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Tulane Basketball: 2022-23 season preview and outlook for Green Wave

By Karl Heiser

Nov 17, 2021; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach Ron Hunter speaks with his team during a timeout in the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2021; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach Ron Hunter speaks with his team during a timeout in the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tulane Green Wave guard Jalen Cook Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Tulane Green Wave guard Jalen Cook Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /

Projected Starters

Guard – Jalen Cook (Sophomore)

It’s always a good thing when you can return your leading scorer from last season. After an in-state transfer from LSU, Jalen Cook exploded for 18 points per game while shooting 39.1% from three on over five attempts per contest. The 2019 Mr. Basketball Louisiana winner is also a stellar on-ball defender who came away with 1.6 steals per game last season. Cook is especially dangerous in pick-and-roll sets given his marksmanship and passing vision. He was named to the All-AAC First Team last season; look for him to star once again for Tulane.

Guard – Jadan Coleman (Sophomore)

Tulane Basketball may have a diamond in the rough with Jadan Coleman. Although his role was limited in his COVID freshman season, he still managed to exhibit his deep range as he connected on 42% of his 3.5 three-point attempts per game. Coleman has shown enough to receive a starting role this season, but it’s also possible Ron Hunter uses him as an offensive spark plug off the bench.

Guard – Jaylen Forbes (Junior)

Forbes is a two-way wing who has developed into a very dangerous three-point shooter. He cashed in 38.7% of his 6.7 attempts per game last season and averaged 16.5 points on the way to an All-AAC Second Team nod. Forbes is also important to Tulane as a rebounder given their overall insufficiencies on the glass; he’s averaged at least 5 boards each of the last two seasons.

Guard – Sion James (Sophomore)

Sion James isn’t going to stuff the stat sheet like some of his teammates, but he’s a versatile player that complements the rest of the starting lineup extremely well. This primarily shows up on the defensive end, where James’ athleticism, versatility, and IQ produced 1.6 steals per game last season. The sophomore does a little bit of everything, evidenced by his 2021-22 line of 7.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.

Forward – Kevin Cross (Junior)

Cross is a key cog in Tulane’s offensive system as the facilitator in dribble handoff sets. He averaged 13.9 points last season while also pacing the team in both rebounds and assists at 6.8 and 3.6 per game, respectively. The junior is adept at sealing off defenders and opening things up for his guards to succeed, but is also a respectable post scorer in his own right. He was named to the All-AAC Third Team last year. Cross’ role as a do-it-all forward is integral to the Green Wave’s NCAA Tournament aspirations.