Troy University Athletics
Monday, November 6
Troy, Ala.
11 a.m.
Troy University
vs
Fort Lauderdale
Men’s Basketball Hosts Fort Lauderdale to Open 2023-24 Season
11/5/2023 11:01:00 AM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – With a reconstructed roster that mixes newcomers and talented returners, the Troy men's basketball team welcomes Fort Lauderdale to Trojan Arena to open the 2023-24 season on Monday at 11 a.m.
Coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons and back-to-back 10-plus conference win seasons – the only team in the Sun Belt Conference to achieve that feat – the Trojans welcome five returners and 11 newcomers as they set their eyes on another successful campaign under fifth-year head coach Scott Cross.
Troy starts that campaign with its first-ever meeting against Fort Lauderdale.
Game Information
Location: Troy, Ala. – Trojan Arena
The Matchup: Troy (0-0, 0-0 SBC) vs. Fort Lauderdale (0-2)
When: Monday, Nov. 6 – 11 a.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Game Promotion: Education Day – Free Admission
Review of 2022-23
Last season was another impressive year for the Trojan under Cross, as they seized their fifth 20-win season since the turn of the century and the second in Cross's tenure. Troy advanced all the way to SBC quarterfinal round before exiting to James Madison.
Only five players return from last year's team, headlined by senior guards Christyon Eugene and Aamer Muhammad. Eugene finished second in the team last year in scoring with 12 points per game, and Muhammad finished fourth with 10.3 points per game.
Both players received conference honors prior to this season. Eugene was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team, and Muhammad was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team.
Forward Jackson Fields returns for another year at Troy. The sophomore is primed for a big role this season, as he looks to help fill the void left by 2022-23 leading scorer Zay Williams, who has since graduated and left the program.
Cross spent this offseason infusing the program with new talent, bringing in 11 new players — seven transfers and four freshmen.
Scouting the Eagles
Fort Lauderdale enters Monday's contest 0-2 to open the season. The Eagles opened their season on Oct. 27 against Florida Memorial University with an 89-67 loss. They also fell to Keiser University, 89-71.
The Eagles are coming off an impressive 2022-23 season, which saw the team finish with a 22-13 record and win the third-place game in the 2023 NCCAA Division I National Tournament.
Fort Lauderdale was led offensively by Benez Woodard, who averaged a team-high 12.2 points per game while shooting 40 percent from the field. Through two games, Woodard leads the team in scoring with 28 points – 14 ppg.
In the 2022-23 season, the Eagles averaged 80.3 points per game while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from three-point range.
Season Opener Notes
• Troy returns just 35 percent of its total points from last year — 848 out of 2,414.
• Cross has reworked his coaching staff for the 2023-24 season, bringing in three new faces to help lead the program. Greg Young, who has worked extensively with Cross in his career, joins as the new associate head coach. Larry Cordaro joins as an assistant coach overseeing operations. Former professional player Kelvin Lewis has joined the staff to oversee player development.
• Troy opens its season in Trojan Arena for the third straight season. They defeated Montevallo 87-67 last season and beat Carver 104-42 in 2021-22.
• Trojan Arena is coming off its highest average attendance for a season in 2022-23, averaging 3,036 fans per game.
Coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons and back-to-back 10-plus conference win seasons – the only team in the Sun Belt Conference to achieve that feat – the Trojans welcome five returners and 11 newcomers as they set their eyes on another successful campaign under fifth-year head coach Scott Cross.
Troy starts that campaign with its first-ever meeting against Fort Lauderdale.
Game Information
Location: Troy, Ala. – Trojan Arena
The Matchup: Troy (0-0, 0-0 SBC) vs. Fort Lauderdale (0-2)
When: Monday, Nov. 6 – 11 a.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Game Promotion: Education Day – Free Admission
Review of 2022-23
Last season was another impressive year for the Trojan under Cross, as they seized their fifth 20-win season since the turn of the century and the second in Cross's tenure. Troy advanced all the way to SBC quarterfinal round before exiting to James Madison.
Only five players return from last year's team, headlined by senior guards Christyon Eugene and Aamer Muhammad. Eugene finished second in the team last year in scoring with 12 points per game, and Muhammad finished fourth with 10.3 points per game.
Both players received conference honors prior to this season. Eugene was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team, and Muhammad was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team.
Forward Jackson Fields returns for another year at Troy. The sophomore is primed for a big role this season, as he looks to help fill the void left by 2022-23 leading scorer Zay Williams, who has since graduated and left the program.
Cross spent this offseason infusing the program with new talent, bringing in 11 new players — seven transfers and four freshmen.
Scouting the Eagles
Fort Lauderdale enters Monday's contest 0-2 to open the season. The Eagles opened their season on Oct. 27 against Florida Memorial University with an 89-67 loss. They also fell to Keiser University, 89-71.
The Eagles are coming off an impressive 2022-23 season, which saw the team finish with a 22-13 record and win the third-place game in the 2023 NCCAA Division I National Tournament.
Fort Lauderdale was led offensively by Benez Woodard, who averaged a team-high 12.2 points per game while shooting 40 percent from the field. Through two games, Woodard leads the team in scoring with 28 points – 14 ppg.
In the 2022-23 season, the Eagles averaged 80.3 points per game while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from three-point range.
Season Opener Notes
• Troy returns just 35 percent of its total points from last year — 848 out of 2,414.
• Cross has reworked his coaching staff for the 2023-24 season, bringing in three new faces to help lead the program. Greg Young, who has worked extensively with Cross in his career, joins as the new associate head coach. Larry Cordaro joins as an assistant coach overseeing operations. Former professional player Kelvin Lewis has joined the staff to oversee player development.
• Troy opens its season in Trojan Arena for the third straight season. They defeated Montevallo 87-67 last season and beat Carver 104-42 in 2021-22.
• Trojan Arena is coming off its highest average attendance for a season in 2022-23, averaging 3,036 fans per game.
Players Mentioned
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