Copyright AL.com
Here’s a look at Troy men’s basketball as the Trojans prepare to travel to Kent State for their season-opener on Monday: Head coach: Scott Cross (7th year) Last season’s record: 23-11 (13-5 Sun Belt); shared regular-season Sun Belt championship Postseason: Won Sun Belt tournament; Lost to Kentucky 76-57 in first round of NCAA tournament Top returning players: F Thomas Dowd (6-8, Jr., 9.5 points per game, 6.9 rebounds); F Theo Seng (6-9, Gr., 5.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg); G Cooper Campbell (6-1, So., 5.2 ppg, 36% 3-PT); F Victor Valdes (6-7, Jr., 4.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.9 assists per game); C Jerrell Bellamy (6-9, Sr., 4.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg); F Kerrington Kiel (6-5, So., 1.6 ppg) Key losses: G Tayton Conerway (14.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.8 apg, 2.9 spg); F Myles Rigsby (12.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg); F Jackson Fields (7.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg); G Marcus Rigsby (6.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.7 apg) Key newcomers: G Cobi Campbell (6-2, Jr., redshirted); F Corbin Green (6-4, Sr., Texas Tech); G Austin Cross (6-3, RFr., redshirted); G Javen Colbert (6-1, Fr., Decatur, Texas); G Emmanuel Clarton (6-5, Fr., Sumter Central HS) Season opener: Monday at Kent State (6 p.m.) Sun Belt opener: Dec. 20 vs. Marshall (1 p.m.) Notable: Troy was picked by league coaches to finish fourth in the 14-team Sun Belt Conference, behind James Madison, Arkansas State and South Alabama. Those four teams shared the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title a year ago. … The Trojans won the Sun Belt tournament championship and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017 last year, but lost four of their top five players to the transfer portal. Conerway, the Sun Belt Player of the Year and on the short list of the greatest players in program history, transferred to Indiana. Fields signed with West Virginia, while Myles Rigsby left for Tulsa and older brother Marcus Rigsby for UT-Arlington. … Troy lost 81-65 at Georgia in an exhibition game last Sunday. Cobi Campbell scored 20 points, while Dowd added 11 points and eight rebounds. … The Trojans should be loaded in the front court, with Dowd — a first-team preseason All-Sun Belt pick — back to start and Seng and Valdes moving into starting roles after coming off the bench a year ago. Kiel should also take on a larger share of minutes as a sophomore. … Cobi Campbell — a former junior-college standout who redshirted last season — started alongside younger brother Cooper — a part-time starter a year ago — in the backcourt vs. Georgia. Their father, Scott, joins the Trojans’ coaching staff after several years as a top high school and AAU coach in Oregon and Washington. Also on the team once again is Cross’ son, Austin, who redshirted last year. … Cross lost two assistant coaches in the offseason, with Greg Young joining the staff at Maryland and Mike Worley becoming head coach at Division II Truman State in Missouri. … Clarton and Colbert were first-team all-state picks as high school seniors. Colbert averaged 32.2 points per game last season and was the Texas Class 4A Player of the Year. … Green played at both Air Force and Texas Tech before signing with Troy, appearing in 45 career games. … Troy’s non-conference schedule includes a week-long trip to California, where the Trojans will face Loyola Marymount, Cal State-Northridge, San Diego State and USC in a seven-day period from Nov. 14-20. Troy also plays at UAB on Dec. 14 in a game that will be nationally televised by ESPN2.
