2019–20 Tulane Green Wave men's basketball team

The 2019–20 Tulane Green Wave men's basketball team represents Tulane University during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Green Wave, led by first-year head coach Ron Hunter, play their home games at Devlin Fieldhouse in New Orleans, Louisiana as sixth-year members of the American Athletic Conference.[1]

2019–20 Tulane Green Wave men's basketball
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record12–18 (4–14 AAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaDevlin Fieldhouse
Seasons
2019–20 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Cincinnati135 .7222010 .667
No. 22 Houston135 .722238 .742
Tulsa135 .7222110 .677
Wichita State117 .611238 .742
UConn108 .5561912 .613
Memphis108 .5562110 .677
SMU99 .5001911 .633
UCF711 .3891614 .533
South Florida711 .3891417 .452
Temple612 .3331417 .452
East Carolina513 .2781120 .355
Tulane414 .2221218 .400
Note: The 2020 AAC tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

The Green Wave 4–27, 0–18 in AAC play to finish in 12th place. They lost in the first round of the AAC tournament to Memphis.[2]

On March 16, 2019, the school announced that Mike Dunleavy would not return as head coach.[3] He finished 24–69 in three seasons at Tulane.[4] On March 24, the school named Georgia State head coach Ron Hunter the new head coach.[5]

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Jordan Cornish0G6'6"225RS SeniorNew Orleans, LAGraduated
Moses Wood4F6'8"190FreshmanReno, NVTransferred to UNLV
Connor Crabtree5G6'6"190FreshmanHillsborough, NCTransferred to Richmond
Caleb Daniels10G6'4"205SophomoreNew Orleans, LATransferred to Villanova
Bul Ajang11F6'10"225SophomoreJonglei, South SudanMedically retired
Semir Sehic21F6'9"235RS JuniorCypress, TXPlay professionally
Blake Paul23F6'9"250SeniorNew Orleans, LAGraduated
Shakwon Barett24G6'5"180RS FreshmanToronto, ONTransferred to Northwest Florida State College

Incoming Transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
K. J. Lawson1F6'8"210Graduate StudentMemphis, TNTransferred from Kansas after graduating. Will have one year of eligibility beginning immediately.
TeShaun Hightower5G6'4"190JuniorLithonia, GATransferred from Georgia. Hightower was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.[6]
Ibrahim Ali11G6'10"245RS FreshmanLagos, NigeriaTransferred from Arkansas. Ali was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility. Will have four years of remaining eligibility.[7]
Nic Thomas14G6'2'185Graduate StudentArlington, TXTransferred from Norfolk State after graduating. Will have one year of eligibility beginning immediately.
Christion Thompson25G6'4'190Graduate StudentBaton Rouge, LATransferred from Rhode Island after graduating. Will have one year of eligibility beginning immediately.

2019 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Nobal Days
PF
Racine, WIWashington Park High School6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)200 lb (91 kg)Nov 15, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN grade: 80
Tylan Pope
PF
Franklinton, LAFranklinton High School6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg)May 28, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN grade: NR
Charlie Russell
SF
New Orleans, LASophie B. Wright High School6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)175 lb (79 kg)May 2, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
R.J. McGee
SF
Chicago, ILTaylormade Academy6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg)Apr 17, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
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:

  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 30, 2019.

2020 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2020 recruits
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Jadan Coleman
SG
Madison, ALBob Jones High School6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)155 lb (70 kg)Nov 15, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Sion James
PG
Buford, GALanier High School6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg)Sep 1, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:   247Sports: 131
  • 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

2019–20 Tulane Green Wave men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G/F0Charlie Russell Jr.6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)190 lb (86 kg)FrSophie B. WrightNew Orleans, LA
G/F1K. J. Lawson6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)GSHamilton
Kansas
Memphis, TN
G2Jordan Walker5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)170 lb (77 kg)RS SoThe Patrick School
Seton Hall
Port Washington, NY
G3Ray Ona Embo (LT)6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg)RS JrQuality Education AcademyLognes, France
F4Nobal Days6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)FrRacine ParkRacine, WI
G5TeShaun Hightower6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg)JrMount Zion Prep
Georgia
Lithonia, GA
F10Tylan Pope  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg)FrFranklintonFranklinton, LA
F11Ibrahim Ali6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)245 lb (111 kg)RS FrMaumelle
Arkansas
Lagos, Nigeria
F12Kevin Zhang6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)220 lb (100 kg)SoMontverde AcademyShenyang, China
C13Buay Koka7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)210 lb (95 kg)RS SoThe Patrick SchoolNasir, South Sudan
G14Nic Thomas6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)GSHome School Athletic Association
Norfolk State
Arlington, TX
G15Grant Quinn (W)6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg)RS JrLiberty Christian
Oklahoma
Lewisville, TX
G23R. J. McGee6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)200 lb (91 kg)FrTaylorMade AcademyChicago, IL
G25Christion Thompson6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)215 lb (98 kg)GSMadison Prep
Rhode Island
Gonzales, LA
G32Cameron Galic (W)6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg)JrBethesda-Chevy ChaseBethesda, MD
G34Alec Zaccardo (W)6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)160 lb (73 kg)SoLincoln-Sudbury Regional
MassBay CC
Boston, MA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on
  • (LT) Left team
  • Injured
  • Current redshirt

Roster

  • Dec. 1, 2019 - Ray Ona Embo quit the team. He elected to return home to France to pursue a professional career.[8]

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsSite (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 31, 2019*
7:00 pm
Spring HillW 93–55 
 23  Thompson  8  Tied  7  Walker Devlin Fieldhouse (862)
New Orleans, LA
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2019*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Southeastern LouisianaW 76–55 1–0
 24  Walker  14  Thompson  6  Lawson Devlin Fieldhouse (2,179)
New Orleans, LA
November 12, 2019*
7:00 pm
Jackson StateW 88–79 2–0
 21  Hightower  8  Thompson  4  Lawson Devlin Fieldhouse (1,225)
New Orleans, LA
November 16, 2019*
1:00 pm, ESPN3
Northwestern StateW 79–52 3–0
 19  Hightower  6  Walker  4  Tied Devlin Fieldhouse (919)
New Orleans, LA
November 21, 2019*
1:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Mississippi State
Myrtle Beach Invitational quarterfinal
L 66–80 3–1
 12  Tied  3  Tied  6  Walker HTC Center 
Conway, SC
November 22, 2019*
11:00 am, ESPNU
vs. Middle Tennessee
Myrtle Beach Invitational consolation 2nd round
W 86–74 4–1
 25  Thompson  6  4 tied  5  Walker HTC Center 
Conway, SC
November 24, 2019*
9:30 am, ESPNU
vs. Utah
Myrtle Beach Invitational 5th place game
W 65–61 5–1
 16  Hightower  5  Thompson  7  Walker HTC Center 
Conway, SC
December 1, 2019*
1:00 pm, ESPN3
SouthernW 82–65 6–1
 30  Lawson  9  Thompson  5  Hightower Devlin Fieldhouse (1,745)
New Orleans, LA
December 4, 2019*
7:00 pm
at Southern MissW 61–56 7–1
 15  Thompson  10  Hightower  4  Lawson Reed Green Coliseum (3,668)
Hattiesburg, MS
December 8, 2019*
12:30 pm, ESPN+
vs. Saint Louis
Jerry Colangelo Classic
L 62–86 7–2
 18  Lawson  8  Lawson  4  Thompson Talking Stick Resort Arena (1,050)
Phoenix, AZ
December 16, 2019*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Alcorn StateW 68–57 8–2
 15  Hightower  8  Days  4  Tied Devlin Fieldhouse (883)
New Orleans, LA
December 20, 2019*
1:30 pm
vs. Akron
DC Holiday Hoops Fest semifinals
L 61–62 8–3
 18  Hightower  9  Tied  2  Tied Entertainment and Sports Arena 
Washington, D.C.
December 21, 2019*
12:00 pm
vs. Towson
DC Holiday Hoops Fest 3rd place game
L 82–86 OT8–4
 33  Hightower  7  Lawson  5  Thompson Entertainment and Sports Arena 
Washington, D.C.
AAC regular season
December 30, 2019
8:00 pm, CBSSN
at No. 9 MemphisL 73–84 8–5
(0–1)
 22  Lawson  7  Hightower  4  Thompson FedExForum (15,544)
Memphis, TN
January 4, 2020
3:00 pm, CBSSN
CincinnatiW 76–71 9–5
(1–1)
 22  Hightower  9  Thompson  3  Lawson Devlin Fieldhouse (2,513)
New Orleans, LA
January 8, 2020
9:00 pm, CBSSN
at UConnL 61–67 9–6
(1–2)
 17  Hightower  10  Thompson  4  Thompson Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (5,721)
Storrs, CT
January 11, 2020
11:00 am, ESPNU
at TempleW 65–51 10–6
(2–2)
 17  Tied  10  Lawson  6  Tied Liacouras Center (6,485)
Philadelphia, PA
January 14, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN3
UCFL 55–74 10–7
(2–3)
 19  Thompson  7  Days  3  Walker Devlin Fieldhouse (1,665)
New Orleans, LA
January 18, 2020
1:00 pm, ESPN3
TulsaL 54–67 10–8
(2–4)
 15  Lawson  6  Lawson  5  Thompson Devlin Fieldhouse (2,189)
New Orleans, LA
January 25, 2020
1:00 pm, ESPNU
at East CarolinaL 62–81 10–9
(2–5)
 19  Thomas  13  Thompson  4  Lawson Williams Arena (4,817)
Greenville, NC
January 29, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN3
South FloridaL 52–66 10–10
(2–6)
 18  Thompson  3  3 tied  3  Thompson Devlin Fieldhouse (1,945)
New Orleans, LA
February 1, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPNU
at SMUL 67–82 10–11
(2–7)
 20  Thomas  7  Lawson  4  Hightower Moody Coliseum (4,477)
Dallas, TX
February 6, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPNU
at No. 25 HoustonL 62–75 10–12
(2–8)
 17  Hightower  5  Tied  3  Thompson Fertitta Center (6,430)
Houston, TX
February 8, 2020
5:00 pm, ESPNU
East CarolinaL 67–81 10–13
(2–9)
 23  Thompson  9  Thompson  6  Thompson Devlin Fieldhouse (1,742)
New Orleans, LA
February 12, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN3
TempleL 68–72 10–14
(2–10)
 23  Hightower  9  Lawson  4  Thompson Devlin Fieldhouse (1,330)
New Orleans, LA
February 16, 2020
1:00 pm, CBSSN
at Wichita StateL 57–82 10–15
(2–11)
 16  Thompson  7  Thompson  4  Hightower Charles Koch Arena (10,506)
Wichita, KS
February 19, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN3
SMUW 80–72 11–15
(3–11)
 26  Hightower  9  Hightower  6  Walker Devlin Fieldhouse (1,150)
New Orleans, LA
February 22, 2020
11:00 am, ESPNU
at UCFW 75–74 12–15
(4–11)
 21  Lawson  9  Thompson  5  Hightower Addition Financial Arena (4,966)
Orlando, FL
February 25, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPNU
at TulsaL 57–62 12–16
(4–12)
 19  Hightower  6  Tied  3  3 tied Reynolds Center (3,443)
Tulsa, OK
February 29, 2020
7:00 pm, CBSSN
MemphisL 67–74 OT12–17
(4–13)
 30  Thompson  9  Lawson  3  Thompson Devlin Fieldhouse (3,023)
New Orleans, LA
March 8, 2020
3:00 pm, ESPNU
UConnL 76–80 12–18
(4–14)
 21  Thompson  5  Lawson  3  Lawson Devlin Fieldhouse (1,897)
New Orleans, LA
AAC tournament
March 12, 2020
2:00 pm, ESPNU
(12) vs. (5) UConn
First Round
Cancelled[1]Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

Source[9]

1.^ Cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Awards and honors

American Athletic Conference honors

Player of the Week

  • Week 16: Teshaun Hightower

Source[10][11][12]

References