketball 24/7 Sports Commits". 247sports.com. Retrieved September 21, 2022.

2023 recruiting class

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College recruiting information (2023)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Cyr Malonga
#65 C
Louisville, KY Evangel Christian School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sep 12, 2022 
Star ratings: RivalsN/A   247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 79
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:

Roster

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2022–23 East Carolina Pirates men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Saxby Sunderland 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Flint Hill School Arlington, VA
G 1 Kalib LaCount 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Fr King/Drew Los Angeles, CA
F 2 Ezra Ausar 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Fr Liberty Heights Athletic Institute Atlanta, GA
G 3 RJ Felton 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Aiken Aiken, SC
G 4 Quetin Diboundje 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 217 lb (98 kg) So Tennessee Montpellier, France
G 10 Wynston Tabbs 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS Sr Boston College Suitland, MD
F 11 Valentino Pinedo 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr Sunrise Christian Academy Madrid, Spain
G 12 Javon Small 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So AZ Compass Prep South Bend, IN
G 15 David Kasanganay (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Sr Navy Charlotte, NC
G 20 Colin McKenzie (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Fr First Baptist School (SC) Charleston, SC
G 21 Jaden Walker 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Iowa State Lawrenceville, GA
F 22 Jaxon Ellingsworth (W) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr West Carteret Morehead City, NC
F 23 Brandon Johnson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Brunswick CC Raleigh, NC
C 24 Ludgy Debaut 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) RS Sr NW Florida State College Les Abymes, Guadeloupe
F 33 Elijah Jones 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Mt. Zion Prep Pleasantville, NJ
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 8, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Mercer W 77–75  1–0
 24  Johnson   7  Johnson   5  Small  Williams Arena (4,610)
Greenville, NC
November 12, 2022*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+
Presbyterian W 77–57  2–0
 23  Felton   7  Bayela   7  Small  Williams Arena (3,726)
Greenville, NC
November 16, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Hampton W 82–73  3–0
 17  Tied   12  Johnson   6  Small  Williams Arena (4,054)
Greenville, NC
November 21, 2022*
2:30 p.m., FloHoops
vs. Indiana State
Gulf Coast Showcase quarterfinals
L 75–79  3–1
 27  Small   13  Johnson   2  Tied  Hertz Arena (516)
Estero, FL
November 22, 2022*
11:00 a.m., FloHoops
vs. Toledo
Gulf Coast Showcase consolation 2nd round
W 86–75  4–2
 24  Small   10  Johnson   7  Small  Hertz Arena (213)
Estero, FL
November 23, 2022*
1:30 p.m., FloHoops
vs. UT Arlington
Gulf Coast Showcase 5th place game
W 79–65  5–1
 18  Small   13  Felton   6  Small  Hertz Arena (198)
Estero, FL
November 26, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Old Dominion L 50–71  5–2
 13  Small   6  Johnson   3  Tied  Chartway Arena (4,898)
Norfolk, VA
November 29, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
South Carolina State L 68–73  5–3
 18  Ausar   7  Ausar   7  Small  Williams Arena (3,850)
Greenville, NC
December 2, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Campbell W 79–69  6–3
 25  Felton   10  Johnson   11  Small  Williams Arena (3,833)
Greenville, NC
December 6, 2022*
7:00 p.m., FloHoops
at UNC Wilmington L 61–74  6–4
 19  Small   9  Johnson   3  LaCount  Trask Coliseum (5,221)
Wilmington, NC
December 11, 2022*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
Coppin State W 84–75  7–4
 21  Small   10  Johnson   10  Small  Williams Arena (3,247)
Greenville, NC
December 17, 2022*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
vs. South Carolina
Greenville Classic
W 64–56  8–4
 21  Felton   7  Walker   6  Small  Bon Secours Wellness Arena 
Greenville, SC
December 21, 2022*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
High Point W 60–49  9–4
 16  Johnson   15  Johnson   8  Small  Williams Arena (3,618)
Greenville, NC
AAC Regular Season
December 28, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Temple L 57–59  9–5
(0–1)
 11  Tied   18  Johnson   4  Johnson  Williams Arena (4,352)
Greenville, NC
December 31, 2022
4:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Wichita State W 79–69  10–5
(1–1)
 17  Johnson   8  Tied   7  Walker  Charles Koch Arena (7,039)
Wichita, KS
January 4, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
UCF L 61–64  10–6
(1–2)
 16  Tied   7  Small   8  Small  Williams Arena (3,675)
Greenville, NC
January 7, 2023
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Memphis L 59–69  10–7
(1–3)
 15  Johnson   6  Walker   4  Small  FedExForum (11,328)
Memphis, TN
January 11, 2023
9:00 p.m., ESPNU
at Cincinnati L 55–83  10–8
(1–4)
 23  Small   8  Ausar   5  Small  Fifth Third Arena (9,118)
Cincinnati, OH
January 15, 2023
1:00 p.m., ESPNU
South Florida L 70–81  10–9
(1–5)
 18  Diboundje   12  Johnson   6  Walker  Williams Arena (3,969)
Greenville, NC
January 18, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Temple L 58–73  10–10
(1–6)
 14  Diboundje   11  Johnson   5  Walker  Liacouras Center (4,007)
Philadelphia, PA
January 24, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Tulsa W 76–66  11–10
(2–6)
 24  Johnson   8  Tied   4  Tied  Williams Arena (3,886)
Greenville, NC
January 29, 2023
12:00 p.m., ESPNU
Wichita State L 72–85  11–11
(2–7)
 22  Felton   9  Debaut   3  Tied  Williams Arena (4,191)
Greenville, NC
February 1, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPNU
at South Florida L 63–71  11–12
(2–8)
 18  Felton   8  Ausar   5  LaCount  Yuengling Center (2,516)
Tampa, FL
February 4, 2023
4:00 p.m., ESPN+
SMU W 77–72  12–12
(3–8)
 27  Johnson   13  Ausar   8  Walker  Williams Arena (4,365)
Greenville, NC
February 15, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Cincinnati W 75–71  13–12
(4–8)
 16  Johnson   14  Ausar   6  Felton  Williams Arena (4,065)
Greenville, NC
February 19, 2023
3:00 p.m., ESPN+
at SMU L 70–86  13–13
(4–9)
 27  Felton   6  Johnson   10  Walker  Moody Coliseum (4,561)
University Park, TX
February 21, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Tulsa W 62–60  14–13
(5–9)
 24  Walker   9  Tied   3  Walker  Reynolds Center (3,002)
Tulsa, OK
February 25, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 1 Houston L 57–76  14–14
(5–10)
 15  Ausar   8  Ausar   4  Felton  Williams Arena (7,589)
Greenville, NC
March 1, 2023
9:00 p.m., ESPNU
Tulane W 83–68  15–14
(6–10)
 19  Johnson   12  Johnson   5  Walker  Williams Arena (3,817)
Greenville, NC
March 3, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Tulane
Rescheduled from Feb. 11[2]
L 78–81  15–15
(6–11)
 23  Felton   13  Johnson   5  Tied  Devlin Fieldhouse 
New Orleans, LA
March 5, 2023
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
at UCF L 58–84  15–16
(6–12)
 14  Ausar   6  Tied   2  Walker  Addition Financial Arena (5,204)
Orlando, FL
AAC tournament
March 9, 2023
12:30 p.m., ESPNU
(9) vs. (8) South Florida
First round
W 73–58  16–16
 22  Tied   7  Felton   10  Walker  Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
March 10, 2023
1:00 p.m., ESPN2
(9) vs. (1) No. 1 Houston
Quarterfinals
L 46–60  16–17
 18  Ausar   19  Ausar   6  Walker  Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Source[3]

References

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  1. ^ Borzello, Jeff (March 11, 2022). "Joe Dooley out as East Carolina men's basketball coach after four seasons". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "East Carolina-Tulane Rescheduled Date Announced". East Carolina University Athletics.
  3. ^ "2022–23 Men's Basketball Schedule". ecupirates.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021.