MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – One of the most unique college basketball tournaments is on deck for the Green Bay men's basketball team as they travel abroad for the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic. The tournament is held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Eight teams, including Green Bay, Georgetown, La Salle, Loyola-Marymount, Morgan State, Queens, Utah Valley, and Wake Forest, will all compete. GB already visited Georgetown for the campus section of the invitational and will face Queens on Friday before playing Utah Valley or Morgan State on Sunday.
Friday, November 18 – Montego Bay, Jamaica – MONTEGO BAY CONVENTION CENTRE
Green Bay (0-3, 0-0 HL) vs. Queens (2-1, 0-0 ASUN)
10:30 AM CT
Follow the action: Watch (HBCU Go) | Listen (WDUZ The Fan)
Sunday, November 20 – Montego Bay, Jamaica – MONTEGO BAY CONVENTION CENTRE
Green Bay vs. Utah Valley/Morgan State
TBA
Follow the action: Watch (HBCU Go) | Listen (WDUZ The Fan)
With Queens just joining Division I this year, it will be the first time Green Bay has matched up with the Royals in program history. If the Phoenix plays Utah Valley on Sunday, it will also be the first time GB and the Wolverines face off; however, if GB plays Morgan State, the Phoenix will look to go 4-0 against the Bears. GB hosted the first two contests against Morgan State and defeated the Bears 87-70 in their last matchup on November 23, 2009.
ABOUT THE JAMAICA CLASSIC
The Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic is just 90 minutes south of Miami. Conveniently located in one of the most iconic destinations in the Caribbean – beautiful Montego Bay, Jamaica. The new SMG-managed Montego Bay Convention Centre is hosting all tournament games from November 18-20, 2022. The Centre is located along the Elegant Corridor of Rose Hall, Montego Bay. It is close to over 4,000 luxury hotel rooms, a full-service medical facility, local activities, five major shopping centers, three world-championship golf courses, and restaurants, and is only 10 minutes from the Sangster International Airport.
ABOUT THE ROYALS
Grant Leonard is in his first season at the helm of the Queens program. The Royals are off to a 2-1 start thanks to solid contributions from Kenny Dye. Dye, a senior guard, paces the team in points (18.3) and assists per game (6.0).
ABOUT THE WOLVERINES
Mark Madsen, who spent six seasons as a Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach from 2013-2019, enters his fourth season as head coach of Utah Valley and will begin the Jamaica Classic with a 44-45 all-time record. Aziz Bandaogo is a player to watch as he leads the Wolverines in points (12.8) and rebounds per game (11.3).
ABOUT THE BEARS
Kevin Broadus also begins his fourth season as head coach of the Morgan State Bears. Broadus is 43-42 overall entering the weekend. Malik Miller paces the team in rebounds per game (9.3) and assists per game (4.8).
LAST MATCHUP
Green Bay visited the Wisconsin State Capital last Tuesday and squared off against the Badgers, falling 45-56. The Phoenix shot 50% in the second half, pulling to within single digits for much of the frame after being down 17 at halftime. Zae Blake was perfect from the floor on the night, shooting 5-for-5, and totaling a team-high 15 points in 26 minutes.
OFFSEASON RECAP
A lot happened during the 2022 offseason. Let's get you caught up:
April 14 - Garren Davis and Amari Jedkins are added to the roster.
May 6 - Clarence Cummings III and Zae Blake join the roster.
May 23 - Brock Heffner and Davin Zeigler join the roster.
June 6 - Jack Rose joins Green Bay.
June 29 - Adam Owens is named Director of Basketball Operations.
July 8 - Phoenix alum Keifer Sykes, Carrington Love, and Steven Baker participate in the Summerfest Alumni Charity Challenge.
July 14 - The National Association of Basketball Coaches tabs Green Bay as a recipient of the Team Academic Excellence award.
July 18 - Nearly 160 Green Bay men's basketball supporters enjoy a successful Swing and Swish Golf Outing with the team.
August 16 - The complete 2022-23 schedule is unveiled.
October 11 - the program participates in the inaugural Phoenix Phan Night.
DAVIN DOMINATION
Davin Zeigler, one of 10 newcomers this season, has made an immediate impact with the Phoenix. He averages 28.0 minutes per game and has shot 40.0-percent (10-of-25) from the field. Zeigler, a Cleveland, Ohio native, rebounds exceptionally well for a guard, pulling down a team-leading 5.7 rebounds per game.
WHAT'S UP, BRO?
Zane and Donavan Short, products of Denmark, Wis., and Denmark High School, officially joined the team during the offseason. Donavan, the younger of the two brothers, committed to Green Bay on Nov. 12, 2021, while Zane joined in the offseason.
KEEPING IT LOCAL
Head coach Will Ryan has amassed a total of eight players on the 2022-23 roster that are from Wisconsin. Ryan's 2021-22 squad also featured eight players from in-state, which was the highest total of in-state players since the 2009-10 season when there were seven players as such under Tod Kowalczyk.
WHAT DO YOU ZAE?
Sophomore guard Zae Blake has made the most of his opportunities in the first three games. The Washington, D.C. native averages 20.7 minutes per game and has shot 77.8-percent from the floor (14-of-18), 71.4-percent from deep (5-of-7), and averages a team-leading 12.3 points per contest. Against Wisconsin, he finished with a team-leading 15 points, shooting 5-for-5 in 26 minutes of action.
NEW PHOENIX FACES
Green Bay welcomes 10 new players for the 2022-23 season.
TRANSFERS
Garren Davis (6-4, G | Clarendon College)
Clarence Cummings III (6-5, F | State College of Florida)
Zae Blake (6-1, G | Southwest Mississippi CC)
Brock Heffner (6-8, F | Hawaii)
Davin Zeigler (6-3, G | Indian Hills CC)
Ryan Wade (6-2, G | Central Michigan)
TRUE FRESHMEN
Donavan Short (6-10, C | Denmark, Wis.)
Amari Jedkins (6-7, F | Racine, Wis.)
Jack Rose (6-5, G | Bristol, Wis.)
PRESEASON #HLMBB POLL
Pl. Team (1st-place votes) – Pts.
T1. Purdue Fort Wayne (17) - 394
T1. Northern Kentucky (15) - 394
3. Wright State (3) - 329
4. Oakland (2) - 321
5. Youngstown State (1) - 291
6. Detroit Mercy (2) - 268
7. Cleveland State - 188
8. Robert Morris - 163
9. Milwaukee - 132
10. Green Bay - 111
11. IUPUI - 49
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